There are some human beings who purchase an enchanting persion¹ in order to lead people away from the way of Allah without having any knowledge, who hold the call to the Way of Allah to ridicule. A humiliating chastisement awaits them. - Luqmaan 31:6

^{1: The words lahv al-hadith in the text imply such a thing as may allure and absorb a listener completely and make him heedless of everything else around him. Lexically, there is nothing derogatory in these words, but in custom and usage they apply to evil and useless and vain things, such as gossip, nonsensical talk, joking and jesting, legends and tales, singing and merry-making, etc.}

Who is Firmani Naaz?

Firmani Naz from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh has made a name for herself with private albums. She has more than 3.84 million subscribers on YouTube. She got stardom by participating in Indian Idol season 12. She is married. She got married in 2017. But after the birth of a son and the son fell ill, her husband’s family abused her physically and mentally.

With this, she took the child and went to her birthplace.. and started a new life. As her voice was good, a local guy uploaded her songs on YouTube. She became recognized as a YouTube sensation and an e-celebrity and then participated in IndianIdol. But as her son’s health deteriorated, she came back in the middle of Indian Idol. However, her career continued to advance.

Deoband-based Muslim cleric (Ulema) criticized Muslim YouTube singer Farmani Naaz over

Farmani Naaz Har Har Shambhu:: YouTube sensation, Indian idol fame Firmani Naz is angry with Muslim religious leaders. Her song Har Har Sambhu went viral and has now become the focal point of controversy.

Muslim communities are seething with Furmani Naz for singing a song on the Hindu god Shiva. They issued a fatwa saying this is an anti-Islamic act. When she posted the song on her YouTube channel, views and criticism poured in. The religious leaders are accusing this act of an anti-Islamic act. In Islam, they say that it is against religion for women to do such things.

Firmani Naz says, "Artists have no religion. I forget everything else when I sing. I even sing qawwali. Even Mohd Rafi & Master Saleem sang devotional songs. I've never received a threat. There's a little controversy now, we came to know but nobody has come to our house to say anything."

But Maulana Mufti Asad Qasmi, Ulama of Deoband lambasted, "Singing and dancing of any sort are not permissible in Islam. This is forbidden in Islam. Muslims should refrain from anything that is forbidden. The song sung by the woman is not permissible, it is forbidden. She should refrain from it."

Asad Khwasmi, a cleric from Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, describes this as a ‘sin’ and a heinous crime. He believes that she should stay away from music. Meanwhile, she released the recording version in the studio on YouTube. When the song was released on the occasion of the month of Shravan... Hindu communities, while others are praising it, others are criticizing it.

Mufti Zulfiqar said, "As per Constitution, every citizen can do anything to praise a religion but should not hurt anybody's sentiments. There's no problem with that. Until I listen to the lyrics of the bhajan, I can't issue any statement on it. Until then I can't say anything .about it."

Did anyone help

Reacting to the criticism, Firmani said that she belongs to a poor family, no one came to help her in times of trouble, and if she is living on her own, she is questioning how reasonable it is to try to stop her and criticize her. Above all, she says, artists should be recognized as having nothing to do with religion. If you think so... Are not people like Salim Mohammad Rafi who sing bhajans and Hindu devotional songs? Moreover, one of the two channels that he has is a channel of devotional songs, in which he will definitely upload albums related to all religions, may Allah’s blessings be upon him.

Support of Hindu communities

Recently, as the song on Shiva has gone viral, many people are congratulating her. BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan said that he will provide the necessary help for her son’s treatment. On the other hand, the VHP was furious over the issuance of a fatwa against Firmani by the Muslim community. They (Muslim communities) only issue fatwas to the poor and helpless. She has been criticizing Muslim religious leaders saying that they have forgotten that she sang on YouTube.

Farmani’s mother Fatima told the media that BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan had praised her daughter and helped arrange treatment for her grandchild.

Fatima told Aaj Tak that a boy in their village who made videos heard Farmani sing and then asked her to be a part of a recording that was uploaded on YouTube. Farmani won much applause for her singing and decided to participate in the reality singing contest Indian Idol season 12. She appeared on the show along with her brother and impressed the judges, her voice and humility were celebrated. She had to return midway because of her son’s deteriorating health. However, since then, there was no looking back on her singing and she continued to support her family by taking it up full time.

In response to the criticism of her singing by a section of people, Farmani said that her family is poor and that this is the only means for her to make a living.

She has pinned a message to her video ‘Har Har Shambhu’ on YouTube declaring that an artist has no religion. She wrote: Singing or music ka koi dharam nahin hota. Master Saleem Mohammed Rafi Saab jaise buland singer ne bhi bhajan gaye hai, to sabhi se hath jodeker nevedan hai koi bhi singing or music ko dharam se na jode, apki Farmani Naaz. (Singing or music has no religion. Legends like Saleem Mohammed Rafi has also rendered bhajans or Hindu devotional songs. I request all to not link religion and music.)

She was quoted by media reports saying that she does not let religion limit her singing or dictate her choice of songs. “I am an artist. I have a qawwali channel on Youtube as well as one for bhakti geet. I sing all types of songs,” she said.