Indian Muslims must respect sentiments of majority community, says Salman Khan’s father
September 14th, 2008 - 1:39 pm ICT by IANS -Mumbai, Sep 14 (IANS) Salim Khan, Bollywood’s legendary scriptwriter and father of megastar Salman Khan, has denounced Muslim clerics who have issued a fatwa against him and his family for celebrating Ganeshotsav, the popular Hindu festival, in their home, asserting that worshipping Lord Ganesh is in his son’s blood as his mother is Hindu.”They claim to be speaking for Islam, but actually what they are doing is anti-Islamic. And I am relying on the scriptures of the Holy Quran, which says my religion is with me, yours is with you. Don’t force your religious beliefs on others,” Khan told IANS in an interview here.
Khan was responding to Wednesday’s fatwa - an Islamic religious edict - against his entire family issued by Mufti Manjar Hassan Khan Ashrafi Misbahi, the chief of Darul-Uloom Hijaziya Chishti, Mumbai.
“What is the locus standi of these people? Who are they to question people’s religious beliefs? They have never considered issuing such fatwa against any terrorist who butchers innocent people. They only pick on secular Muslims,” he pointed out in an emotion-charged voice.
Referring to his comments before a TV channel, Khan claimed that more than 96 percent of the viewers have wholeheartedly supported his “free and frank views”.
“Why should we then bother about this minuscule, less than four percent, of the rest?” he demanded.
Justifying his family celebrating Ganeshotsav at home, Khan explained to IANS: “We are born in India, it is our motherland and it is our duty to respect the sentiments of the people of this country, partake in their festivities, joys and sorrows.
“How can a handful of these people decide who will go to heaven and who will not? Have they already reserved their places in heaven?”
He recalled an incident last year when a Hindu youth rescued a young Muslim couple stranded on the rocks at the Bandra .Bandstand. The couple was sitting on the rocks when the high tide on the Arabian Sea caught them unawares.
He said that the youth, unmindful of consequences, jumped into the raging sea and rescued the couple, but lost his life.
“This is a symbol of humanity and love for fellow beings, irrespective of religious beliefs. These persons (clerics) must remember that the Holy Quran has termed killing of innocent persons equal to killing humanity. Do any of these people speak out against this?” Khan asked.
The scriptwriter - who along with Javed Akhtar penned the scripts of Bollywood blockbusters like “Sholay,” “Zanjeer,” “Seeta Aur Geeta,” “Deewar,” and “Trishul” - said that Islam is a religion of peace - and even the Quran preaches peace throughout.
He urged Muslims to respect the sentiments of the majority community. “Those who cannot do this have no right to live here,” he declared.
Khan emphatically added that India’s 145 milllion Muslims survive because of the “goodness” of the majority community, so it is the duty and responsibility of every Muslim to remain grateful to this country.
Justifying the decision to celebrate Ganeshotsav with family last week, Salim said that his wife Sushila was forced to change her name to Salma after marriage by hardline Muslim clerics.
He pointed out that his wife being a Maharashtrian Hindu, “worshipping Lord Ganesh is in the blood of her son, Salman.”
He mentioned that one of his employees, a Muslim, runs a family business of making beautiful idols of Lord Ganesh, and there are many Muslims all over Mumbai and other parts who celebrate Ganeshotsav and other Hindu festivals with devotion.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
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September 15th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Rightly said by Salim Saab,
India belongs equally to all Indians, be it a Muslim brother, Hindu brother, Sikh brother, Christian brother, Parsi brother, Jain brother, Buddhist brother, Dalit brother and Everyone who has adopted India as its Motherland, even if it is a foreigner.
All Indians fought together for Independence without any prejudice. Only powermonger separatists divided the Country & its people sowing seeds of hatred, they continue to do so even today, they will not stop at any boundary, they want to segregate Indians & India into shreds.
However our Love for each other should overcome all forms of separatism. India shall stand United with a Hindu and Muslim brother standing for each other.
Hypocrite separatists should shed hypocricy and understand the true meaning of Indianness, and more importantly Humanity and shed all forms of Violence & hatred and learn to Love and spread Love only.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Salim Uncle has only spoken in Love for his fellow Indians irrespective of religion, which in its true form Only preaches Discipline, Love, Peace, Humanity and Brotherhood.
All Indians are Equal.
A True Indian will always Love and Respect all Religions.
Like Salim Uncle 96% of Indians do,
Only those 4% need to rethink their priorities.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Why is his wife name Salma Khan??? If she has had to take on that name to marry salim… isnt that a bit hypocritical. I mean, if he trully accepted her (back then as opposed to know when people flow with majority consensus as opposed to genuine sentiment) then why does she go by teh name of Salma? Please answer.
Seems like this guy has more issues about his own religions than others living in that country. What i would like to know .. what is he trying to prove and why the need to prove anything???
September 15th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I am not against any religion as i respect all religions. however being a muslim i would like to add to the above statement made by Mr Khan, although they were born in India and that Salman Khan’s mum is and indian is not a valid reason for them worshipping the Idol, I am a british muslim born in England, it does not mean i go 2 church and worship Jesus! My point is i have indian, english asian mixtures of friends so i am not against the religion, Mr Khan and his sons should realise that if in islam u marry out of the religion u should convert them, the person has to except islam before the nikah, in Arbaaz khan, Sohail and their sisters case they wifes/husband did not. I am a very big admirer/fan of salman however if ur goin 2 beleive in a religion make it 1 not 2. Im sorry if ive offended any1 but this is the right way in our religion. A lot of the indian/muslims actors have done this and its not right, but like the respected Mr Khan said who r we 2 decide who goes to hell or heaven, because we might do 1 thing that takes us to heaven evan if ur not muslim…
September 15th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
For a good human being, Salma is as good and beautiful name as Sushila, Cecilia or Sangeeta.
Moreover, the choice lies with the individual, whether it is a name or religion one wants to adopt.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:31 am
ARE PEOPLE STUPID?
ISLAM HAS THE RIGHT TO PREACH AGAINST IDOL - IT IS A RELIGION WITH ITS OWN TENNETS AND PRINCIPLES, JUST LIKE HINDUISM HAS ITS OWN.
WHY SHOULD MUSLIM NOT CALL A SPADE A SPADE? HOW IS THIS CAUSING HOSTILITY TO THE MAJORITY?
SALMAN KHAN WAS NEVER A MUSLIM. HIS FATHER JUST ADMITTED IT THAT IT IS IN HIS BLOOD TO WORSHIP IDOLS LIKE HIS MOTHER.
I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO PROVE THAT SALMAN WAS EVER A MUSLIM. I WANT PROOF! SALMAN MAINTAINS IN ALL INTERVIEWS THAT HE IS NOT A MUSLIM AND THAT HE FOLLOWS “HUMANITY”
I THINK THE BIGGEST INSULT HERE IS ACTUALLY CALLING SALMAN A MUSLIM IN THE FIRST PLACE! HE DOES EVERYTHING FOR A BIT OF PUBLICITY SO PEOPLE THINK HE IS A GREAT GUY. HE HAS NO PRINCIPLES OR RELIGION WHATSOEVER.
September 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
AZMAT YOU IMBECILE LAMEBRAIN! FIRST GO AND LEARN THE TRUE MEANING OF ISLAM, THEN COMMENT ON IT OR ANY MUSLIM.
NO RELIGION PROHIBITS RESPECTING AND APPRECIATING OTHER RELIGIONS & ISLAM IS NO EXCEPTION BESIDES PARTICIPATING IN A FESTIVAL DOES NOT MEAN CONVERSION OF RELIGION.
BUT ITS OF NO USE, IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE ALIEN TO LOGIC THUS INDULGE IN HUMBUGGERY.
GET LOST YOU NUMBSKULL.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:15 am
I CHALLENGED YOU TO PROVE? WHERE IS THE PROOF?? I CAN’T SEE YOU PROVIDING ANY??
EITHER PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!
ITS FUNNY HOW YOU PEOPLE SEEM TO KNOW THE “TRUE MEANING” YET ACTUALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE LIKE THESE MULLAS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES STUDYING ISLAM SEEM TO KNOW LESS THAN YOU???
YOU ARE AN IDIOTIC CONFUSED MORON. FIRST LEARN HOW TO READ AND RESPOND TO A CHALLENGE WITH PROOF AND NOT YOUR NONSENSE.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:40 am
MORON! SINCE YOU ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED YOURSELF, WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION OR CHALLENGE ANYBODY?
YOU BLOCKHEAD, FIRST BRING THE PROOF OF WHO FATHERED YOU, THE PIZZA GUY, THE MILKMAN, POSTMAN OR THE SWEEPER? THEN TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.
JACKASS KNUCKLEHEAD! BEFORE THEY TRANQUILIZE YOU, GO AND GET QUARANTINED IN A PLACE SUITABLE FOR YOU, I.E.- A MENTAL ASYLUM.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:06 am
ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CHALLENGE PEOPLE MR. ARSE_MAT?
ABUSING YOUR OWN DAD PROVES BEYOND DOUBT THAT YOU ARE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.
GET QUARANTINED BEFORE YOU BITE SOMEONE.