The religious head of India’s one of the holiest Muslim shrine, Ajmer Sharif’s Dargah Dewan Zaniul Abedin Ali Khan has strongly objected to the visit of films stars to pay obeisance for success of their movies and TV serials.
“We can not allow such deeds here and seek opinion from the Islamic scholars,” he added. But the Anjuman, the body of Khadims, rejected Dewan’s views and said it was against the tradition of the holy shrine.
Mr Khan’s, the hereditary Sajjada-Nasheen of Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty, remarks came after India’s leading TV serial producer Ekta Kapoor made a visit to the shrine on Friday and offered prayers for success of her upcoming film Kya Super Kool Hain Ham.
“This place is nor marked to promote such films, it would be against the teaching of Islam and Sufism,” he said while talking to this correspondent over phone from Ajmer.
“We can not allow the use this holy place to pray for success of movies and serials promoting obscenity,” he said. But the Anjuman, a body representing Khadims of the shrine, dismissed Mr Khan’s move. “Ye makam sab ke liye khula hai, pata nahi wo aisa kyon keh rahe hai (This place is open for all to worship. There is no bar on anyone. We donot know why he is raising this issue.),” asks HIssamuddin Chishty, president of the Anjuman.
“It is a highly-sensitive issue and needs urgent attention of Islamic scholars and Ulemas,” Mr Khan said. “I am surprised to note that the Ulemas and scholars are silent over this issue,” he asks rhetorically.
Citing example of singer Himesh Reshammiya and Katrina Kaif’s visit, he said such visits unnecessary embroil the shrine’s name into controversy. Reshammiya wore a burqa when he made a visit to the shrine in year 2007.
He said obscenity and such films are considered forbidden in Islamic teachings. But the Anjuman body and Khadims objected to Dewan’s statement. “The Dargah is open for all faiths, religion and people. How can one put a ban on visits,” asks Mahmood Hasan Chishty, former secretary of the Anjuman. “It is place where artists, players, film stars and performers have been visiting for centuries. We fail to understand why suddenly Mr Khan is making such statements,” Mr Chishty asks.