Tripti Nath/ New Delhi

Liberal Muslims have not taken kindly to the way Farmani Naz, a young talented Muslim singer from Muzzafarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, is being hounded by a Deoband Muslim cleric, for singing Bhajans of Lord Shiva.

Farmani who has become the center of the controversy had recently posted her rendition of the bhajan ‘ Har Har Shambhu,’ which has garnered more than 9,20,000 views on YouTube. It was extensively played by Kanwarias on their march to Haridwar recently. But it attracted the wrath of two Deobandi Ulema, who asked her to “ seek forgiveness from Allah’’ for singing a bhajan.

Senior Advocate, Constitution, and Islam jurisprudence expert Shams Khwaja says, “Nobody falls out of the domain of Islam by singing a Bhajan and no Mufti should exercise the privilege of pronouncement over somebody’s act unless and until the person concerned has sought guidance or opinion.’’ 

Senior journalist Abid Shah outrightly dismissed Ulema Mufti Asad Qasmi’s demand that Farmani should seek forgiveness from God. He said, “ This is unjustifiable, uncalled for, and too parochial.’’

Citing the example of secular traditions in India’s film industry, Abid, an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, said, “ Films always offered secular space. It did not matter whether Meena Kumari or Dileep Kumar were Hindu or Muslim. All that mattered was talent. As an observer of contemporary politics, this is what I can say. Unfortunately, things are changing now and what is happening is the new normal. This is competitive communalism that feeds each other. Often, all communalists are hand- in- glove. They fuel communal hatred through such utterances."

Farmani Naaz recoding her song

Abid drew attention to times when Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, and songwriter Shakeel Badayuni wrote bhajans, Naushad set music and Mohammed Rafi sang the bhajans. “ This was fairly common and nobody used to mind all this. These LPs, cassettes of bhajans used to be played all over. People recognized Mohammed Rafi’s rich voice. These bhajans can still be heard on YouTube. Communal identities did not matter. Till recently, it was more of a nationalist identity. ‘’

The senior journalist said that Indian history is replete with examples of celebrated Muslim poets writing about Lord Krishna. “ We had Indian Sufi Muslim poets like Syed Ibrahim Khan (1548-1628) known by his takhallus (pen name) Raskhan, who wrote poetry on Krishna and Mathura. Apart from this, Abdul Rahim khan-i-Khanan, one of the nine important ministers (Navratnas) of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, wrote devotional poetry in Hindi which is still taught in schools.’’

Joining the debate, Shabnam Hashmi, co-founder and managing trustee of ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) wonders how anybody can rake up Hindu-Muslim elements in music. “ Music is music. Whether you sing in praise of Allah or Bhagwan, it is the same thing. All these attacks on our syncretic culture regardless of where they come from, are unacceptable and meant to further polarize the society.’’

Shabnam says, “The objection raised by the Deoband clerics itself is highly objectionable. As ANHAD, we strongly condemn this moral policing against anybody. The singer has the right to sing what she wants. A scholar who truly understands the essence of the Holy Quran would not make such statements. Religion is very closely linked to culture. By the logic of the Deoband Ulemas, should we say that Dhruv Sangari, Madan Gopal Singh, or Sonam Kalra should not sing Sufi music because they are Hindus? Only two days back, it was Mohd, Rafi’s birth anniversary and I was listening to a very famous Bhajan sung by him. It is called ‘ Man Tadpat Hari Darshan ko Aaj.’ We also have Dagar brothers also called Dagar Bandhus, who only sing in praise of Hindu Gods.’’

The controversy erupted when Muslim cleric Mufti Asad Qasmi, was quoted as saying: “ You can’t just sing any kind of song if you follow Islam. Despite being a Muslim, Naz is singing Bhajans. She should ask for forgiveness from God.”

Deoband-based Maulana Ishaq Gora, said, “Our religion does not allow us to sing bhajans of other religions. This is against the Sharia as well as the basic tenets of Islam.’’

Naz, a single mother who has participated in the popular TV show Indian Idol, said that she sings to support the treatment of her four-year-old son, who has a throat ailment.

“Music has no religion. Great singers like Mohammed Rafi have also sung bhajans. It is my request to everyone not to associate music with any particular religion,’’ she appealed alongside her video on YouTube.