Parliament witnesses debate over 'interpretation' of Quranic verse

Parliament today (24 June) witnessed a debate among the lawmakers from treasury and opposition benches over a Quranic verse which ultimately involved the home minister and the speaker as well.

The debate erupted after a BNP lawmaker recited Quranic verses while criticising opposition members over their reaction to the proposed national budget, prompting objections from opposition MPs who alleged misinterpretation.

Taking part in the budget discussion, BNP lawmaker Alamgir Mohammed Mahfuz Ullah Farid (Cox's Bazar-2) said people felt relieved rather than disappointed after the announcement of the proposed national budget, as prices of essential commodities were not increased this time.

Referring to opposition MPs, he questioned why only they brought out a procession, criticising the proposed budget.

"They seek budget and allocation from us, our prime minister and our ministers on the one hand, but bring out procession on the streets on the other hand," Farid said.

He then recited Verse 7 of Surah Ibrahim - "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe."

The lawmaker said the opposition should express gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and ministers. "But they do not express gratitude. They deny. They will face severe punishment," he added.

He also recited Verse 30 of Surah Al-Anfal, saying, "They plotted, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners."

Taking the floor on a point of order, opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Nazibur Rahman alleged that the Quranic verse was misinterpreted for political purposes.

He said Quranic verses and Hadith should never be used in a manner that could be perceived as ridicule or political messaging, questioning whether the remarks implied that they will get increased allocation in case of praising the government and face attack in case of refraining from appreciating the government.

"The verses of the Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet (SM) are not really a subject for ridicule. If it is ridiculed, then it is actually very sad," he said.

Reciting the same verse of Surah Ibrahim, the Jamaat MP said, "Has he (Farid) wanted to mean that if we praise them, they will give (us) increased allocations and if not, they will beat us? It is actually a misinterpretation."

He said a strong warning message came from the Prophet (SM) in this regard that these (Quran verse and Hadith) should never be treated as matters of mockery or ridicule.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who was chairing the house, said he did not believe Farid, a veteran lawmaker, intended to make any derogatory comments about the Quran or Hadith.

"Even so, we will examine the matter. If he gave wrong interpretations of the Quran and Hadith, it will be expunged," he said, adding that the misinterpretation will never be accepted in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Joining the debate, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the allegation, which was raised by the opposition for political purposes, will send a wrong message to the people that an MP misinterpreted the Quranic verse.

He said Farid, an Islamic scholar (Maulana) educated in a madrasah, recited the verse in good faith to encourage gratitude to Allah.

Reciting the same verse of Surah Ibrahim in Arabic and translating it into Bengali, the minister questioned why it was termed as political speech.

"There should not have bene a point of order on it.....he made the remarks with good intentions and he said it so that we express gratitude to Allah," he said.

"If any parliamentary remark, even mistakenly, appears disrespectful to Islam, we will condemn it. But it should not be politically exploited," Salahuddin said.

At this stage, the speaker said most MPs are Muslims, and they do not want any negative discussions in parliament about these sensitive issues.

Participating in the debate, Jamaat lawmaker Mujibur Rahman later argued that the BNP lawmaker misinterpreted the verse of Surah Ibrahim as the verse referred specifically to expressing gratitude for Allah's countless blessings and should not be linked to praising a government budget.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said Farid did not make the remarks in a sarcastic or mocking manner and that he did so to encourage righteous conduct among all.