Conversion To Islam Is Bona Fide If Driven By Free Will & Belief In Oneness Of 'Allah' & Prophetic Character Of 'Muhammad': Allahabad HC
The Allahabad High Court has observed that a conversion of religion by an individual to Islam can be said to be bona fide if he/she is a major, of sound mind and embraces Islam by his/her freewill and because of his/her faith and belief in the "oneness of God (Allah)" and "prophetic character of Muhammad".The Court further added that any religious conversion is considered bona fide when...
The Allahabad High Court has observed that a conversion of religion by an individual to Islam can be said to be bona fide if he/she is a major, of sound mind and embraces Islam by his/her freewill and because of his/her faith and belief in the "oneness of God (Allah)" and "prophetic character of Muhammad".
The Court further added that any religious conversion is considered bona fide when there is a “change of heart” and “honest conviction” in the tenets of a new faith in lieu of the tenets of the original religion.
A bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan noted that conversion involves a change of faith and belief, where a major and sound-minded individual voluntarily adopts a new faith, recognizing what they consider to be the Cosmos, their Creator, and the regulating forces of the universe.
The single judge observed thus while dismissing a quashing plea moved by Taufik Ahmad, seeking quashing of the entire proceedings under Sections 420, 323, 376, 344 IPC and Section ¾ (1) U.P. Conversion Prevention Act, 2020 based on a compromise between the parties.
Since the matter involved the alleged unlawful religious conversion of a Hindu girl to the Muslim religion, the court emphasized that such conversion can only be considered genuine if the individual believes in the unity of God (Allah) and the “prophetic character” of Muhammad.
“A conversion of religion by an individual to Islam can be said to be bona fide if he/she is major and of sound mind and embraces Islam by his/her own freewill and because of his/her faith and belief in the oneness of God (Allah) and prophetic character of Mahommed”
The Court added that if a conversion is not inspired by religion feeling and undergone for its own sake, but is resorted merely with object of creating a ground for some claim of right or as a device adopted for the purpose to avoid marriage or to achieve an object without faith and belief in the unity of God (Allah) and Mahommed to be his prophet, the conversion shall not be bonafide.
Furthremore, noting that the object of the 2020 Act is to provide for prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means, the Court held that an unlawful religious conversion being a serious offence, the Court cannot quash the proceedings on the basis of settlement between the parties.
Read more about the case here: Unlawful Religious Conversion A Serious Offence, Court Can't Quash Proceedings Based On Settlement Between Parties: Allahabad HC
Case title - Taufik Ahmad vs. State of U.P. and Another 2025 LiveLaw (AB) 110
Case Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (AB) 110