In today’s newspapers, there is a news item regarding a Muslim singer Farmani Naaz. She is very famous on YouTube where she posts her singing videos.
Now Farmani Naaz’s rendition of a bhajan song praising the Hindu deity Shiva has earned her the scorn of Muslim fundamentalists. The song was posted by her on YouTube on 24th July 2022 and has more than 700,000 views so far. A Muslim organization from Deoband has warned her that singing the song praising the deity of other religions is un-Islamic. Her followers have started posting messages in support of the singer her on-page, even as clerics call for the boycott of practices that are un-Islamic.
Deoband-based cleric Mufti Asad Qasami has quoted, which has been reported on several media platforms, that singing is not permitted under Sharia law. He suggested that singing any song is ‘haram’ or forbidden in Islam, and she has sung the same in praise of a Hindu deity. He further added that a woman who considers herself Muslim should stay away from singing such songs.
The controversy on Farmani’s song erupted after she posted the studio-recorded devotional song (Bhajan) in praise and tribute to Mahadev or Shiva during the Hindu month of Shravan when devotees pray to their lord and many undertake a pilgrimage (Kanwar Yatra) to Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, carrying home the sacred water of river Ganga to be offered at their local Shiva shrines.
The YouTube link of her bhajan is given below
Now who is Farmani Naaz?
She is a well-known singer in her home district of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. Her popularity is not limited to her hometown thanks to her YouTube presence where she commands 3.84 million subscribers. Her participation in Indian Idol season 12 two years back elevated her star status in her hometown, and among her fans. A boy in their hometown who made videos heard Farmani sing and then asked her to be part of a recording that was uploaded on YouTube.
She appeared on the song show Indian Idol with her brother and impressed the judges with her voice and humility. She had to return midway from the contest, because of her son’s deteriorating health. After that, there is no looking back on her singing and she continued to support her family by taking it up as a full-time career. She has no other source of income, and her husband has thrown her out after her son got serious illness at a young age, and he could not afford the treatment.
She has pinned a message to her Video ‘Har Har Shambhu’ on YouTube declaring that singing or music has no religion. Legends like Mohd. Rafi has also rendered bhajans or Hindu devotional songs. I request you all not to link religion and music. In her statement she further added that I am an artist, I have a qawwali channel on YouTube as well as one for devotional songs.
Given below is the YouTube link to her song
After reading this news item, I started wondering if legendary singer Mohd. Rafi was singing in this era, he would have been facing so much criticism from these Muslim fundamentalists. Mohd. Rafi is one singer who must have sung maximum bhajans in Hindi films. Some of his famous bhajans from Hindi films are:
- Badi Der Bhai Nandlala, Teri Raah Take Brijbala – from Khandaan
- Sukh Ke Sab Saathi Dukh Mein Na Koi, Mere Ram Tera Naam Ek Saacha Duja Na Koi- from Gopi
- Brindavan Ka krishan Kanahiya, Sab Ki Ankhon Ka Taara- from Miss Mary
- Badi Der Bhai, Kab Loge Khabar More Ram- from Basant Bahar
- Madhuban Mein Raadhika Naache Re, Girdhar Ki Muraliya Baaje Re-from Kohinoor
- Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Yeh Bhagwan Ka Ghar Hai- from Amar
- Aaana Hai To Aa Raah Mein Kuch Pher Nahin Hai, Bhagwan Ke Ghar Der Hai Andher Nahin Hai-from Naya Daur
- Tune Mujhe Bulaya SheranWaliye, Main Aaya Main Aaya Sheran Waliya-from Asha
- Ram Ji Nikali Sawari, Ram Ji ki Leela Hai Nyaari-from Sargam
- O Duniya Ke Rakwale, Sun Dard Bhare Mere Naale- from Baiju Bawra
There are many more, but the one which I liked the most is
“ Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj” from Baiju Bawra, whose YouTube link is
Do you know the specialty of this bhajan it is sung by a Muslim Mohd. Rafi, was written by a Muslim Shakeel Badayuni and composed by a Muslim Naushad.
I do not know where this Islamic fundamentalism is going to lead us, tomorrow someone will rise and say Hindu singers are not supposed to sing qawwali or ghazals as they come from Islamic culture.
In the end, I would like to reiterate that Music does not belong to any religion or culture, as it belongs to everyone in this world, which so ever religion he/she is following.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
2nd August 2022
Tejinder Singh Sethi
If that is so,then these hypocrite clerics should be asked how can so many muslim men and women in Bollywood doing this singing, dancing in every movie.
Islam should not be portrayed as a diabolical religion, barring a few things nothing is Haram in Islam. Thanks to Modiji for the abolition of triple talaq by which so many Muslim homes are saved.
Tejinder Singh Sethi
If that is so,then these hypocrite clerics should be asked how can so many muslim men and women in Bollywood doing this singing, dancing in every movie.