Beheading Calls Disrespect Prophet; He Repelled Evil With Good: Allahabad HC Recalls His Kindness Towards Woman Despite Ill-Treatment

Condemning the intent of the slogan "gustakh-e-nabi ki ek saja, sar tan se juda" (the only punishment for disrespecting the Prophet is beheading), the Allahabad High Court today observed that the same is "nothing but disrespect to the ideals of Prophet Mohammad". The HC said that Prophet never desired or expressed a wish to behead any person, even those who personally harmed him. In a significant order rejecting the bail application of an accused involved in the Bareilly violence, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal recalled a specific incident from the life of the Prophet to demonstrate his "unwavering principle of repelling evil with good". Deploring the alleged act of the mob for raising the slogan in question, the High Court referred to the conduct of the Prophet when he travelled to the city of Taif. In its 9-page order, the Court recalled that Prophet showed kindness and never retaliated against a non-Muslim woman neighbour, who frequently harmed him by throwing garbage in his path. Justice Deshwal observed that instead of seeking revenge, the Prophet showed compassion towards her. "When the neighbour fell ill, the prophet went to visit her out of kindness, which ultimately lead the neighbour to embrace the Islam," the Court added. The Single Judge remarked that this act demonstrated Prophet's deep passion and his focus on long-term guidance over immediate retribution. Drawing a parallel to the present case, the Court observed that there are several instances which show "even Prophet Mohammad had shown his kindness despite being disrespected by some people" and that he "never desired or expressed to behead such a person". Importantly, the Court opined that if any follower of Islam raises a slogan for beheading any person who disrespects the 'Nabi', that is nothing but disrespect to the ideals of Prophet Mohammad. The Court further remarked that while love, kindness and compassion attract others, showing expression of violence through words creates enmity or annoyance towards the religion of the person who promotes violence. The bench thus rejected the bail plea of G.A. Rihan, who was arrested in connection with the violence in Bareilly on September 26, 2025. In this case, the prosecution has alleged that a crowd of 500 people, incited by local leaders, had raised the objectionable slogan "gustakh-e-nabi ki ek saja, sar tan se juda, sar tan se juda" and attacked police personnel with stones and petrol bombs. The High Court said that the act of raising such slogans is not only punishable under Section 152 BNS for challenging the sovereignty and integrity of India but is also "against the basic tenets of Islam". Notably, the order notes as to how blasphemy laws evolved in Pakistan, from the 1927 law enacted by the English Government to the amendments introduced by General Zia-ul-Haq in 1982 and subsequent additions in 1986. The Court noted that Mulla Khadim Hussain Rizvi first used the slogan in question in Pakistan following the 2011 conviction of Asia Bibi and the support extended to her by the Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer. "Thereafter, this slogan also spread to other countries including India and has been widely misused by certain Muslims just to intimidate the people of other religions and also to challenge the authority of the State," the Court remarked. The Single Judge added that while slogans like "Nara-e-Takbir", "Allahu Akbar", "Har Har Mahadev", "Jai Shree Ram", "Jo bole so nihaal, Sat Sri Akal" are devotional calls used in joyful moments, the misuse of slogans to intimidate others or incite violence cannot be condoned.Advocate Akhilesh Kumar Dwivedi appeared for the applicant and Additional Advocate General Anoop Trivedi, assisted by Advocate Sanjay Kumar Singh and AGA Nitesh Kumar Srivastava, appeared for the State.Also read : Bareilly Violence | 'Sar Tan Se Juda' Slogan Against India's Sovereignty, Incites Armed Rebellion; No Quranic Basis : Allahabad HC Denies Bail

Beheading Calls Disrespect Prophet; He Repelled Evil With Good: Allahabad HC Recalls His Kindness Towards Woman Despite Ill-Treatment

Sparsh Upadhyay

If any follower of Islam raises a slogan for beheading any person who disrespects the Nabi, that is nothing but disrespect to the ideals of Prophet Mohammad, HC said.

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