Skip to main content

Vande Mataram: Worshipping motherland in addition to Allah is "against" Islamic tenets

Counterview Desk
A video has is known to have gone viral showing that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi chanted Vande Mataram at a rally in Bihar, raising fists, ally Nitish Kumar, who was on the stage, stayed silent. The video, in wide circulation on social media, is seen by many as a telling visual on the contradictions within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Earlier in the rally, PM Modi had said: "Chanting Vande Mataram is like a life force. Doing this is also a responsibility to ensure the peace, prosperity and security of the country. But some people have a problem with this. They should have their deposits forfeited."
The PM's remarks came two days after the opposition candidate in Darbhanga, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, told a TV channel that while he had no objections to chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", reciting Vande Mataram was against his beliefs.

Well-known Gujarat High Court advocate SS Sayyed, in a Facebook commentary, "explains" why Muslims are reluctant to recite Vande Mataram:

Before I proceed to write on the issue afore mentioned, I appeal to the reader as follows: The reader may get confused and may recollect many things in the past over this sensitive issue. He may also get emotional, and rightly so, the issue being intimately connected with his or her faith which may bring him to stand still, and as such I most humbly pray the reader who may be of any faith, to proceed gently with me and form no judgment concerning what I am going to opine until he has carefullyand wholly read the article.
Anybody having born in a Muslim family,by default professes Islam as his religion. It is the basic tenet of Islam that nobody else and or nothing else is entitled to be worshipped except Allah.
Now what is 'Allah' is a subject of esoteric interpretation, understanding and realization, but it is oft said and also accepted by all except off-course fanatics ,that Ishwar, Allah, Ishwar and /or Almighty etc. are different names ascribed to the same reality. It is also universally accepted fact that ultimate reality is one and is common for every being.
Now coming to Muslims they profess Islam as their religion and it is the basic tenet of Islsm that nobody else and or nothing else is entitled to be worshipped except that ultimate reality to which they call Allah. In view of the aforesaid basic tenet of Islam, the Muslim is debarred from worshipping any one and or anything else except the creator to whome he calls Allah,being expected to do so by virtue of his faith.
The Muslim thinks that Vande Mataram means, "I worship my motherland". If this is true, then reciting it means he worships motherland also in addition to Allah, and in doing so he ascribes partner to Allah, and if he does so he goes against the basic tenet of his faith, i.e.Islam.
I would like to mention that a Muslim can not even say that he worships The holy city of Mecca and or Madina in that he can not say Vande Mecca and or Vande MadinaI. He can also not say Vande Mohammad even though prophet Mohammad is the most revered and holiest religious personality for Muslim. The reason is, if he does so,he ascribes Mohammad as partner to Allah which is considered to be greatest sin in Islam.
In view of the aforementioned state of facts and by analogical deduction the Muslim is restrained and can not recite Vande Mataram, even though he loves his mother land and prepared to sacrifice his life to uphold it's dignity as is ordained to him by Islam.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned state of facts seems to be not properly communicated to our Hindu brothers and therefore they suspect Muslim to be anti-national when he is reluctant to say Vande Mataram . It is not at all like that.
In fact in Islam obedience to the law of the land is a religious duty. Any country or government that guarantee religious freedom to followers of different faiths (not just Islam)must be owed loyality. The Qur-aan says "O ye who believe obey Allah,and obey his messanger and those who are in authority over you" (Ch.4:V.60).
In view of the above, a Muslim by virtue of his faith can not be disloyal to his mother land and if he does so he is not a Muslim in a true sense according to Islam.
This article is written by me with the pious object of communicating my personal opinion on the issue of Vande Mataram to my Hindu brothers and sisters .I am not at all motivated to write this article except to establish good will between Hindus and Muslims.
I am not associated with any religious group and I even do not know how Muslims will react to this article. But then I have expressed my opinion on the basis of what I feel to be true!
In writing this article if unknowingly l have hurt feelings of anybody,believe me I have no such intention, and even then if anybody is hurt kindly forgive me.
Jay Hind!

Comments

TRENDING

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए। 

Censor Board's bullying delays 'Phule': A blow to India's democratic spirit

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  A film based on the life and legacy of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule was expected to release today. Instead, its release has been pushed to the last week of April. The reason? Protests by self-proclaimed guardians of caste pride—certain Brahmin groups—and forced edits demanded by a thoroughly discredited Censor Board.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

Incarcerated for 2,424 days, Sudhir Dhawale combines Ambedkarism with Marxism

By Harsh Thakor   One of those who faced incarceration both under Congress and BJP rule, Sudhir Dhawale was arrested on June 6, 2018, one of the first six among the 16 people held in what became known as the Elgar Parishad case. After spending 2,424 days in incarceration, he became the ninth to be released from jail—alongside Rona Wilson, who walked free with him on January 24. The Bombay High Court granted them bail, citing the prolonged imprisonment without trial as a key factor. I will always remember the moments we spent together in Mumbai between 1998 and 2006, during public meetings and protests across a wide range of issues. Sudhir was unwavering in his commitment to Maoism, upholding the torch of B.R. Ambedkar, and resisting Brahmanical fascism. He sought to bridge the philosophies of Marxism and Ambedkarism. With boundless energy, he waved the banner of liberation, becoming the backbone of the revolutionary democratic centre in Mumbai and Maharashtra. He dedicated himself ...

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Why crucifixion is a comprehensive message of political journey for the liberation of the oppressed

By Vijayan MJ  Passion week is that time of the year when Christians all over the world remind themselves about the sufferings, anguish, pain and the bloody crucifixion that Jesus Christ took on himself, as part of his mission of emancipating the people and establishing the kingdom of god. The crucifixion was not just a great symbolism of the personal sacrifice of one person, but it was a comprehensive messaging of a political journey for the liberation of the oppressed; one filled with struggle, militancy, celebration of life, rejection of temptations, betrayals, grief, the long-walk with the cross, crucifixion and ultimately resurrection as a symbol of victory over the oppressors and evil. 

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

Akhilesh Yadav’s boycott of Dainik Jagran: A step towards accountability or political rhetoric?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat  Akhilesh Yadav has called for a total boycott of Dainik Jagran, a newspaper owned by the Gupta family. He also declared that the Samajwadi Party will no longer participate in any panel discussions organized by a media channel allegedly controlled by the family or relatives of the omnipresent Rajiv Shukla. Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party are well aware that Dainik Jagran has long been antagonistic to Dalit-Bahujan interests. The newspaper represents a Bania-Brahmin corporate and ideological enterprise.

How Mumbai University crumbles: Not just its buildings

By Rosamma Thomas*  In recent days, the news from the University of Mumbai has been far from inspiring – clumps of plaster have fallen off the ceiling at the CD Deshmukh Bhavan, and it was good fortune that no one was injured; creepy crawlies were found in the water dispenser that students use to collect drinking water, and timely warning videos circulated by vigilant students have kept people safe so far.