Amidst the ongoing debate over nationalism, Uttar Pradesh-based Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband recently issued a fatwa asking Muslims not to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. The fatwa issued on March 19 in response to queries regarding chanting of the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, went viral on social media Thursday. The fatwa clearly mentioned that it was against the faith of a Muslim to chant the slogan. It read, “We love our country, but it is not our god. In Islam, we believe in only one God and hence it is against the faith of a Muslim to chant the slogan,” as reported by Zee News.

Sufiyan Nizami, a Muslim religious leader told ABP News, "It is among the creed of Islam that you cannot consider and depict a nation or personality as God. Patriotism of Muslims shouldn’t be judged merely on the basis of one slogan."

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi stoked a controversy last month after he refused to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. He said he wasn't obliged to do so by constitution.

Interestingly, Darul Uloom had recently also issued a decree asking Muslims to hoist national flag on their houses and establishments on Independence Day.