Supreme Court on Entry of Women: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the Supreme Court on Wednesday (February 8) that women are allowed to enter inside mosques and offer prayers.
The board said that Muslim women are free to enter the mosque to offer prayers and it is up to them whether they want to exercise their right to offer prayers in the mosque or not. AIMPLB has given this information by filing an affidavit in the court. This affidavit has been filed regarding a petition related to Muslim women going to the mosque to offer prayers.
What did the lawyer say?
The affidavit, filed through advocate MR Shamshad, states that the places of worship (which are the mosques in the present case) are entirely private entities and are controlled by the ‘Muttawalis’ (managers) of the mosques. Farah Anwar Hussain Sheikh filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2020, urging it to issue directions regarding the alleged ban on Muslim women from entering mosques in India, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. The petition can be heard in March.
What’s in the affidavit?
It has been said in the affidavit that AIMPLB is a body of experts and has no power and can only issue its advice on the principles of Islam. It has been said in the affidavit that considering the religious texts, principles, religious beliefs of the followers of Islam, it is argued that women are allowed to enter the mosque and offer prayers. AIMPLB does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion in this regard.
‘A must for men’
It has been said in the affidavit that Islam has not made it necessary for women to offer prayers five times a day with the Jamaat (collective) or offer Jumma (Friday) prayers with the Jamaat. Although it is necessary for Muslim men. It states that according to the principles of Islam, whether Muslim women pray at home or offer prayers in a mosque, they will get the same ‘sawab’ (merit).
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