By New Age Islam Staff Writer
12 April 2021
It is Curtains Over The Controversy Raised By Shia Politician Waseem Rizvi's PIL Filed In The Supreme Court of India. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Waseem Rizvi for filing such a 'frivolous' petition.
Important Points
1. According to Waseem Rizvi, 26 verses of the Quran promote hatred and violence against non-Muslims.
2. Waseem Rizvi divided the verses of the Quran under two categories. One, those verses that are positive and promote brotherhood, tolerance, forgiveness and harmony and , two, those that are negative and promote hatred and violence against non-believers.
3. Waseem Rizvi advocate RK Raizada stated that his submission was confined to the regulation of madrasa education as the teaching of the literal interpretation of aforesaid verses in the madrasas can lead to religious extremism among children.
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Waseem Rizvi, former Chief of the Shia Waqf Board (File Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
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Its curtains over the controversy raised by Lucknow-based Shia politician Waseem Rizvi's PIL filed in the Supreme Court of India on March 13, 2021 seeking order to remove 26 verses of the Quran which according to his understanding promoted hatred and violence against non-Muslims. A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R F Nariman dismissed his petition stating, "This is an absolutely frivolous writ petition". The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Waseem Rizvi for filing such a 'frivolous' petition.
Appearing for Waseem Rizvi advocate RK Raizada had stated that his submission was confined to the regulation of madrasa education as the teaching of the literal interpretation of aforesaid verses in the madrasas can lead to religious extremism among children. Raizada stated:
"My submission is that these preachings advocate violence against non-believers. Children are kept at captivity at madrasas at a tender age. Students are not to be indoctrinated.These preachings cannot be in the market place of ideas. I have written to the central government for action but nothing has happened."
The counsel on behalf of Waseem Rizvi argued that due to the presence of these 26 verses in the Quran, the religion of Islam was drifting away from its basic tenets and was nowadays identified with violence, terrorism, fundamentalism and extremism.
The petition refers to the following verses:
Verse 9 Surah 5; Verse 9 Surah 28; Verse 4 Surah 101; Verse 9 Surah 123; Verse 4 Surah 56; Verse 9 Surah 23; Verse 9 Surah 37; Verse 5 Surah 57; Verse 33 Surah 61; Verse 21 Surah 98; Verse 32 Surah 22; Verse 48 Surah 20; Verse 8 Surah 69; Verse 66 Surah 9; Verse 41 Surah 27; Verse 41 Surah 28; Verse 9 Surah 111; Verse 9 Surah 58; Verse 8 Surah 65; Verse 5 Surah 51; Verse 9 Surah 29; Verse 5 Surah 14; Verse 4 Surah 89; Verse 9 Surah 14; Verse 3 Surah 151; Verse 2 Surah 191
Waseem Rizvi's argument for removal of the aforesaid verses was that after the demise of the holy Prophet pbuh there was a dispute regarding the genuineness of some the verses and the caliphs wrongly added those 'controversial' verses in the Quran.
In his plea, Waseem Rizvi divided the verses of the Quran under two categories. One, those verses that are positive and promote brotherhood, tolerance, forgiveness and harmony and , two, those that are negative and promote hatred and violence against non-believers.
Waseem Rizvi's plea raised concerns on the madrasa education system. His plea states:
"There are many madrasas all over the world where young children are taught Islam and the holy Quran is explained to the Islamic students who are working for terrorist activities. ....It is like poison in the raw minds of young children in the name of the message of Allah which leads him to a rational mindset and from his early age when they become young they hate people of other religions because of their mindset."
Waseem Rizvi's plea also states that the Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution guarantees religious institutions to teach with liberty but they do not have liberty to teach or preach anything illegal that violates the law of the land or the Constitution.
The Supreme Court judgment in principle upheld the judgment of Calcutta High Court given in May 1985 on a similar petition filed by Chandmal Chopra. Dismissing the petition, the Calcutta High Court had stated:
" We hold that the courts cannot sit in judgment over the Koran or the contents thereof in any legal proceedings. Such adjudications of the religion itself is not permissible. Similarly, the courts cannot and will not adjudicate on theories of philosophy or of science or scientific principles.
Last month the National Minority Commission had issued notice to Waseem Rizvi asking him to withdraw his statement and apologise unconditionally within three weeks. The NCM had observed that the petition was a well thought move to promote hatred between communities.
Both Shia and Sunni communities had condemned his move and had declared him an apostate. He was threatened and abused by Muslims and he was ostracised. FIRs had also been filed against him for his remarks against the Quran.
The judgment has come as a great relief to the Muslims just before the onset of the holy month of Ramazan in which the Quran was revealed.
It remains to be seen what step Waseem Rizvi will now take as he had vowed to fight this battle till his last breath. He had said that the day he will realise that he had lost the battle, he will commit suicide.
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