Lucknow: A fatwa which is issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband on the query sent by the IAF official last week suggests that an official of Indian Air Force (IAF) should quit the job if he is not allowed to grow beard as per Islamic Sharia or should seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) everyday he shaves till he finds a new job.
According to the news published by Indian Express, in the query by an IAF official, he said he has now completed 10 years of service. “I feel because of this service, I came close to Islam because I meet different types of people at different places in India. Now I want to keep beard but in Air Force there is no permission to keep beard at this stage. I have to go for daily shave. I have two options – either get discharged from service (without any pension benefit) or continue with daily shaving. So please suggest what should I do? Should I leave the service or continue?,” the official asked.
Replying to this query, seminary tells the official that if it was not permissible to grow beard as per the “rules (bylaws) of India Air Force” and “you had signed on the agreement in the beginning of service” then in that case he has only two options. “If you are financially well off and you can find out any other income source comfortably after leaving this job then in such a case you may prefer quitting this job. But in case you cannot arrange for suitable income source, then in such a case continue (with) your present job and keep on doing taubah and istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah). Also keep on looking for suitable job and when you get one leave this job,” the seminary suggested the official in the fatwa.
This fatwa is confirmed by Darul Uloom’s vice-chancellor, Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani.