Ever since the video clip of Priya Prakash Varrier from the song Manikya Malaraya Poovi from the movie Oru Adaar Love went viral in February this year, the clip has been embroiled in controversies. As reported in Bar And Bench, two Hyderabad based aggrieved parties, one of whom claims himself to be a person deeply engaged in preserving the rich Muslim culture and values, have filed an intervention Application in the Supreme Court.
The applicants have raised objection against ‘objectionable picturization’ over ‘sacred lyrics‘ be categorised as ‘blasphemy’. The application describes the clip as ‘The 30-second clip shows a young schoolgirl and schoolboy exchanging smiles, eyebrows wiggles and winks from across the way. It has completely captivated audiences but with a wrinkle on the face of religious Muslims.’ The applicants claim that the act of winking itself is forbidden in Islam.
According to the applicants, a reference (to winking) has been made in the Quran which also talks about ‘treachery of eyes’. A verse from the Quran is quoted which says that Allah knows the ‘eyes that betray’. The verse further states ‘It means the action of a person who would, secretly and surreptitiously, cast a glance over something haram and impermissible for him or her, for example, casts a glance at non-mahram person with sexual desire, and takes it away in the event someone was around, or casts a glance in a manner that is not noticed by others.’
The application further states that according to Sahih Muslim, one of the six major Hadith collection in Sunni Muslim, also forbids the ‘act of winking’. The applicants have quoted, “Abu Hararia reported Allah’s Apostle is saying: very near law has since the very portion of adultery, which a man will indulge in, and when she of necessity must commit. The identity of the eyes is the lustful look, and the identity of the tongue is a licentious speech, the heart desires and years, which the parts may or may not put into effect.” Hence, according to applicants, the picturization of the song is ‘a deliberate attempt to malign the image of Islam’.
Earlier, a group of Muslim youth has filed a complaint at the Falaknuma Police Station in Hyderabad against the actor Priya Prakash Varrier and the makers of the song for allegedly hurting sentiments of Muslims. The complaint says the song ‘Manikya Malaraya Poovi’, when translated into English, allegedly insults the Prophet. Much before the above, users on social media had discovered that the words of the song actually praised Khateeja, wife of Prophet Mohammad.
Fact:
The viral eye winking track “Manikya malaraya poovi” is an Islamic Poem praising Khateeja RA, wife of Prophet Mohammad PBUH.Was just going through the track and its lyrics and further dig into its translation, I was in a state of shock.
— Khizar (@Syaahkaar) February 13, 2018
Was checking the lyrics of the Odu Aadar song Manikya Malaraya (from which that video went viral). It is about Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and Khadija RA.
— Omar Little (@omar1618) February 13, 2018
There are many groups that believe winking is against Islam. Here is why. They believe that winking is a ‘symbol of ‘Dejjal’ which means the false messiah, liar. The Dejjāl is an evil being who will seek to impersonate the true Messiah. The Prophet has also reportedly said that Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a bulging out grape.
