Darul Uloom Deoband issues fatwa asking Sunni Muslims to avoid Iftar organised by Shias

The Sunni Islamic seminary in Saharanpur is known for issuing controversial fatwas.

As per a report published in The Pioneer,  a bench of three member Muftis of Darul Ifta of Darul Uloom Deoband issued the fatwa saying “the Sunni Muslims should refrain from attending Iftar parties’’.

The Pioneer reported quoting the Fatwa as saying, “Sunni Muslims should also not attend the marriage parties of the Shia community and they should not dine in the parties and social gatherings organised by the Shia Muslims’."

The fatwa was issued by the seminary after local resident of Deoband Sikandar Ali questioned whether shariat permits the Sunni Muslims to attend the Iftar parties organised by the Shia Muslims during the holy month of Ramzan and whether Sunni Muslims should attend and dine during the social events like marriage and Dawat-e-walima organised by the Shia muslims, reports said.

Mufti Jainul Islam kasmi, Mufti Fakhrul Islam and Mufti Waqar Ali reportedly issued the fatwa.

"The Muftis have however not declared the dining with Shia Muslims during Ramzaan as 'illegitimate', they have only advised the Sunni Muslims to refrain from attending the social events organised by the Shia Muslims," The Pioneer reported.

Darul Uloom Deoband has earlier also triggered controversy by issuing similar fatwas.