Why Did a Kanpur Banner Ignite the Viral 'I Love Muhammad' Movement in India?

New Delhi- In a striking illustration of how local incidents can rapidly escalate into national movements, a seemingly innocuous expression of religious devotion during a traditional procession in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has ignited widespread protests, social media trends, and debates on religious freedom across India.

On September 4, 2025 during the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (also known as Barawafat) celebrations marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him, or SAW), a large signboard reading "I Love Muhammad" was displayed in the Syed Nagar area of Rawatpur, Kanpur. What began as a banner of affection for the Prophet quickly spiraled into communal tensions, police action, and a viral campaign that has united Muslims from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra, Telangana, and beyond. By September 23, the hashtag #ILoveMuhammad had trended extensively on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and WhatsApp, symbolizing not just personal faith but a collective stand against perceived curbs on religious expression.

The Spark: The Kanpur Procession and Initial Tensions

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, observed on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar, is a joyous occasion for Muslims worldwide, featuring processions, recitations of naats (poems in praise of the Prophet), and public displays of devotion. In Kanpur, a city with a significant Muslim population, the celebrations on September 4, followed this tradition in the Rawatpur neighborhood, particularly along Zafar Wali Gali in Syed Nagar. Amid the procession, a group of Muslim youths erected a prominent signboard emblazoned with "I Love Muhammad" (SAW), intended as a heartfelt tribute to the Prophet, whom Muslims revere as the final messenger of God and the epitome of moral guidance.

The banner, however, drew immediate objections from members of local Hindutva outfits, who argued that it represented a "new tradition" not observed in previous years' processions. Eyewitnesses reported that the signboard was vandalized and broken by these groups, who raised anti-Muslim slogans during the altercation. Tensions escalated as accusations flew between communities: Hindus claimed Muslim participants tore religious posters, while Muslims alleged unprovoked aggression against their symbol of faith. Police from the Rawatpur station intervened after several hours of unrest, eventually removing the signboard to restore order. At the time, no formal complaints were registered by either side, and the situation appeared de-escalated.

Local resident and advocate Mohammad Imran Khan later recounted to reporters that the Muslim community had approached the police station to file a complaint against the vandalism but were allegedly ignored. "We were the victims, yet our plea was dismissed," Khan stated, underscoring a perceived bias in the initial response. This sense of injustice simmered beneath the surface, setting the stage for the controversy's explosive resurgence.

A week later, on September 9, the Kanpur police dramatically reversed course by registering a First Information Report (FIR) at the Rawatpur Police Station. The complaint, lodged by Sub-Inspector (SI) Pankaj Sharma, targeted 12 named Muslim individuals, including Sharafat Hussain, Sabnoor Alam, Babu Ali, Mohammad Siraj, Rehman, Ikram Ahmad, Iqbal, Bunty, and Kunnu Kabadi, all residents of Syed Nagar, along with 12 to 15 unidentified persons and two vehicles involved in the procession. In total, the case implicated around 25 Muslim youths.

The FIR invoked Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion) and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India's updated criminal code. Authorities justified the action by citing government guidelines that prohibit the introduction of "new customs" in established religious processions to maintain communal harmony. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dinesh Tripathi clarified that the FIR was not solely for the banner's content but for its placement at a "new site" during the procession and mutual allegations of poster damage. "The rules are clear: no new traditions in religious events," Tripathi emphasized, framing the intervention as a preventive measure against potential unrest.

Critics, however, decried the FIR as disproportionate and one-sided. Despite video evidence and eyewitness accounts of the signboard's destruction by Hindutva groups, no action was taken against the vandals. This asymmetry fueled accusations of state-backed persecution, with community leaders arguing that the police had effectively criminalized an innocent expression of faith. As one X post from journalist Wasim Akram Tyagi put it: "If this isn't an attack on religious freedom, then what is? A few louts protest, and the police file cases, strange drama!"

The FIR's registration transformed a localized grievance into a national flashpoint, largely propelled by social media. On September 15, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi amplified the issue with a powerful X post: "Saying ‘I Love Muhammad’ is not a crime. If it is, then I accept any punishment. But Muslims should not be penalised for expressing love and respect for the Prophet." Owaisi's intervention, viewed over 100,000 times within hours, catalyzed a digital deluge. Users across platforms began sharing images of the banner, personal testimonies of devotion to the Prophet, and calls for solidarity under the banner of #ILoveMuhammad.

By September 18, the phrase had evolved into a full-fledged campaign, trending on X with thousands of posts, many featuring processions, naats, and messages emphasizing that love for the Prophet is "the essence of imaan (faith)." Posts from accounts like @TheMuslim786 highlighted the irony: "Muslims are being economically weakened and jailed for a simple sign of love—new theory exposed."

The trend spread rapidly from Uttar Pradesh to southern and western India, blending religious fervor with demands for justice.

Emboldened by the digital wave, physical protests erupted across India, peaking after Friday (Jumu'ah) prayers on September 20. In Kanpur itself, a large procession in Sharda Nagar drew hundreds carrying "I Love Muhammad" placards, chanting religious slogans and demanding the FIR's withdrawal. The demonstrations, largely peaceful, echoed the transcript's description of unease rippling through Muslim communities, evolving into organized action.

In UP's Unnao, youth organized processions with banners, leading to clashes, stone-pelting, eight additional FIRs, and five arrests. Local authorities seized vehicles to curb escalation. Detentions followed reports of offensive counter-slogans from protesting groups in Kaushambi. In Lucknow, muslim women staged a sit-in at Vidhan Bhavan, led by activist Sumaiya Rana, who lambasted the FIR as "an attempt to intimidate people for exercising constitutional freedoms."

In Hyderabad, protesters at key mosques affirmed their willingness to face FIRs, waving banners and invoking the Prophet's teachings on peace. Rallies occurred in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Parbhani and Burhanpur (Maharashtra), Jharkhand districts, and Kashipur (Uttarakhand), where an unauthorized procession sparked clashes and property damage before police intervention. In Mumbai's Byculla, a rally participant named Ashwak Khan was briefly detained for chanting the slogan but released after intervention by AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan.