Fatwa bars Muslims building temple

Azam’s plan in soup

The Barelvi sect, a wellknown Islamic institution, has issued a fatwa saying that building of a temple by a Muslim was ‘an un-Islamic and illegitimate act’.

The fatwa was issued on a query posted by one Faisal Khan Lala of Rampur who wanted to know whether UP minister Mohd Azam Khan’s announcement of building a temple for SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav was according to the tenets of Islam.

“In Islam, believing in anyone other than Allah is illegitimate and so talking about building a temple is equally wrong,” said Madarsa Manzar-e-Islam, affiliated to Dargah Ali Hazrat of Bareilly, in reply to a query sought on February 14.

It further said that, “Activities of Muslims who propose to set up a temple are not right. He is guilty, liable to be punished and the wrong doer and should necessarily regret it. If he has a wife, he should express regrets and thereafter remarry her. Muslims should stop mingling, acknowledging his pleasantries and talking to him.”

It may be recalled that Mr Azam Khan had said in February that he would put his proposal for a temple before the Samajwadi president and if the latter agreed, the temple would be constructed.

Mr Khan had said that Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav was a popular leader and has a number of followers.

“When temples of actors are there, why should there be no temple for him (Mulayam). We will go ahead with this, if he gives approval,” he had said.

UP minister Azam Khan had announced to build a temple for SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav

Mr Khan had said that Mr Yadav was a popular leader and has a number of followers.