As many as 200 Islamic scholars (mufti) have declared Centre’s Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, where a bank account is opened by parents of a girl child in her name, as ‘un-Islamic’ as per Sharia. According to Ajimullah Siddiqui, media in-charge Jamiyat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH), the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana has an interest element which is ‘un-Islamic’ as per Sharia and hence the yojana is also considered un-Islamic.

Launched in 2015 by Modi government as part of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana let parents of the girl child with less than 10 years of age open a bank account in her name. The banks were to provide 9% interest on the deposited amount. The interest element makes the yojana ‘un-Islamic’ say the ‘Islamic scholars’. However, financial transactions through different mobile apps, like PayTM or even booking a taxi through a mobile app is allowed as per Sharia. Amusingly, using Google AdSense for advertising ‘lawful goods’ is allowed. Promoting movies and illegal programs through Google AdSense is not allowed, though.

As per the statement by the JUH 200 Islamic scholars and jurists from Darul Uloom Deoband, Nadawatul Ulema, Lucknow Jamia Qasmia Shahi, Muradabad and other different Islamic institutions participated in a three-day conference held in Delhi which concluded recently. All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s Kamal Faruqui said that Islam calls for earning through business and participatory transaction. Earning interest through capital lying with a bank is ‘un-Islamic’.

Darul Uloom Deoband’s ‘fatwa department’ is often in the news for declaring things ‘un-Islamic’. Last year, it had declared CCTV cameras ‘un-Islamic’. Before that, dancing and marrying bank employees was also declared ‘un-Islamic’. Darul Uloom Deoband had also issued fatwa against Muslim women taking shopkeepers’ help to wear bangles since it was ‘wrong and a big sin’ (to have strange men touch arms).

Deoband clerics had once issued a fatwa against life insurance, as they claimed that Life and death are in the hands of Allah and no insurance company can guarantee a man’s longevity.

Also a few days ago a cleric associated with the Darul Uloom Deoband university issued a fatwa against women watching football games, as watching men playing with bare knees is forbidden for women.

In the past fatwas were issued against posting photos of self and family on social media websites like Facebook and WhatsApp. New Year Celebrations and designer burqas, too have met with the same treatment.

A fatwa was also issued against a 15-year-old Muslim girl for dressing up as Lord Krishna and reciting Gita. A Deoband Ulema had reportedly expressed his displeasure at the girl dressing up as Lord Krishna and termed it as anti-Islamic.