Indian Express carried a news today that Darul Uloom Deoband denies issuing any fatwa regarding Muslims killed during Gujarat genocide of 2002.
No fatwa issued regarding Guj victims: Darul Uloom
Agencies
Posted online: Thursday , February 28, 2008 at 06:00:45
Updated: Thursday , February 28, 2008 at 06:20:45Muzaffarnagar, February 28: Leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband denied that it has issued any fatwa (edict) saying Muslims who were killed in the Gujarat riots should be treated as martyrs under Shariat law.
The incharge of the fatwa department Mufti Habibur Rehman said that reports in a section of the press saying Gujarat victims should be treated as martyrs were ‘incorrect’.
The seminary has not issued any fatwa regarding the victims of the Gujarat riots, he said.
But Darul Ifta (fatwa department) of Darul Uloom has on their website a fatwa issued just 10 days ago.
Those who were killed in Gujarat, what is their status, can we call them Shahid according to Islam?
Answer: 2767 12 Feb, 2008(Fatwa: 71/71=L)
Those who were killed during riots in Gujrat are real shaheed; they may be called as shaheed.
وکذا یکون شھیداً لو قتلہ باغ او حربی الخ (الدر المختار مع الشامی: 3/160، ط زکریا دیوبند)
and Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) Knows Best
Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband
I am not sure who messed up here, Darul Uloom or the IE but someone should have cross checked it on their website and the responsibility of that falls on the newspaper.
The strange thing about this strange news is why Darul Uloom will deny this fatwa which definitely exists. Even if it didn’t exist do they not believe that a Muslim who dies because of his faith will be considered shaheed?
Kashif:
I wrote on a similar issue longtime back
http://indianmuslims.in/things-people-do-and-stuff-journos-make-up/
With bloggers ‘fisking’ stories, it would put pressure on the mainstream media to fact-check their stories vigorously.
Of what worth are these fatwas or the lack of them if we are not able to bring justice to the innocent Muslims butchered during the riots ? Of what good is the title of a ‘Shaheed’ if we are not able to give the dead the dignity of justice ?