It’s true that staying calm and positive during emotional outbursts is not easy for everyone. In such situations, we need the guidance of scholars, jurists and elders
By Sahil Rizvi
Recently, slogans like ‘Gustakh-e-Nabi ki ek hi saza, sar tan se juda’ (The only punishment for disrespecting the Prophet is beheading) have been heard on the tongues of some Muslim youngsters in India. We often receive news that at a certain place someone has insulted the Prophet, and, soon after, large numbers of Muslims take to the streets, raising similar slogans.
It is true that for an average Muslim, nothing is more important than the honour and dignity of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When someone disrespects the Prophet, every Muslim feels outraged, and this emotional response is natural, stemming from deep love and respect.
However, Islam is a great religion, and Islamic law (Shariah) guides us in every situation. We must learn to control our emotions in all circumstances. This self-control and guidance come from Islam and Shariah. Our anger should not be directed negatively, but used positively. It’s true that staying calm and positive during emotional outbursts is not easy for everyone. In such situations, we need the guidance of scholars, jurists and elders.
It is the duty of the Ulema (Islamic scholars) to come forward and guide us. In times of heightened emotions, it’s essential for them to lead the community in a calm and lawful manner.
Every country has its own laws, and it is not permissible for Muslims to create law and order issues in the country they live in. The one who insulted the Prophet has already caused a problem for society and disturbed the country’s social order. If Muslims, in their emotions and ignorance, contribute to law and order issues, it might serve the interests of the very evil forces that seek to harm the community.
Therefore, it is not appropriate for Muslims to raise slogans that contradict the law. Punishment for an individual cannot be declared or executed by slogans or actions from the public.
Raising such slogans not only harms the Muslim community but will also be a burden for future generations. In recent times, there have been incidents where members of the Muslim community took to the streets to demand justice against those who insulted the Prophet, but in their emotional outbursts, they raised slogans harmful to India’s law and order. As a result, the police filed FIRs against those Muslim youths.
For example, according to an NDTV report, ‘Ajmer Sharif’s Khadim Gauhar Chishti and five others were arrested in 2022 for chanting ‘Sar tan se juda’ against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma.’
Similarly, in Pune, a rally was held demanding the arrest of Mahant Ramgiri, and when the rally reached the collector’s office, participants chanted the same slogan. In this case, the Maharashtra police filed cases against 28 young people.
The Origin of the Slogan
To understand the origin of this slogan, we must go back one century. In the 1920s, a pamphlet titled Rangila Rasul published by Rajpal, sparked outrage among a section of Muslims. The Qadiani Ahmadiyya community, labeled heretics by other Muslims, saw it as a golden opportunity and organized Muslims against the publisher. They pasted posters asking, “Will those professing love for the Prophet, not wake up?” thus directly attacking the Deobandi and Barelvi scholars who were not mobilizing people at that time.
The Ahl-i-Hadith leadership also joined this movement. Rajpal was later murdered in 1929 by a young Muslim, Ilam Din (Ilmuddin), who was hailed as a hero by the Qadianis and Muslim League leadership.
This was the first case where a politically motivated group stirred the emotions of the Muslim masses, against the teachings of the majority of Islamic scholars.
In the 19th century, the Ahl-i-Hadith were propagating the argument that the Hanafi position of not applying the death penalty for blasphemy was incorrect. They quoted several Hadith to prove that people had been killed for disrespecting the Prophet.
Hanafi jurists took this charge seriously, and in a rare event, more than 450 Islamic scholars from India and abroad signed a fatwa that categorically challenged the claims of the Ahl-i-Hadith group. They pointed out that the Hadith quoted referred to habitual offenders, who were not punished with death.
To further understand the dangers of this slogan, I spoke with JNU scholar, Dr Sajid Ali, who said, “Muslim society is deeply trapped in today’s political scenario. They are provoked into raising such slogans, and once they do, the entire State machinery is ready to punish them, bulldoze their homes, and use them as pawns in political polarization efforts. These slogans contribute to the creation of an atmosphere of hatred against Muslims.”
I also spoke with research scholar Maulana Modassir Ashrafi from Jamia Millia Islamia, who said, “In a place where there is a common law for everyone, demanding such a slogan not only puts oneself in danger, but also creates a situation where the current government imprisons Muslims even for minor issues. In this case, the slogan is directly suggesting harm to some one.”
The solution is that we should demand a law from the government where equal importance is given to all religions, ensuring that no one’s God, deity or beliefs are disrespected. Therefore, introducing such a bill is necessary so that everyone is treated equally.
Even if someone has committed blasphemy, the right to punish them lies only with a judge, not with the general public. Even if blasphemy has occurred, the general public does not have the right to take action.
Hence, it is clear that raising such slogans is not only dangerous, but can also lead to unrest in society. Muslim youth should avoid such slogans and embrace a more thoughtful and wise approach to such sensitive issues.
The main points in this article:
Emotional Outrage: Muslims often react strongly to insults against the Prophet Muhammad, driven by love and respect.
Role of Islamic Law: Self-control and guidance from scholars is essential in managing emotions, in line with Islamic teachings.
Legal Framework: It is inappropriate to raise slogans that contradict the laws of the country, thereby creating social unrest, and an atmosphere of negativity.
Call for Reform: Scholars advocate for laws that ensure equal respect for all religions, emphasizing that only a judicial authority (and not the general public) can impose punishment for blasphemy.