Thankful to live in a country not governed by religious contractors: Irrfan Khan

A day after his comments erupted into a controversy, actor Irrfan Khan has asked clerics not to try and scare him. He also said he is thankful to live in a country that is not governed by ”religious contractors” .

In a series of tweets, the actor said:

“Please Bhaiyon, who are upset with my statement, either you are not ready to introspect or you are in a hurry to reach to a conclusion”

“For me religion is about personal introspection, it’s a source for compassion, wisdom and moderation and not for stereotyping and fanaticism”

“Clerics don’t scare me !! Thank God I don’t live in a country governed by religious contractors (thekedars ) #FREEDOM” he tweeted.

Irrfan’s comments at a function to promote his new movie ‘Madaari’, quickly became controversial after clerics slammed him for him for talking about Islam.

The actor had said “We have forgotten the real meaning of rituals. We have made them a tamasha. Qurbani means sacrificing something close to your heart and sharing with others. Today, you buy a goat from the market for sacrifice. It is something to think about, it is a matter of common sense, we all should ask ourselves how sacrificing another life earns us any goodwill” he commented.

“Nowadays we have lost the relevance behind such religious activities and perform these rituals without knowing the meaning behind them. Rather than fasting during Ramzan, people should self-introspect… We Muslims have also made a mockery of Muharram. It is meant for mourning and what we do? Take out (tajiya) processions”

In response to his comments, Qalam Raza Nuru, a cleric had said “I don’t know in what context he said it, but I know that performers don’t know much about religion. I advise him to stay within his limits”

Zafaryab Gilani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said “Such comments are condemnable”

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49 Comments

  • Hope to have more Muslims like Irfan khan..who appreciate the country and people who give him stardom …not the religion….Muslims has to come out ..other wise it’s gonna be too late ….vinash kaale viprit buddhi….

  • Proud of you, Irrfan Khan. India is the best country in the world.

    A lot of people have been talking about intolerance and fear being created by the government, good to see someone come out and say he enjoys freedom in the country.

    Will watch your film Madari on Day 1.

  • I wish he studied about topics before he was going to comment on. Just a small fraction of Muslims perform tajiya, hurt themselves, but majority refrain from it.
    And Qurbani is so important because it was ordered by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
    And people are ordered to fast so they come to know the pain poor people go through when they don’t get food for a long time.
    He just has a Muslim name, I don’t think anything else a Muslim should have.

  • I think Irrfan has given a really bold statement . Normally celebrities avoid talking on political and religious issues because they get unnecessary attention from media and fans . Many people might not agree with his entire statement but he was really upset to see Islam being humiliated because of the terrorist activities . Most of the Muslims in India don’t prefer to speak on such topics because maybe they don’t like talking about or they don’t want to say anything against Islam . But it is a bold gesture by Irrfan to speak on this issue without hurting the sentiments of educated people . There will be always some people who criticize everything . Many people might say he is doing all this to promote Madaari but it will release on 15th July . But he is not extremely popular and Madaari will be a success only if it clicks with the audience .

  • This is what you call jigra.You have already proved that you are one of the finest actors Indian cinema has ever seen but with your recent statements you have also shown your sensibility regarding social issues.
    People criticizing and threatening you should be ashamed and are perhaps the real threat to the world.

  • He dont knw anything about sacrifice of eid ul adha.. his statment has nothing to do with making things right or speaking the right things he just want to make indian hindus happy, all a publicity stunt but a very dirty one..

  • We should be thankful to Nehru ji & Ambedkar ji for not making India a Saudi Arabia/Pakistan/Afghanistan.

  • @indicine
    I request you to please don’t post comments of anyone which can hurt religious or personal feelings.
    You may post any articles related to religion or politics or any controversy etc but please be strict while moderating those comments.

    A request from one of your users who is visiting indicine from past two years and is addicted to #indicine but post comments rarely. Hope you will consider my request.

  • A section of Indians hate Gandhiji, Pundit Nehru etc for making India a democratic secular country.

  • Proud of you, Irrfan Khan. A lot of people have been calling India a Hindu nation, demolishing historical monuments & threatening a community to send Pakistan. Also another section of those people are dreaming of making a Islamistan in India. But all those idiots wish will never be fulfilled. India is a secular democratic country & will remain so until Qiyamat.
    ##Jai Hind!!!

  • Two things can happen ..one either we all will be muslims in near future all over the world ..or muslims will be no more in the world

  • But Mr. Irrfan Khan you still haven’t said how i am supposed too stop terrorism? You said muslim should speak out against terrorism yet you didn’t tell how we should?? Should i go on twitter and talk like every other bullshit politician that says “I condemn these attacks” or do you want something else?? Please i am very confused at the moment.

  • @11:17pm:

    Most of the Indian Muslims are like Irfan Khan. Don’t make perception about a whole community on basis of few jokers (like Owasi & Azam khan) behaviours. A few religious fanatics in every religion. In Hinduism too. Eg- Adityanath, Sakshi maharaj, Prachi, monoharlal khattar, Subramanyam Swami, Sangit Som, Anand Sharma etc. We can’t judge the 80cr Hindus on basis of what these people say!!!

  • Who the hell is this cleric saying he should stay within his limits…!!!
    This cleric should be thrown out of india

  • @11:53pm:

    Dude, nobody gonna make you Muslim (Jabadasti). Muslim rulers rule India for more than 600 years. If there was any intention of making you Muslim then you would have been already a Muslim.

  • And then there is Dr.Kalam who never wasted his time talking about things. He was busy serving the nation. First as an engineer, then as a teacher, finally as a leader.

    Wish we could implement something from Kalam’s life. Instead of bickering about each other, wish we could work together & build India of his dreams!

  • The thing is when two religions want peace they let each other do their own practices until it effects the other community. So one doesnt say thinga against the other religion or judge it.

  • @gj007 what you said makes a lot of sense. That’s what our PM has been doing too.. lot of dog barking around him, but he’s keeping his focus and working for everyone.

  • Till now I respected Irrfan as a great actor but he is also really bold to make such statements .

  • agree with Iran on religious part but it comes of as he is trying to please nationalists prasing india (why not other countries) which I don’t agree as I don’t believe in nationalism.

  • There is growing extremism in our neighbouring nation,Bangladesh.Daily we hear some or the other kind of attacks on minorities but today there has been a major terrorist attack,bomb blasts,attackers have taken hold of many hostages with them and ISIS have claimed the responsibility of this attack.
    So,ISIS have arrived in our neighbourhood.And these attacks are not possible without the help of some bangladeshi citizen.These ISIS jerks are brainwashing people in the name of religion and making them go against their own country.
    Now this where there lies the responsibility of our leaders,parents or any other guardian.
    Moral Values!
    Giving young kids such values right from their childhood which would enable them to pass on such values to their next generation and so on.
    Never let these jerks brainwash our nation’s youth.

    Out of the major countries of the world,India is the country from where there have been least admittance to the ISIS.Muslims even from developed nations such as Australia,US,UK,France have gone in bigger no. to play the dirty game for ISIS.
    That should make us proud and we need to encourage our youngsters to value the nation and their social and moral responsibilities in future as well.

  • The thing is a Muslim ,if he is a true practicing Muslim, is a normal person ,mentally healthy , at peace with his self ,his Lord and his surroundings

  • @indicine How you Changed Mohanjodro’s LBO Prediction 190cr to 135cr Suddenly?
    While Budget is 150 cr
    Hope Both movie Will do well#

  • Yeh Lo another article!! Food for extremists of different religious background to wage holy wars with one another on an Indicine page!!! :D

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