THE STORY OF RUSHDIE

THE STORY OF RUSHDIE Salman Rushdie, an English author born in Mumbai, has written numerous works in English, including the renowned book “Midnight’s Children,” published in 1981. Another book, ‘The Satanic Verses,’ was published by British publisher Viking Press on September 26, 1988, in London. The book’s title refers to its main character, “Mahound,” a distorted version of the name of Prophet Muhammad. On February 14, 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa (edict) calling for the death of Rushdie and his publishers, citing blasphemy as the reason. Sunni scholars also joined this movement under the banner of ‘Islamic Jihad,’ as reported in the Daily Qaumi Awaz on February 20, 1989. Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (d.1999), the then Director of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, justified Ayatollah Khomeini’s edict. He stated that Salman Rushdie, the author of ‘The Satanic Verses,’ had insulted the religion of Islam, causing outrage among Muslims worldwide, and that Muslims expressed satisfaction with the Shia leader’s decree. Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi further asserted that Islam dictates that those who insult the Prophet must be punished with death, a viewpoint agreed upon by all Muslim scholars, jurists, and theologians. Numerous statements, letters, and articles were published in newspapers on this matter. Muslim writers and orators fervently called for the death of Salman Rushdie, with the Muslim communities of India,