Just three days ahead of the country’s Republic Day celebrations, Islamic organisation Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a bizarre diktat asking students to avoid unnecessary travel on Republic Day as “there is checking at several places and a feeling of uneasiness is caused”, resulting in an “environment of fear”.
Reportedly, the controversial order has been issued by the hostel-in-charge of the Darul Uloom, which says that if at all travelling is unavoidable then students should display restraint and stay clear of “any kind of argument” and return to the seminary immediately after completing their business.
The notice in Urdu reads, “Dear students, on Republic Day, you travel to different places. There is checking at one place after the other. A feeling of uneasiness is caused. An environment of fear is created. Keeping these circumstances in mind, you are advised to avoid travelling unless necessary. Avoid indulging in unnecessary arguments.”
“Talaba-e-Aziz, Yaum-e-Jamhuriya ke mauqe par aap mukhtalif muqaamat ka safar karte hain. Jagah jagah checking hoti hai. Izteraabi kaifiyat paida ki jaati hai. Darr wa khauf ka mahaul bann jaata hai. In halaat ke pesh-e-nazar aap ko hidayat di jaati hai ki bila zarurat safar se bachein. Bila zarurat bahas va mubahis se gurez karein,” the diktat order in Urdu as reported by Indian Express.
Reportedly, a senior staff member at the Islamic institution said as Republic Day is on Saturday and Friday is a holiday at Darul Uloom, the students have been granted two-day leave. Hence, the notice has been issued to prevent them from going out as a large number of students visit their home during holidays and return in 10-12 days.
He further said the notice is not applicable to any particular community but that there is heightened security in the country usually during this time.
“This should not be misunderstood as if we are feeling that a particular community is being targeted. We would have made it public and would have issued a press note. We only have issued a simple advisory notice to our students. This is nothing to do with us being an Islamic institution,” he said.
Muneeruddin Usmani, the person who had issued such orders speaking to the media said that they have asked students to avoid travel by trains and outings during the holiday in order to avoid problems arising ‘due to excess checking’.
Darul Uloom Deoband is often known for issuing such outlandish fatwas as recently it had issued a Fatwa, that had decreed stating women are forbidden to participate in marriage processions with men. Earlier in February, the Islamic seminary had decided to issue a fatwa against Muslim women taking help of men while trying out bangles in shops.
It was also reported that Deoband clerics had issued a fatwa against life insurance, as they claimed that Life and death are in the hands of Allah and no insurance company can guarantee a man’s longevity. In the past, a cleric associated with the Darul Uloom Deoband university had issued a fatwa against women watching football games, as watching men playing with bare knees is forbidden for women.
In another instance of a bizarre fatwa, a fatwa was issued asking Muslim families to not marry men or women who work in banks. Posting photos of self and family on social media websites have also drawn Fatwas in the past. New Year Celebrations and designer burqas, too had the same destiny.
