PMO India Even if invited, Shri Narendra Modi should not go for the consecration of another usurper as the next Imam of Jama Masjid. This is totally anachronistic with Islamic practice and the laws of India. The term Imam is most commonly in the context of a worship leader of a mosque and Muslim community by Sunni Muslims. In this context, Imams may lead Islamic worship services, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. It is for Shia Muslims that the Imam has a more central meaning and role in Islam through the concept of Imamah. Imam may also be used in the form of a title for renowned Muslim scholars. It cannot be a hereditary position. The importance of the Imam of the Jama Masjid was that he enjoyed the honour to perform the coronation ceremony of the Mughal Emperors, the mosque being the biggest in the vicinity and having being constructed by Shah Jehan. All Mughal Emperors had the coronation ceremony performed by the the Imam. The coronation of Aurangzeb took place from the hands of Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari, the first Imam. This tradition remained until the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar whose coronation ceremony was performed by the then and the eighth Imam of Jama Masjid. The Mughal Empire ended with the burial of Bahadur Shah in Rangoon and with it should have gone the importance of the Imam of Jama Masjid. But by now Delhi was a big, bustling city and a great centre of commerce. The Jama Masjid enjoyed prime location and control of it conferred wealth. This is why the Imam has become important. How much influnece he has on teh Muslim community is questionable, but questionable practices by politicians has conferred a certain valence to him. And he is misusing this to cock a snook at our courts and our laws. In 2005, the Delhi High Court giving its verdict on the dispute between Waqf Boad and Imam Bukhari over his claim over Jama Masjid, had not only stated that the Jama Masjid is the property of the Waqf Board but also had ruled that Imam Bukhari is an employee of the Waqf Board. The Court had also directed Imam Bukhari not to interfere in Jama Masjid’s historical shape, affairs, building structure etc without the Waqf Board’s approval. About Waqf Board’s question regarding Jama Masjid’s income, the court had also directed Imam Bukhari to submit a statement of his income and expenditure of the past 30 years to the Waqf Board. Bukhari has never complied with this order. Objecting to the Bukhari family’s occupation of Jama Masjid and its associated properties, illegal constructions inside Jama Masjid etc, a number of people have made complaints and have even gone to courts. Their contention is that the Jama Masjid is the property of the Muslim community, of Waqf Board, but the Imam and his brothers have turned it into their personal fief. Bukhari is meant to be the Imam of Jama Masjid, i.e. leader of prayers, but he has become owner of the Jama Masjid. The Bukhari family has turned it into a jagirdari. Its never too late to throw this joker out.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:03:20 +0000
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