Jamiat Ulema's Mufti Muhammad Ilyas is being criticized by Muslim groups for saying Lord Shiva was Muslims' first prophet. He also said that all Muslims were the followers of Sanatan Dharma. “All religions are preaching the same message. We are Indians first and our message is of peace, harmony and brotherhood. The way people in China are called Chinese and in Japan are called Japanese, similarly we are called Hindustani,†Ilyas said. “India is our birthplace and roots of our religion. Lord Shiva was Muslims' first prophet. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are our creators and parents which is a reality,†he added. Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid, rejected Ilyas’s statements. “We don’t accept what he said, it’s completely wrong. It’s no where written in Quran. This could be his political statement,†Mukarram said.
