Faizel Patel – 11/09/2020
A professor who claims that the athan is an outdated tradition says he needs to be educated about Islam and its traditions while at the same time admitting that he endorses nationalist Hindu movements and ideologies.
In a Hindasa media release, Professor Anand Singh says while Muslims have a right to prayer and to call others to prayer, it should not be at the cost of the constitutional rights of their fellow citizens who belong to other faiths.
Singh says crucial questions arise out of Chandra Ellaurie’s successful legal bid to put a stop to the athan that is, arguably, an outdated tradition.
Ellaurie sought a court interdict to silence the athan and shut down the Madrasah Taleemuddeen Islamic Institute’s operations in the residential neighbourhood of Isipingo Beach and sell its property to the state or to a non-Muslim entity.
Despite the possibility of Ellaurie’s court bit being overturned on appeal, Singh was stubbornly adamant that even if a Mosque, church or temple sounds out religious calls to prayers or chants within the confines of the law, the practice will still be outdated.
“I would say that it is outdated to the extent that people do not appreciate that level of noise even if it’s not done through a loud hailer.”
Based on Singh’s article, a number of social media comments related to the post have allegedly accused him of either being a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other Hindutva organisations.
Singh acknowledged that he endorses these Hindu nationalist groups, which are apparently viewed as anti-Muslim in India.
[Singh]: “Who are you or anybody else to ask me what I should and endorse and not endorse?” [Ml Ravat]: “Who are you to ask us how we should sound our athan? It’s fair discussion as you said.” [Singh]: “Yes I am (part of hindu movements) and I’ll tell you one thing, I am aligned to the Muslims that are also part of the RSS.”
Singh while refusing to admit he should have checked his facts about Islam and its traditions before writing the article, claims he wrote it to engage in robust discussion despite the incoherencies in the piece.
Listen to Ml Ravat Tackles Prof Anand Singh On His Controversial Views Regarding Azaan On Loud Speakers
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