Singing national anthem, recording I-Day videos un-Islamic: UP clerics

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh clerics have urged the state government to withdraw its directive, asking the madrassas to record videos of Independence Day celebrations and organise singing of the national anthem, calling it un-Islamic.  

Mufti Maulana Jartab Raza Khan of Pilibhit has reportedly sought the intervention of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in withdrawing the order. "Otherwise Muslims will be left with no other choice but to defy the diktat," he said.

As per the clerics, certain phrases in the anthem preach against the belief of Islam. Sharia laws also refrain capturing of photographs and videos, they said. 

"According to sharia, photography and videography are un-Islamic. They are asking us to flout the sharia taught in madrassas," said Bareilly shehr qazi Maulana Asjad Raza Khan.

However, he has appealed to the madrassas managers to hoist the national flag, sing 'Sare jahan se achchha Hindustan humara', distribute sweets and remember freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives, reported the Times of India.

Khan further added, "Tagore wrote the national anthem in praise of the then British King George V. According to Islam, our 'adhinayak' is god and not George. We do not disrespect national anthem but can't sing it due to our religious sentiments. Even Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh had raised objection to the national anthem."

Earlier in July 2015, Singh at the 26th convocation ceremony of Rajasthan University in July 2015, had reportedly said that Tagore, while writing the national anthem, had praised the ''angrezi shaasak (English ruler)" by writing "adhinayak jaya hai". Also, he had suggested it to be replaced by "jan gan man mangal gaye".