Religious Objection: Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Calls Omar Abdullah’s Marriage ‘Illegitimate’

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reported second marriage to Nidhi Razdan has sparked controversy after Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi issued a fatwa calling the marriage illegitimate from an Islamic perspective. The Maulana argued that since Omar Abdullah is Muslim and Nidhi Razdan is non-Muslim, she should have first accepted Islam and recited the Kalma for the marriage to be considered valid under his interpretation. During the discussion, a journalist based in Kashmir said that no similar objections or major controversy had emerged locally over the marriage so far. He also pointed out that Omar Abdullah’s first marriage to Payal, who was also reportedly non-Muslim, had not triggered a major dispute in Kashmir. The discussion questioned why Maulana Razvi was commenting on the marriage and suggested that his remarks could be an attempt to attract attention and create controversy. The debate has brought the issue of interfaith marriage and religious interpretations into the spotlight.