Kozhikode: Sunni scholar and general secretary of Kerala organization Jam-Iyatul Ulama e Najeeb Maulvi has called on Muslims to vote in this election at any cost, even if it means skipping the mandatory Jumma on Friday.
Responding to a question at an event in Mambad, Malappuram, he said Muslims exercising their franchise was necessary to “protect democracy and secularism”, and given the gravity of the situation, if there was no alternative, It is also advisable to leave Juma for this purpose. last Sunday.
The Maulvi said it was necessary to defeat the conspiracy of ‘anti-Muslim forces’ to keep members of the community away from voting by fixing the election day as Friday.
Lok Sabha elections in Kerala are on 26 April (Friday). Prominent Muslim organizations in the state had requested the Election Commission to change the date as it would be difficult for Muslim polling officials and booth agents to pay Jumma on Friday.
The Maulvi said the Lok Sabha elections are extremely important and the effort should be to defeat communal forces and establish a secular and democratic government. “If the Election Commission does not change the day then Muslims should not face problems. There are other paths for Muslims also.
There are practical solutions to this issue, which include conducting Jumma in a phased manner. “One group can organize Juma and go back and the other group can organize Juma for polling officials and booth agents,” he said. He said, if there is no scope for two Fridays then there are other solutions also.
There is a provision in Islam to stay away from Jumma if it affects one’s business. There are other occasions when Jumma can be postponed. Citing an incident from Islamic history, the cleric said Ibn Umar once postponed Jumma when he learned that his close relative was ill. The cleric said, “When Ibn Umar came to know about his relative’s illness, he left Friday at the mosque in Medina and went to meet the patient.”
“We should be alert to see whether there is any possibility of voting machines being damaged by miscreants when Muslims go to Jumma or there is any possibility of fraudulent voting in the absence of Muslims at the booth. No Muslim should shirk his responsibility in the name of Friday.
