Covering Bollywood and the Hindi Cinema

Salman Khan is once again in the middle of a controversy though this time for no fault of his! A Mufti Mohammad Farooq, who belongs to the Barelvi sect and heads a seminary in Bareilly, has issued a Fatwa for Salman Khan.

According to the Muslim Cleric, Salman has ceased to be a Muslim for “offering prayers” at a Ganesh pandal in Mumbai. “I was asked what would be the status of a Muslim who offers prayers in a Hindu temple,” the mufti said today. “I said Muslim religion does not accommodate any other god except Allah. So my answer was such a Muslim would cease to be a Muslim, whoever he may be.”

Salman, whose mother Salma was born a Hindu, visited the Lalbaug pandal. However other members of the Muslim clergy have defended the Khan and rightfully so may we add.

“When Hindus visit a mosque or a Muslim walks into a cultural festival based on a religion, it cannot be construed as a change of mind to betray one’s own religion. These visits foster a spirit of national integration,” said Maulana Khalid Rashid of Lucknow.
“I know hundreds of Muslims who visit Puja pandals in Calcutta. There is no law in Islam to stop a Muslim from being a part of religio-cultural activities,” said Mufti Hashim Quazmi of Saharanpur, about 450km from Lucknow.

Bollywood has always been a great example of the “Secular India”  and prides it self of being a place which transcend barriers of religion, culture and caste. Lets hope it stays that way!