Don't Equate It With Patriotism

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam, Delhi Jama Masjid: Vande Mataram isagainst Islamic beliefs and asking Muslims to sing it would amount tosuppression of the community. When it comes to worship, only Allah is given thathonour. A Muslim cannot worship his or her parents, motherland and even theProphet though they are held in high esteem. Ever since Independence, allgovernments at the Centre and in states have been suppressing Muslims. Thisproposal is yet another example. If somebody sings Vande Mataram voluntarily, Ihave no objections. But if people are forced to do so, it will meet withresistance.

Avtar Singh Makkar, president, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee: Howcan I stop Sikhs from singing Vande Mataram when I cannot even prevent SGPC-runschools. I, alone, am not powerful enough to direct all members of the communitynot to sing the national song. (On 5 August he had issued a directive to schoolsrun by the SGPC not to recite Vande Mataram as it only 'spreads a particularreligion and does not fulfill the aspirations of minorities, including Sikhs,Muslims and Christians. It's a conspiracy to extend communalism in the nation'.)

K.S. Sudarshan, Sarsanghachalak, RSS: Singing Vande Mataram should becompulsory in all schools and academic institutions and Indians irrespective oftheir religion or faith should have no objection to reciting the national song.Those who do not have faith in Bharatmata have no right to live in the country.The current bout of controversy is the manifestation of a wider conspiracy. Thenation was bifurcated in similar situations in 1947.

Mufti Zulfiqar, president, Uttar Pradesh Imams Organisation: Muslimsare loyal to the nation and there is no need to prove their loyalty.

Mozaha Anjar Shah Kashmiri, Darul Uloom Deoband: Vande Mataram wasunder controversy since 1876 as it was against the tenets of the Shariat law toworship sky and soil. But Muslims are loyal to the nation.

Shaista Amber, chairman, All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board: Isupport the fatwa issued by Deoband for closure of madarsas on September 7 toavoid controversy regarding singing of Vande Mataram on that day.

Maulana Marghoob ur Rahman, director, Dar-ul Uloom, Deoband: The Dar-ulUloom has not issued any fatwa on the singing of the national song, noappealed to Muslim children to stay away from schools on September 7. A certainsection is wanting to attack Dar-ul Uloom on this without any basis, as no fatwahas been issued.

Daawat, bi-weekly of Jamaat-e-Islami: There is no consensus onhow the song is viewed by the Constitution and if it does have a controversialpast, why has it been raked up now? Equating Vande Mataram with patriotism iswrong and being done with an objective of dividing society and taking politicaladvantage of the situation.

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, vice-president, All India Muslim Personal Law Board: According to the dictionary, ' vande' means to worship and as such it is not right for Muslims to reciteit. However if ' vande' means saluting or paying respect to the country, there is nothing wrong in its recitation byMuslims. [He said he disagreed with the influential Darul Uloom seminary's advice to Muslim children not to attend school on Septemberseven and suggested Muslim children could join the recitation of Vande Mataram but omit the word'vande']. Eminent Sanskrit and Muslim scholars could work together to ascertain the correct Urdu translation of the word'vande'. It is a "non-issue" created by the BJP, which is desperately looking for an issue for its survival.The BJP should restrain its Muslim leaders from issuing reckless statements on the issue.Some clerics have been harming the cause of Islam by issuing reckless fatwas at regular intervals on practically every issue and making it appear as if they were religious diktats

Mahmood A Madani, organising general secretary, Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind:It is wrong to relate reciting of  Vande Mataram with patriotism. Muslimsare firm in their resolve that they cannot and should not sing Vande Mataram andthey should not be forced to do so. The Centre hasn't made the recitation of thesong mandatory and the states should also follow that. If forced to sing, wewill protest it with peaceful means, we will take up this issue to court.Muslims do not have to prove their love for motherland to anyone. We deeply loveIndia as our motherland but cannot worship it as 'Ibadat sirf ek Khuda kihoti hain' (only God is worshipped). Vande Mataram is a hymnical tribute toGoddess Durga, therefore, we cannot recite it. Even R N Tagore, M N Roy had saidMuslims should not be forced to recite it.