The ban on entry of women in dargahs is here to stay. The decision was upheld during a Sunni ulema meeting in the city on Wednesday. The ulemas have decided to strictly implement the Sharia law, which “states that women cannot be allowed entry to cemetery and graves”. They also decided to spread the message during the Friday sermons.
Speaking about the ban, Maulana Azaz Kashmiri said that the Sharia law pertaining to the ban always existed, but it was just being implemented now. “There are certain sections of the society that are trying to put doubts in the minds of the Muslims by creating a controversy over an issue that is not against the Sharia law,” said Maulana Kashmiri.
He added that the decision to ban women from visiting dargahs was in line with the rulings of the second caliph, who had set the law 1,350 years ago “as their (women’s) presence resulted in rifts and fights among men”.
“With the exception of the grave of the Holy Prophet of Islam, women have been barred from visiting graves for hundreds of years. It is just that it was not implemented strictly,” he said.
Concurring with Maulana Kashmiri, Saeed Noori of Raza Academy said that the meeting of ulemas dwelled on how to remove the misconception regarding the issue that has been created by the media.
“Vested interests are creating a rift among the Muslims by questioning the ideology. The Friday sermons will deal specifically with the issue, so that people understand the logic behind the implementation of the ban,” he said.
Meanwhile, trustees of the Haji Ali dargah and Makhdoom Shahbaba dargah at Mahim have made arrangements for women to visit separately. “A separate area has been allocated for women to pray at the dargah from a distance. They are not allowed to touch the mausoleum. Most of the women devotees have accepted it and will abide by the rules,” said Suhail Khandwani, trustee of both the dargahs.