UP's Shahi Chief Mufti backs CM Yogi's order, says offering 'namaz' on roads against Islam

Shahi Chief Mufti of Uttar Pradesh, Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain, has unexpectedly backed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directive against offering 'namaz' on public roads. The Mufti stated that praying in public spaces is not consistent with Islamic principles, aligning a significant religious authority with the state government's controversial stance. This development in Aligarh marks a rare moment of endorsement from a prominent Muslim cleric for a policy often perceived as targeting the minority community in India's most populous state. This endorsement is a crucial inflection point amidst India's ongoing debates over secularism and rising Hindu nationalism. It potentially de-escalates communal tensions by providing an internal religious justification for a state order, yet could also be seen as a capitulation under political pressure or an an attempt at internal reform within the Muslim community, impacting future discussions on public religious freedom.