Why should Muslims fast for Ramzan: Irrfan Khan
Days ahead of the release of his movie Madaari, Irrfan Khan has courted controversy saying Muslims should introspect rather than fast during the month of Ramzan.
Muslim clerics were quick to react. Top Islamic scholars said the Talwar actor should stick to acting and not comment on religious practices.
At a promotional event in Jaipur for the film, Madaari, which is set to release on July 15, Irrfan Khan questioned the Muharram ritual of animal slaughter too.
"Rather than fasting during Ramzan, people should introspect. Animals are being slaughtered in the name of qurbaani (sacrifice) during Muharram. We Muslims have made a mockery of Muharram. It is meant for mourning and what do we do? Take out (tajiya) processions," he said.
Clerics in the actor’s hometown did not take kindly to his remarks. Maulana Abdul Wahid Khatri, state secretary of Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, accused him of seeking cheap publicity for his movie with his “random comments”.
"It would be better if he concentrates on his film career and not make random statements about our religion. He is doing this just for the publicity of his upcoming movie," Khatri told India Today.
Attacking the Paan Singh Tomar actor as someone with no knowledge about Islam, Jaipur’s chief jurist Sher Qazi Khalid Usmani asked Irfan Khan to “keep his mouth shut as he has no knowledge about the religion”.