Indian family returns to Islam

OnIslam & Newspapers

CAIRO – An Indian family in Agra city, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, has reverted to Islam months after being duped by Hindu pandits who converted the family to Hinduism in a “ghar wapsi’, or home coming, campaign.

“Qazi Sahab saw him crying. On being asked why he was so sad, Rahmat told the Qazi that ever since his sons converted, he had been ostracized,” Kale Khan, a villager, told The Times of India.

“He expressed a desire to be accepted in the community again.

“The qazi consulted other senior Muslim leaders in the village, and the re-conversion ceremony was organized after the afternoon namaz [prayer] on Friday.”

Khan was talking about Rehmat, the oldest member of the family that reverted to Islam on Friday, May 1, during a ceremony held at Mahuar Lathia village in Achnera block.

Last December, the 17-member family converted to Hinduism during a “ghar wapsi’ campaign after being promised jobs and land.

Realizing that they have been duped into conversion, the family members decided to revert to Islam.

The pandit’s promises were not the only reason behind their reversion to Islam, being disdained by the Davali Muslim community was among factors that made them weigh rejoining Islam.

Over the past five months, the convert family was denied invitations to neighbors’ celebrations and wedding functions.

Friday’s reversion ceremony included remarriage of couples who were separated after the conversion to Hinduism and recitation of the holy Qur’an.

“So as these people have now again have accepted Islam, the ‘Nikah’ was re-conducted,” Mufti Ahle Sunnat Ulema Mudrssir Khan Qadri said.

“We have also recited Kalma for the children to bring them into the Islamic fold.”

Two weeks later, a panchayat meeting will decide whether the family would be accepted by the community after their earlier conversion to Hinduism.

There are some 180 million Muslims in Hindu-majority India, making up 13% of the country’s population. Christians make up less than 3 %.