No Nikah if there is music or DJs at wedding: Fatwa by Islamic clerics in Jammu’s Mankote sparks debate

KASHMIR: Islamic scholars in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch have now issued a fatwa against playing music, DJs and beating drums during marriage functions. The announcement was made in Mankote, with clerics warning that Nikah or Namaz-e-janaza would not be performed if any family played music during weddings.

The incident has sparked outrage from several quarters. Speaking to Times Now, BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi wondered why fatwas were not issued to ensure that the children of Jammu and Kashmir, "drop guns and pick up laptops" and obtain an education and earn well. "Why do they have a problem with those who work as DJs etc and earn a living?" the Jammu and Kashmir BJP vice president asked.

Thus far there had been no follow up comments from other leading political leaders from other parties in the Kashmir Valley.

This however is not an isolated incident. Recent reports from various locations indicate that similar statements were also made in Uttar Pradesh last year. Soon after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board issued an 11-point resolution letter to curb social evils, Islamic scholars had said that they would not perform the marriage ceremony if the groom demanded dowry from the girl's family or played music or indulged in fireworks.

In 2018, clerics in UP's Deoband had said that they would boycott weddings where music and dance were taking place and a DJ was there as it was against Islam. "If the music and dance happened before the nikah ceremony and qazi didn't know then it's different," news agency ANI had quoted city Qazi Mufti Azhar Hussain as saying at the time.