Farmani Naaz called out by Muslim cleric for singing bhajans; know more about the singer who took part in Indian Idol 2021

By singing bhajans, Farmani Naaz, an Indian Idol 2021 participant, has made Deoband clerics upset. After her Shiva bhajan became a huge hit especially in this year's kanwar yatra, Farmani has received flak from Muslim clerics for going against the basic tenets of Islam. However, Farmani does not attach her music to any religion. Here's a little more about the controversial singer whose popularity is on the rise. (Photo: Instagram)

Farmani Naaz is a Muzaffarnagar-based Muslim singer. She is 30-years old. Farmani was married off to a man in 2017 and gave birth to a son in 2019 who suffers from throat problem. Due to domestic strife, Farmani walked out of her in-laws' house. And went back to her parents. (Photo: Instagram)

Farmani's financial woes grew after she returned to her parents. She sold her jewellery for her son's treatment. However, there came a time when she didn't have money to meet the basic needs of her child. Around the time, her talent was discovered by Bhura Dholak who made her sing for a popular YT channel. Gradually, her songs became so popular that the channel was named after her. (Photo: Instagram)

Farmani participated in Indian Idol 12 but could not continue due to her son's treatment. She told exclusively to TOI, "I had to leave 'Indian Idol' in 2021 despite getting a 'golden ticket' because my child had to undergo an operation. He's all that matters to me."

Farmani's popularity on YouTube has grown steadily. She has over 3.8 mn follower. Her rendition of the bhajan 'Har Har Shambhu' which she posted on July 23 has garnered over 9,20,000 views so far. It was played by kanwariyas on their march to Haridwar recently.

Considering the roaring popularity of the bhajan, Farmani has been called out by Deoband ulemas. Talking to TOI, Ulema Mufti Asad Qasmi said, "You can't just sing any kind of song if you follow Islam. Despite being a Muslim, Naz is singing bhajans. She should ask for forgiveness from god." And Maulana Ishag Gora shared, "Our religion does not allow us to sing bhajans of other religions. This is against the sharia as well as the basic tenets of Islam. But we live in a democracy. Everyone has the right to do the work they like."

Talking exclusively to TOI, Farmani said, "I sing to take care of my four-year-old son, who has an ailment pertaining to his throat. I even had to leave 'Indian Idol' in 2021 despite getting a 'golden ticket' because my child had to undergo an operation. He's all that matters to me. I was married off to a man in Meerut in 2017 but domestic strife led to our separation."

Her mother Fatima Begum said, "She (Farmani) also performs namaz. She is doing this for her livelihood." And Farmani's YouTube caption on the bhajan justifies that. "Music has no religion. Great singers like Mohammed Rafi have also sung bhajans. It's my request to everyone to not associate music with any particular religion," it reads. (Photo: Instagram)