[ Sharyar Khan Bangalore, India ]
If a Muslim sports a red tilak on his head , I believe it is not a violation of his Faith as long as he believes in the ONENESS OF ALLAH SUBHANATALLAH and the other inviolable conditions of the Holy Quran , a red mark on the forehead of a Muslim does not mean that he / she has apostated rather it is a symbolic respect for the ancient traditions of India , red tilak on the forehead is neither Vedic nor Hindu LIKEWISE a Hindu wearing a head cap is a symbolic mark of respect for the plural culture of India , and a cap as such is neither Quranic or Abrahamic .
Such expressions of mutual respect for the each other’s Religions and Faith must be encouraged and welcomed in a plural society like ours , such symbolic expressions are innocuous and condonable BUT there are certain stringent prescriptions in every religion and Faith , falling foul of those prescriptions tantamounts to sacrilegious conduct on the part of the Faithfuls of every religion.
Siddaramiah ji is a tall leader with unimpeachable secular credentials but making him stand in front of a congregation that is prostrating before Allah the Almighty was most definitely a religious act of indiscretion , which aught to have been avoided.
The Political leaders and Religious leaders must act more discreetly in future – respect and worshiping are two different things.
Love and respect for all Religions is non-negotiable but there are certain inviolate red lines that cannot be crossed . [ Sharyar Khan Bangalore, India ]
