Hyderabad Muslim scholars back helmet usage

Hyderabad: The efforts of the traffic police to enforce the helmet rule got support from Muslim scholars on Friday who came out strongly in support of two-wheeler riders wearing protective headgear.

The traffic cops had earlier been appreciated for uploading a video on their Facebook account which depicts Hindu gods and goddesses wearing crowns with the slogan: “Those who protect you, too protect their heads.”

The Muslim devout were in for a pleasant surprise when khateebs in various mosques, while delivering the Friday sermon, spoke of the helmet rule. Khateebs at Masjid Farouk-e-Azam, Himmatpura and at Masjid-e-Osman Ghani, Chunne ki Bhatti, Kala Paththar advised the devout that it was good rule as helmets protected from head injuries and also saved life.

Islamic scholar and Jamia Nizamia chancellor Syed Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini said that asking the people, Muslims or non-Muslims to wear helmets was not against the Shariah.

“Hamara jism Allah ki amaanat hai (Our bodies are the property of Allah) and it is our responsibility to protect it. If wearing a helmet can protect your head, then wear it,” he said.

While bikers wearing helmets has seen an upward trend in the new city, it is comparatively low in the Old City. Now with support from Muslim elders comes as a major encouragement to the traffic cops who said they would refer this to bikers during regular checking.