– Raheem Khan
Jaipur: The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has strongly opposed the government’s directive mandating the observance of Surya Namaskar in schools on Surya Saptami. In a resolution passed by its state executive, the organisation denounced this move as an unwarranted intrusion into religious matters and a direct violation of constitutional rights, including religious freedom upheld by the Supreme Court and various High Courts.
The organisation has urged the Muslims to refrain from sending their children to school on February 3, as a mark of protest against the directive issued by Rajasthan’s Director of Secondary Education on January 27.
According to Abdul Wahid Khatri, state general secretary of the Jamiat, the executive body clarified that within the Hindu community, the sun is revered as a deity, and the associated chants, prostrations, and rituals constitute an act of worship. Since Islamic principles strictly prohibit the worship of any entity other than Allah, the Muslims find participation in such practices unacceptable.
The Jamiat asserts that compelling students of diverse religious backgrounds to partake in a religious exercise under the guise of a school activity is a blatant infringement of constitutional values and religious freedom. It has vowed to resist this imposition through democratic means.
Furthermore, it has called upon the state government to immediately withdraw the directive, warning that such actions undermine the democratic fabric of the country.
Emphasising the importance of preserving religious identity, the organisation has urged Muslim families to safeguard the faith and beliefs of future generations and resist any coercion. It reiterated that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practise their faith freely while pursuing education.
