Leaflet sparked simmering hostilities

This year the sighting of the new moon, marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, was reported from Bhiwandi and other parts of the country, but not Mumbai. This led to a confusion over the dates which are crucial for the conclusion of the fast and celebration of Idd.

Since they maintained that the moon was sighted on December30, Deobandis began fasting on December 31 considering it to be the first day of the holy month. However, Sunnis started their fast only on January 1 this year. This would have had serious repercussions.

To iron out the differences, both communities were called for a high-level Ulema (priest) meeting held at the Jama Masjid on Saturday evening. The Deobandis suggested that those Muslims who started their fasts late should compensate with an extra day’s fast after the Idd and follow the Deobandis account of sighting of the moon. However, Maulana Zahiruddin Khan of the Raza Academy rejected the proposal. The academy represents the Barelvi Muslims in Mumbai. On Sunday afternoon Sunni Muslims distributed pamphlets criticising Wahabi ideologies outside the Jama Masjid at Crawford Market, regarded as the citadel of Deobandi school of thought.

The pamphlets were distributed by a boy after the Namaze-Asr (around 5 pm). The offended Deobandis beat up the boy who was admitted at the G T Hospital. The Sunnis retaliated by stabbing the Deobandis coming out of the masjid after the Namaze-Magrib (around 7 pm).

Five persons were injured and rushed to the G T Hospital, where two succumbed to their injuries. The deaths further fuelled the groups who thronged the L T Marg police station after the mandatory congregational prayers performed in Ramzan (Taraweeh) at 10 pm.

Even as people assembled some politicians like Faiyyaz Ahmed, Sohail Lokhandwala and Abu Asim Azmi too joined the crowd. A prominent Muslim leader Maulana Kashmiri who was beaten up by the Deobandi mob also joined in. A meeting was held at Sunni’s Badi Masjid at Madanpura. A final meeting was suggested on Monday after Taraweeh.

If either of the communities refuse to relent, the city will see two Idds a prospect not much cherished by Muslims who feel that the clash was avoidable.General secretary of the Raza Academy, Mohammed Saeed Noori stated, “We want a separate Rou’yat Hilal committee (a body which decides about the moon for Ramzan and Idd). We cannot go on like this. After all it affects our grand night (supposed to be one among the last ten days of Ramzan), our schedule of Eteqaaf (optional confinement within the mosque) and of course our Idd.”

Meanwhile, the chief of Muslim Council, Ibrahim Tai, felt that the sighting of the moon should have been reported at the beginning of the month. “Why is it being made public after 17th day. This way we will end up having two Idds,” he said.

A section of Muslims suspects conspiracy angle to the entire episode. “The communities were living peacefully until now. All of a sudden violence erupts for no reason. I feel there is a `foreign hand’ to it,” claims Asif Khan, who was rushing to attend the burial of the victims of stabbing.A similar clash had occurred in 1978. When the Muslims in Mumbai broke their fast on the 29th day and celebrated Idd after fasting for only 28 days which led to celebrations of two Idds.