The Allahabad High Court has recently articulated that for a conversion to Islam to be deemed bona fide, it must be undertaken by an individual who is a legal adult, of sound mind, and who embraces the faith voluntarily due to genuine belief in the oneness of Allah and the prophetic role of Muhammad. This ruling underscores the necessity of sincere conviction in religious conversions, emphasizing that such a profound change should stem from true faith rather than external motivations.
Justice Manju Rani Chauhan, presiding over the case, highlighted that a bona fide conversion involves a "change of heart" and an "honest conviction" in the principles of the new faith, replacing those of the individual's original religion. The court elaborated that conversion signifies a transformation in faith and belief, wherein a competent adult consciously adopts a new religion, acknowledging it as their guiding philosophy and understanding of the cosmos.
The court's observations were made while deliberating on a petition filed by Taufik Ahmad, who sought the quashing of legal proceedings against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2020. These proceedings stemmed from allegations of unlawful religious conversion of a Hindu woman to Islam. The petitioner argued for dismissal based on a compromise between the involved parties.
In its analysis, the court asserted that a conversion lacking genuine religious sentiment—undertaken solely to create a legal pretext or to achieve specific objectives without true belief in the tenets of the new faith—cannot be considered bona fide. This perspective aligns with previous judgments emphasizing that conversions performed exclusively for purposes such as marriage, without authentic belief in the adopted religion, are invalid. For instance, in the case of Noor Jahan Begum @ Anjali Mishra & Anr. v. State of U.P. & Ors, the court held that conversions conducted merely for the sake of marriage, without genuine faith, are unacceptable.
The court further referenced the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2020, which aims to prevent conversions achieved through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent means. Given the seriousness of unlawful religious conversions, the court concluded that legal proceedings in such cases cannot be quashed solely based on a settlement between the parties involved.
This ruling reflects the judiciary's commitment to ensuring that religious conversions are conducted with sincerity and integrity, safeguarding individuals from potential exploitation and upholding the sanctity of personal faith decisions. It serves as a reminder that while the freedom to choose one's religion is a fundamental right, it must be exercised with genuine belief and adherence to legal protocols.
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