Shaban Bukhari, son of Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari was anointed as Naib Shahi Imam (deputy Imam) at a big ceremony at the mosque on Saturday. The moment dastarbandi (tying of turban) took place by the religious leaders and his father Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari, he took an oath to serve the people. “I have been given a big responsibility. All I need is your (followers and religious leaders) prayers so that I can follow in my ancestors’ footsteps,” said utterly nervous-looking Shaban.
After the declaration, several people rushed out and started bursting crackers outside the mosque. A few people also read Shayari before the anointment. To support his stand, Ahmed Bukhari had invited Imams of different mosques and religious teachers from Deoband and Ajmer. The local MlA Shoaib Iqbal was also present at the function.
Bukhari, who triggered a controversy by inviting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other top Indian politicians but left out Narendra Modi from the VIP guests list to attend the gala dinner on November 29 to celebrate the succession, boosted his family lineage and reiterated that it was a tradition of his family members to become Imam of the Jama Masjid since last 400 years. “On 24 July, 1656 Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari from Bukhera (Uzbekistan) came to Jama Masjid and was anointed as Shahi Imam and since then the tradition is going on. Today, I anoint Shaban as Naib Shahi Imam of this mosque,” he declared.
The post has been held for over 400 years by my family, it is a tradition and a custom followed not just by us but which also has the faith of the people. We always knew it’s not a legal matter, though the Waqf wanted to make it one. We will respect the court order and send a representation to court on November 28,” Bukhari said. The Waqf Board, he added, “has no importance”. “The people are with me and that’s what is important.”
“Waqf was not there when Emperor Shahjahan made his son-in-law the first Imam of Jama Masjid. Waqf has been around for only 60-65 years,” he said. “No matter what the Waqf says, no Imam can ever be an employee of Waqf.” The Bukhari has organised a function on November 29 after anointing Naib Imam to Shaban in which Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were invited. The Bukharis, originally from central Asia, have been the traditional custodians of the Jama Masjid since it was built during the Mughal era in the 17th century.
The Centre, the Delhi Waqf Board and other petitioners had challenged the ceremony appealed court to stop the anointment of Shaban Bukhari. The court had stated that Bukhari had no right, in law or otherwise, to anoint his son as the Naib Imam, which is supported by the Delhi Waqf Board.
The court said that as per the Waqf Act, 1995, the law only provides for a Mutawalli (manager) of a Waqf and contains no provision for appointment of Imams of Waqf properties, even if the property is a mosque.