Muslim clerics differ on reciting national anthem

As the Uttar Pradesh government directed the 'madrasas' (Islamic Seminaries) to celebrate Independence Day by unfurling the tricolour and recital of National Anthem, sharp differences have emerged among the Muslim clerics on the issue.
 
While a section of the clergy has asked the Muslims not to sing National Anthem as some of the lines in it were not in accordance with the tenets of Islam, some other clerics found nothing wrong with the anthem.
 
The clerics owing allegiance to the Barelvi sect have made it clear that neither National Anthem nor ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung in the ‘Madarsas’ affiliated with them. A written directive had been issued to the ‘madarsas’ in this regard, sources said.
 
‘’We have asked our madrasas to hold I-Day celebrations…tricolor will be unfurled’’, said senior cleric of Barelvi sect Maulana Asjad Raza Khan.
 
The students would sing ‘sare jahan se achha Hindostan hamara’ (Our country better than the entire world) rather than national anthem and ‘vande Mataram’, he added.
 
Prestigious Deoband based Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom, however, said that there was nothing wrong in singing national anthem and ‘vande mataram’.
 
All India Shia Personal Law Board spokesman Maulana Yasoob Abbas also slammed opposition to the singing of anthem and vande Mataram.
 
The state government had, in a circular issued to all the 'madarsas', directed them to unfurl the tricolor followed by the recital of national anthem and national song. It further directed them to explain to the students the significance of Independence Day followed by a recital of patriotic songs by the students.
 
The government also directed the ‘madarsas’ to conduct videography of the entire program and submit the video and pictures to the concerned government official.
 
According to the sources in the government, it was for the first time such a circular had been issued to the 'madrasas'.