Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale advised Muslims to perform Surya Namaskar during an event. The RSS leader had said, “What harm will Surya Namaskar do to Muslims?” The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has reacted to this statement and condemned Hosabale’s statement. The Jamiat said that this comment reflects a serious misunderstanding of the core tenets of Islam and India’s pluralistic culture.
Reacting to the RSS leader’s statement, Maulana Mahmood Madani said that Hindus and Muslims have lived together in India for centuries and that the fundamental principles of Islam are not hidden from any educated person. The Maulana further stated that Islam is founded on the principle of Tawheed, and worship of Allah alone is its core teaching. Any deviation from this belief puts a person outside the fold of Islam.
During this, Maulana Madani targeted RSS leader Hosabale, saying that he lacks seriousness in understanding Islamic beliefs. He said that Islam teaches love for nature and environmental protection, but it is completely wrong to associate this with worship.
During this, the Maulana also mentioned his dialogue with former RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan. He stated that even today, the Jamiat is ready for meaningful and honest dialogue. He also stated that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has long worked for communal harmony, dialogue, and mutual respect, and that in the past, efforts have been made to address misconceptions about Islam with leaders of the RSS and other Hindutva organizations.
