Hyderabad: Now, fatwa against Manikya Malarayi Poovi

Hyderabad: Now it's the turn of a section of the Muslim community to protest against a film. The Jamia Nizamia Islamic Seminary in Hyderabad has told the producer-director of the film Oru Adaar Love to take out a song Manikya Malarayi Poovi from the movie and also asked the government to stop the release of the movie as the lyrics hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.

The seminary issued the fatwa on Thursday after a businessman called Zaheeruddin from Falaknuma, alleged that the song Manikya Malarayi Poovi talks about Prophet Mohammed and his wife Bibi Khadeeja in a manner that hurts the sentiments of Muslims.

The film stars Priya Prakash Varrier and Roshan Abdul Raouf and the song has become very popular on social media.

A police case has also been registered against the director Omar Lulu for the ‘offensive’ song. Another complaint was lodged against the film unit at the Kamatipura police station in the Old City.

The Darul Ifta, comprising a team of muftis, issued the fatwa subject to the ‘question being asked is true.’ 

“The fatwa was issued after reading the applications presented to it. It is also written on the top that their opinion will apply only if the question put forth to the Darul Ifta stands to be true and based on facts,” an official from Jamia Nizamia said. He denied that they had received any copy of the Malayalam song or any translation of it. 

“The fatwa was issued after going through the question. Generally, a fatwa is issued whenever someone seeks an opinion on any issue in the context of the Sharia or Islamic law,” he said.

Ather Moin, a Muslim intellectual, says Islamic seminaries should be careful about issuing fatwas, especially because it has become a tool for publicity seekers or newsmakers. 

“Fatwa on controversial issues should not be done unless the credentials of the persons who are seeking it are verified and the purpose too,” he felt.