Indian weddings are incomplete without band, baaja and baraat. And these days, it’s not just the family, but the grooms and brides also dance their hearts out during the festivity.
However, a cleric from India’s Uttar Pradesh was recently irked by the loud DJ music played during the baraat (wedding procession). So much so that he denied conducting the wedding. This incident happened in Kairana, a small city in the Shamli district of UP.
According to the Times Of India, Maulana Qari Sufiyan was teaching kids at a mosque when he heard loud music. Apparently, it was coming from the processions of the two weddings he was supposed to solemnize.
“I had sent word to them to stop their music so they put a break to their rowdy celebrations for a bit when it was time for the evening azaan. But then, they were at it again,” he said.
As reported, the two processions were of the two grooms who came from Jagatpur in Delhi to marry two sisters from Kairana.
The cleric was further put off when he saw the grooms dancing to loud music atop the roof of their cars. That’s when he told the families that he wouldn’t conduct their nikaah.
“I saw the grooms dancing to the music on the roof of their vehicles. They were to marry two sisters at the same venue. When they did not stop, I informed the families that I would not solemnize the marriages,” he quipped.
The cleric further added, “I saw DJ baj raha hai (‘DJ music’ was being played). I said, DJ bandh karwao (stop the music). They came to me for the nikaah. I refused. Main nikaah nahin padhaunga (I would not conduct the nikaah),” he said.
When the cleric didn’t budge from his decision, the embarrassed family had to look for another cleric to solemnize the wedding. They then quickly and quietly got done with the wedding and left.
The entire episode made its way to the panchayat the next day where locals had diverse views on the matter. The cleric who came prepared with his argument called the act of playing music “gair shariyat” (in defiance of religious law). He got the support of other clerics too.
“We have been asking our brothers not to play such loud music, but many families do not listen. I fully support Maulana Sufiyan’s decision,” said another cleric adding that he would ask people to not play DJ music at Muslim weddings. “If this happens again, no cleric will conduct the nikkah.” However, there were also some who thought he went way too far.
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