Muslim building temple is un-Islamic, illegitimate act: Fatwa

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan's proposal to build a temple for his party president Mulayam Singh Yadav seems to have hit a roadblock with an eminent Islamic institution today issuing a fatwa (edict), describing this act by a Muslim as un-Islamic and 'illegitimate'.

"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, implying it was un-Islamic. "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."

"Taking the acts of (the one who is doing this) as good is also wrong," the edict issued by the fatwa department of the Madarsa said. Faisal Khan Lala of Rampur had sought the view of the seminary two days after Azam proposed that on lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's temple in Gujarat built by his supporters, a temple for the Samajwadi Party supremo should also be constructed.

"I will put my proposal before 'netaji' (Mulayam) for construction of a temple for him. If he gives approval, the same would be constructed," Azam had said on February 12. Justifying the move, Azam had said Mulayam was a popular leader and has a number of followers. "When temples of those living including actors are there, why there should be no temple for him (Mulayam). We will go ahead with this, if he gives approval," he had said. Azam's statement came after supporters of Modi built a temple for him in Rajkot in his home state Gujarat.

Modi had, however, said he was appalled by reports of a temple being built in his name and had asked people to instead use time and resources in fulfilling the dream of 'Clean India'.