Why Are Muslims Wearing Black Armbands On Eid?

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had urged Muslims to wear black armbands during the namaz on ‘Alvida Jumma’.

Muslims offering prayers at Nakhoda Masjid.

Source : PTI

Some Muslims were seen wearing black armbands while offering prayers at various mosques, including in Delhi, Sambhal and Bhopal, on the occasion of Eid on Monday. Several people had worn these armbands in Lucknow, Hyderabad and other cities on 'Alvida Jumma' too.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | People are seen wearing black arm bands while they are arriving to offer Namaz at Eidgah Masjid in Bhopal on the occasion of #EidAlFitr2025

All India Muslim Personal Law Board has appealed to people to wear black arm bands today to mark a protest… pic.twitter.com/2erjvinYUb

— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2025

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had urged Muslims to wear black armbands during the namaz on ‘Alvida Jumma’ as a peaceful protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. 

"It is the responsibility of every Muslim in the country to strongly oppose this bill (Waqf Amendment Bill 2025). The All India Muslim Personal Law Board appeals to all Muslims to wear a black armband while coming to the mosque on Jumu’atul Wida as a silent and peaceful expression of grief and protest," the Board had said.

The AIMPLB had added that the Waqf Amendment Bill  was “a sinister conspiracy aimed at depriving Muslims of their mosques, eidgahs, madrasas, dargahs, khanqahs, graveyards, and charitable institutions.” 

A local in Sambhal said, "The whole issue is that the Waqf property belongs to Muslims, right? Now the government wants it to come under our control. So, we are protesting for that. Everyone is here, and everyone is against the government's actions regarding the property".

What Is The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024?

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) in August 2024, will be reintroduced in the current session of Parliament. The Bill was referred to the JPC in August 2024, after it was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.