A Barelvi Sunni Muslim cleric has issued a fatwa against Samajwadi Party candidate Naseem Solanki who is contesting by-election from Sisamau assembly constituency in Kanpur Nagar. Her fault was that she visited a Hindu temple and performed puja rituals on the occasion of Diwali. The fatwa was issued by Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of All India Muslim Jamaat. He ruled that Solankis actions were against Islamic principles, calling her a criminal under Sharia law and asking her to seek forgiveness and recite the kalma anew. Naseem Solanki recently visited the Vankhandeshwar Temple and offered jalabhishek. She also lit diyas in the temple as part of the Diwali celebrations. Videos of her acts were widely circulated on social media by Samajwadi Party supporters. However, the video sparked controversy among Muslim voters and within the Muslim community. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said in a statement that as per the basic tenets of Islam, idol worship was strictly forbidden. In Islam, only Allah is considered worthy of worship, and any form of idol worship, be it by a man or woman, is haram and impermissible, he added. He stated that the practice of worshipping idols in any form is seen as a fitna or deviation from Islamic principles, rendering the person a criminal in the eyes of Sharia. He added that Solankis actions were self-chosen and not performed under any apparent pressure, suggesting she willingly participated in the rituals. The maluna urged her to repent, stating, As per Sharia, she must ask for forgiveness and read the kalma again to reaffirm her faith. The cleric said that if someone, regardless of gender, engages in such acts under compulsion or without understanding the implications, they could repent without severe penalties under Islamic law. In such cases, individuals are advised to seek forgiveness through prayer and refrain from similar acts in future, as these may otherwise endanger their faith and alignment with Islamic teachings, he added. If done unknowingly or under duress, they should repent and recite the kalma, reinforcing their commitment to Islam, he said. Naseem Solanki is the wife of jailed former MLA Irfan Solanki. She is contesting the by-election for the Sisamau assembly constituency following her husbands conviction in a criminal and his disqualification from the membership of the UP assembly. In June this year, Irfan Solanki was imprisoned for harassing a woman, setting her house on fire and beating her son in an attempt to grab her land in Kanpur in 2022. Since her nomination, Naseem Solanki has participated in several community events, including the Vankhandeshwar Temple visit, after which the controversy erupted.

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