A poster was recently spotted on a mosque in the Kagdipura area of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, featuring an image of a woman in a burqa holding a green flag. The upper portion of the poster contains text in Arabic. Aklavya Gaur, son of BJP MLA Malini Gaur and BJP city vice-president, shared the image online, alleging that it symbolised the terror of “Ghazwa-e-Hind” and was put up to instill fear in the city. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, Gaur claimed the poster depicted a conflict between two groups, one of which was holding a saffron flag.
Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya also commented on the situation, stating, “If the culprits are caught by me, I will hang them upside down and parade them through the city.”
Panchjanya, the official mouthpiece of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), tweeted the photo, alleging that it represented the idea of Ghazwa-e-Hind, with the intention of promoting the dream of Islamic dominance in India. (Archived link)
Several pro-BJP accounts, such as Raushan Sinha, as well as Right-wing propaganda websites like OpIndia and Hindu Post, echoed this claim. Prominent media outlets like Zee News, Amar Ujala, Nai Dunia, News24, MP Tak, News18 and Punjab Kesari also shared the story without verifying its accuracy.
Fact Check
The text on the viral poster reads, “Man Kunto Maula, Fa-Ali Un Maula.” This text is the basis of faith and Hadith of Shia Muslims around the world. It is also a part of the composition of India’s leading Sufi musician Amir Khusro, which is inspired by the same Hadith. It means ‘Whoever considers me as Maula, Ali is his Maula too’. Shias and other Muslims have different opinions on the meaning of the word ‘Maula’ in it. Historian Rana Safvi wrote on this in 2017 that there are different interpretations of this sentence and the word Maula in it, which cause controversy between the Shia community and other Muslims. In our investigation, we found that there is no mention of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ in this text in any way.
Alt News performed a reverse image search of the viral photo and discovered multiple articles linking it to the Battle of Karbala (presently a city in Iraq), an important event in Islamic history. The image depicts the aftermath of the battle, where Hazrat Imam Hussain and his followers were martyred fighting against the tyrant Yazid. The woman holding the flag is Hazrat Zainab, sister of Imam Hussain. Following the martyrdom, Hazrat Zainab gave a speech in Yazid’s court, defying the oppressor. In Islamic iconography, the image is often used as a symbolic representation of resistance against tyranny.
We found a tweet from an Iranian journalist in 2019 featuring the same image. The tweet described the unveiling of a new mural in Valiasr Square, Tehran, inspired by Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram. It signifies the flag held by Hazrat Zainab, symbolising the continuity of resistance passed on to modern-day protectors of the shrine.
To gain more clarity, Alt News contacted Professor Syed Zameer Abbas Jafri, an Indian-Iranian scholar at Al-Mustafa University in Qom, Iran. He explained that the painting portrayed Hazrat Zainab raising the flag of resistance after the martyrdom of her brother, Imam Hussain. This act symbolizes her refusal to bow down to oppressors, embodying principles of dignity, sacrifice, and defiance. Professor Jafri emphasized that the image was unrelated to any notion of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind.’
Maulana Syed Mohammad Jaun Abdi released a video via Sabil Media, addressing the controversy.
Syed Dilshad Al Naqvi, the state spokesperson of the All India Shia Samaj, said while speaking to Dainik Bhaskar that the poster had been displayed at the location (a mosque in the Kagdipura areaof Indore) for about four months. It is traditionally put up during Muharram each year and depicts the historical scene of Karbala. The woman holding the green flag is Hazrat Bibi Zainab, and the young girl shown is Sakina, the youngest daughter of Imam Hussain. The image features Yazid’s army holding a red flag, with no other inscriptions or elements.
Further reports from HVASL, an Iranian news website, indicate that the mural was installed in Tehran’s Vali-Asr Square during Muharram. The designer of the mural, Pouya Sarabi, explained that the image narrateed the story from the perspective of Imam Hussain’s three-year-old daughter. Sarabi noted that the presence of Hazrat Zainab supporting the girl with the flag signified women’s role in continuing the struggle even after male martyrs had fallen.
We found the same image uploaded on Pouya Sarabi’s Instagram account in 2019. Sarabi confirmed to Alt News that his team created the artwork. He described it as a message of unwavering resistance, emphasizing that ideals persist even after death. Mohammad Taghipour, a graphic designer on Sarabi’s team, reiterated that the picture embodied the spirit of resilience.
To sum it up, the image in question has no association with the concept of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind.’ Several Right-wing influencers, media outlets, and propaganda websites have falsely linked a symbolic portrayal of the Battle of Karbala to the idea of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind,’ misrepresenting its historical and cultural significance.
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