CLERICS, Oct 23: have appealed to Indian Muslims to refrain from cow sacrifice on the occasion of Eidul Azha as a mark of respect for the religious feelings of Hindus.

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, in a statement said: “It is my appeal to Muslims to completely restrain from sacrificing the cow on Eidul Azha. India is our country and we should respect the feelings of Hindu brethren who are in the majority.”

Maulana Sadiq, who is known for promoting modern and scientific education among Muslims, said: “A fatwa was issued for Shias after independence in which sacrificing cow was prohibited in the country.”

The pro vice-chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, said the institution was also in favour of Muslims avoiding cow sacrifice. He said in some states there was already a ban on cow slaughter, but Muslims should avoid sacrificing the animal even at places where it has not been prohibited.

This, he added, has been published by Dar-ul-Uloom in a book on matters of Qurbani (sacrifice of animals). He said that while the literate class tried to follow the advice of Islamic institutions on sacrificing cow, the illiterate tended to ignore them.

By arrangement with the Times of India