Shama Mohamed claims Islam gave Mathematics to the world, BJP draws Rahul Gandhi parallel

Shama Mohamed, national spokesperson, Indian National Congress. (File/PTI)

Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed on Thursday stoked another controversy by claiming that Mathematics was introduced to the world through the Islam religion. "Math has come through Islam," Mohamed told news agency ANI, emphasizing how Islam is a "progressive and scientific religion that thinks about the future".

The remarks came in for criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party which termed the remark absurd. "I think she has decided that Rahul Gandhi alone cannot make all the absurd statements in the Congress," BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said reacting to a post on X.

I think she has decided that Rahul Gandhi alone cant make all the absurd statements in the Congress. https://t.co/gRnRkvWCxZ

Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 6, 2025

The controversy over Mohamed's remarks come less than a week after she sparked an online furor by terming Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma "fat" and "unfit to be captain". She was reprimanded for her remarks by the Congress which also asked her to take down the offensive social media posts fat-shaming the Indian skipper.

"Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had," read her post.

During her interaction with the news agency on Thursday, Mohamed also reacted to the controversy stoked by a Muslim cleric's remarks terming Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami "a criminal" for not observing Roza during the holy month of Ramzan.

"...In Islam, there is a very important thing during Ramzan. When we are travelling, we don't need to fast (Roza), so Mohammed Shami is travelling and he's not at his own place. He's playing a sport where he can be very thirsty. Nobody insists that when you're playing a sport, you have to fast...It is your deeds which are very important. It (Islam) is a very scientific religion...," Mohamed said.

On Thursday, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamat, said Shami was seen drinking water despite being fit and healthy to play the match sent a wrong message to those watching him.

"One of the fundamental duties of Islam is Roza (fasting). If any healthy man or woman does not observe it, they are committing a crime. In the eyes of Shariat, they are criminals and will have to answer to God," he said.

The remarks drew criticism from several quarters, including Shia cleric Maulana Yassob Abbas who called him out for singling out Shami. "Religion is not about compulsion. Many do not fast, but why single out Shami?"