The Anthem in School

Question

In schools nowadays there is no Shar‘i dress, and in the morning at the prarthana (the morning prayer assembly in Indian schools) Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs all sing together the anthem “Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram”. If Muslim children and teachers do not take part, they are unjustly oppressed. What is the ruling for Muslim children and teachers in such a situation?

Answer

Obedience to anyone in shirk and sin is not permissible: [ar]لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ[/ar] — “There is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator” (hadith). Constitutional (legal) measures should be adopted in order to avoid such things.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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