Taking part in TV debates un-islamic says fatwa

Taking part in debates on TV by Muslim clerics is un-Islamic and should be avoided, according to a fatwa (religious decree) issued by a prominent Bareilly-based Islamic seminary.

The fatwa, issued by the Markazi Darul Ifta (department of fatwa) of the Dargah Ala Hazrat at Bareilly, about 250 kilometres from here, said that the Shariat (Islamic laws) does not permit watching television or video.

“If watching TV and video is barred, then naturally taking part in debates is also not permitted”, said Mufti Mohammed Nazim Ali Quadri, a cleric at the seminary. The fatwa was issued in response to a query by a resident of Shahabad town in the state. He had sought to know if it was appropriate for Muslim clerics to participate in TV



debates, especially on those concerning religious issues.

Quadri also referred to a book authored by a well-known Islamic scholar to buttress his contention. Another senior cleric at the Dargah, Mufti GhulamMustafa Noori, also echoed similar sentiments and said that Muslim clerics and religious leaders should avoid taking part in such debates.

The seminary had a few days ago issued a fatwa against popular game Pokemon Go, saying it was against the tenets of Islam. They asked their Muslim bretheren to refrain from playing the game as it ‘could create problems’.

More recently, it had issued another fatwa, stating that there was nothing wrong in Islamic seminaries hoisting the national flag on Independence Day.