An influential body of Sunni scholars and clerics, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama has on Tuesday declared that women should offer their prayers inside their homes reiterating its stand of opposing entry of women in the mosque.
Speaking to the media in light of the recent Supreme Court decision to send a notice to the center over a petition seeking directive to allow women to enter mosques, General Secretary of Samastha, K Alikkutyy Musaliyar said, “We cannot allow court’s interference in the religious matters. We should heed only religious leaders on such issues.” Defending his stance, Musaliyar also asserted that his and the Samastha body’s view on Sabarimala had been similar.
Musaliyar further added, “The rule regarding non-entry to women in mosque is quite old. It is 1400 years old and Prophet Muhammad himself had given an explanation about this.”
Another Sunni leader and All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama’s general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar contended that the courts should first consult with the religious leaders before intervening in the matters related to faith. Citing basic tenets of Islam, he asserted that the best place for women to pray is in their homes. He also professed that only negligible minority among Muslims who have shifted away from core Islam favour women’s entry into mosques. “Such people who are divorced from basics of Islam endorse such perverted and extremist thoughts,” he said.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court had admitted a petition seeking permission for Muslim women to enter mosques to offer prayers. The court had asked the center to respond to the PIL filed by a Pune based couple. The petitioners have requested the apex court to declare the present practice of denying women entry into mosques as illegal.
It is notable here that on September 28, 2018, the Supreme Court had cast aside the traditions of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala and had declared that women of all ages should be allowed entry into the temple.
