The chief imam of the All India Imam Organization said on Monday that he had received a fatwa for attending the consecration ceremony held at the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya on January 22, reported news agency PTI. While talking to PTI, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi revealed that since the event, he has been subjected to abuse and threats via phone calls from certain people. The ceremony witnessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi partaking in the rituals and was attended by over 7,000 guests who were invited from various communities and backgrounds.
Ilyasi said that the fatwa was issued to him by an individual on social media who also mentioned his phone number in it. He forwarded it to all imams and mosque authorities and urged them to boycott him, reported PTI.
Ilyasi further mentioned that the fatwa demands an apology from him and calls for his resignation from his position. "What prompted them to issue a fatwa, they only know...Ram Janmabhoomi (temple) trust had sent me an invitation, which I accepted," he said.
He also shared how he deliberated over it for two days, as it was a significant decision. The chief imam ultimately chose to prioritise communal amity and national interest and took the decision to attend the ceremony in Ayodhya for the sake of unity, PTI reported.
He recounted that the sadhus, seers, temple trust, and people of Ayodhya received him warmly and expressed their acknowledgement and joy at his presence. "My aim was to send 'paigam-e-mohabbat,' which I delivered there," he said.
The chief imam emphasised the essence of humanity and stated that although people may belong to different castes, worship in different ways, and follow diverse rituals and religions, the fundamental religion for every individual is being human and practicing humanity, PTI reported.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of national unity and said that all Indians should work together to strengthen the nation and make it stronger, as the nation is above all. Ilyasi said that after he delivered this message, it started coming up on various channels and on social media following which he started getting threats and abuse.
The fatwa objected to Ilyasi's emphasis on 'insaniyat' as the foremost religion and his assertion that nation supersedes all else. However, he maintained that he did nothing wrong, and therefore there was no question of him tendering an aplogy.Characterising India as 'sarva dharma sambhav' and a land where unity in diversity is celebrated, he said that no one has the right to issue such a fatwa, PTI reported.
The imam said that India is rising under the leadership of PM Modi and is on the path of becoming vishvaguru. "In this changing India, we will have to be united and be organized, and then it will become strong. As this is an India for all. That's why it's great," Ilyasi added.