My dear Maulana Rabey Saheb,
            It has been reported that in early March, 2009, the Imam of the Jama Masjid in Mohalla Chauhanan of Jashpur in Uttarakhand refused to perform Namaz-e-Janaza of a Muslim and advised others not to participate. Later, after he had been buried under the advice of Sheher Mufti of Moradabad, in a public graveyard his body was asked to be dug out and a fatwa was given that those who had participated in the Namaz-e-Janaza and burial had renounced Islam and their marriages stood nullified and they had to be remarried.
            Unless a person who claims to be a Muslim has not formally renounced Islam, whatever his private life, he should not be denounced a non-Muslim and refused burial in a Muslim graveyard. If the report is correct and such a fatwa is taken to its logical conclusion, this will not only cause pain to the bereaved family but also may affect many more Muslims about whom some people may allege that they were not practicing or good Muslims.
            I am not a theologian but I feel that it is neither in the interest of the community nor in accordance with the spirit of Islam to pronounce anyone who has not deliberately and consciously renounced Islam, as Kafir or Mrtid.
There are other instances of a similar nature which bring into focus the need to have a collective Board of Mufti at the initiative of AIMPLB or collectively by various eminent Madrasas. I would be grateful for your kind response.             With kind regards