New Delhi: Imam and Khateeb of Shahi Jama Masjid Fatehpuri Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said that according to Shariah if the owner of the land is not permitting then offering namaz there is illegal. He said though the park is a public place, it is not made for namaz; hence if the authorities do not permit then it is not fair to offer namaz there. The political motive behind the ban is a different matter but according to shariah offering namaz on the place without owner’s permission is not permitted, he said.
On the other hand, vice president Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Uttar Pradesh Mufti Ashfaq Ahmed Azmi told that public places where coming and going, eating and drinking, playing and sitting etc. are allowed, Namaz is also allowed there. But government’s permission is compulsory for that as well. If the government imposes ban then prayer should not be offered. We cannot establish namaz by fighting. As far as UP government is concerned its attitude is prejudiced because when a man can roam about in the park, eat and sit there, then why he cannot offer namaz.
According to Inquilab, member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Dr Qasim Rasool Ilyas said the government’s decision is wrong. If the government stops from offering namaz it should provide space for that. He said it should not be made a communal issue but the government should think over it and provide space for namaz.