Why did a Maulana in UP issue a fatwa against Vijay?
Fatwa cites Vijay's film 'Beast' and his Iftar event to allege he is anti-Islam, but the film star-politician's supporters say it is politically motivated
A fatwa, or religious edict, issued by a Sunni cleric in Uttar Pradesh against Tamil actor-politician Vijay has triggered much debate in Tamil Nadu.
On Wednesday (April 16), Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat and Chief Mufti of Chashme Darul Ifta, issued a fatwa urging Tamil Nadu’s Muslim community to distance itself from Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The Maulana, based in Bareilly, over 2,000 km away from Tamil Nadu, claimed the fatwa was prompted by a request from a Muslim in Chennai.
In a video statement, the cleric said: “I cautioned the Muslims of Tamil Nadu to not trust Vijay, never invite him to their programmes, maintain a distance from him, and never support him, as his image is anti-Muslim.”
Alleged trigger points
The cleric cites two main reasons for the fatwa. First, Vijay’s 2022 action film Beast allegedly portrayed Muslim characters in a negative light, including as terrorists.
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This had led to protests from Muslim organisations in Tamil Nadu at the time of its release.
Second, an Iftar gathering hosted by Vijay in March was criticised by the Tamil Nadu Sunnath Jamaat for including individuals accused of gambling and alcohol consumption — behaviours viewed as disrespectful to Islamic customs.
Why now?
Despite the controversy around Beast, the timing of the fatwa — nearly three years later — has raised eyebrows. Vijay has recently adopted a more visible pro-minority stance.
He hosted the Iftar event mentioned above and led the TVK's opposition to the Centre’s Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it discriminatory towards Muslims. He even moved the Supreme Court against the amended legislation.
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These actions appear to have strengthened his image as a minority-friendly leader ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where minority votes are expected to play a key role.
'Coordinated effort by rivals'
Supporters of Vijay have denounced the fatwa as politically motivated. VMS Mustafa, a leader of the Tamil Nadu Muslim League, alleged that it's part of a coordinated attempt by major parties — including the BJP, DMK, and AIADMK — to undermine Vijay’s political growth.
“Maulana Shahabuddin is not accepted by the Muslim community. This man is playing a political game with the support of the BJP,” Mustafa claimed. “Muslims across Tamil Nadu are pouring love on Vijay, who filed a case against the Waqf Act in the Supreme Court.”
According to political observers, the rise of the TVK could disrupt the vote banks of established alliances, particularly in northern, southern, and coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, where minority communities are electorally significant.
