The Muslim wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), called the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), is planning to make iftar — the traditional meal eaten by Muslims to break their daylong fast kept throughout the month of Ramadan — meatless in Uttar Pradesh, and may serve food made of only milk and milk products on Fridays throughout the holy Islamic month.
The plan seems in line with the cow-protection narrative that is taking hold in states across the country, through either steps to better the condition of cattle or enact a direct beef ban. The latter is already in place in states like Haryana and Maharashtra, with speculation that it could be imposed in Uttar Pradesh.
Beef often finds a place on the plates of Muslims who observe roza — the traditional fast — during the month of Ramadan. However, the MRM — formed in 2002 — is now planning to do away with it — for at least some people — when it conducts iftars on Fridays during Ramadan this year.
Mahiraj Dhwaj Singh, MRM national co-convenor for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, has said that Muslims in UP will this time end their daily fasts with a glass of milk. "Emphasis will be laid on the use of cow milk and other dairy products at the iftars. And, it will be for the first time that such an iftar will be held in Uttar Pradesh," he told the Press Trust of India.
Singh also said that special prayers would be held during Ramadan for betterment of cows. He said: "All living beings (animals, birds, trees and plants) owe their existence to Allah. If we adopt a humane approach towards them, we will incur His blessings."
Lucknow-based Pasmanda Muslim Samaj welcomed the move. Waseem Raini, president of the Muslim organisation, said: "If different sweets such as pedhaa and other edible items made using cow's milk are served during iftar, we have no objections. This will eventually increase the bonhomie and brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims."
