A carpenter had to apologise to his community leaders to be “re-admitted” to his faith from which he was “excommunicated” for participating in an auction for a ladoo during the Ganesh Utsav.
Mohammed Yusuf, who lives in Borabanda locality of Hyderabad, has been participating in the Ganesh Utsav for years with his friends and co-workers. This year, he wanted to make a contribution for the Ganesh Puja.
During an open auction for the ladoo held in the hand of an idol of Ganesha, he outbid his rivals by paying Rs 12,000 for the sweetmeat. The money collected through auction goes to the Ganesh Utsav fund.
The Radhakrishna Ganesh Utsav Samiti, the organisers of the puja in Borabanda, felicitated Yusuf, presenting him with a garland and shawl. Next day, the city paper of a local daily carried his picture with a small write-up on the auction.
It didn't go down well with the local members of the community. A meeting was called and Yusuf excommunicated—they used the word kharij. He was told that he was no more a Muslim and should move out of the locality with his family.
Yusuf, who is the only earning member of the family, called on community elders and begged for mercy. He was “accepted” back in the fold after he read the Kalma several times.
{{/usCountry}}Yusuf, who is the only earning member of the family, called on community elders and begged for mercy. He was “accepted” back in the fold after he read the Kalma several times.
{{/usCountry}}“I did not know that my action was shirk (prohibited) in Islam. I purchased the ladoo in the auction as it is said to bestow one with good fortune. I decided to follow elders' advise and put an end to the controversy, " Yusuf said.
“It is not permissible in Islam. He should not have done that. Now that he has accepted his mistake, we have taken him back in the community,” a community elder, Yakub, said.