Muslim man takes care of Hindu woman, performs last rites as per her religion

Kanpur: Showing a unique humanitarian gesture, a Muslim man took care of a Hindu woman during her illness and after she passed away, he performed her last rites as per the Hindu traditions.Waqar Ali, 60, a native of Usri Villa village in Rasoolabad, Auraiya, relocated to Aseni village of Dibiyapur 30 years ago. He lived in a deteriorated building of an old cooperative society due to housing constraints. Here he also provided care for a destitute woman, Bhagwati, for 30 years, but her health deteriorated over time, and on Saturday, 55-year-old Bhagwati breathed her last.Understanding the significance of religious customs in final rites, he consulted with the Hindu community. After learning about the situation, members of the Hindu community supported his efforts and together, they conducted Bhagwati's last rites at Dibiyapur crematorium according to Hindu traditions. The funeral procession and rituals were also completed in the Hindu manner.The incident gained attention when Waqar Ali conducted the final rites. He revealed that he initially took Bhagwati's body to the Muslim graveyard. The Muslim community members advised him that since there was no marriage or religious conversion, she remained Hindu, and suggested performing Hindu final rites instead.Mutawalli Masid Qadri of Dibiyapur said that Waqar Ahmed's care for a Hindu woman and the cooperative arrangement of her final rites demonstrated humanitarian values. He clarified that such cremation would not have been permissible had she converted to Islam.