After the historic Bombay High court order regarding the Haji Ali dargah, which allows the entry of women up to the ‘mazaar’, the focus has shifted to dargahs in Gujarat. While the Bombay HC has stayed its order for six weeks following a plea by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust (it is likely to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court), Muslim women in Ahmedabad are buoyed by this verdict and they are now demanding that dargahs in the city follow this precedent. At present, women here have to be content with just touching their forehead to the steps leading to the inner sanctum at many dargahs. Here’s what some of Gujarat’s prominent voices have to say on the issue:
FOR THE VERDICT:
Zakia Soman, co-founder, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan: It is a historic example of having a democratic demand upheld through democratic means. This decision of barring women from entering the shrine’s inner sanctum was taken only in 2012. We all remember going there in childhood. So why this sudden exclusion? Initially, we spoke to the trustees but they left us with no other alternative than approaching the High Court. We had support from other ordinary Muslim women, which brought us victory. Also, no religion supports gender discrimination in any way, be it entering Haji Ali or Sabarimala temple. Hopefully, every shrine in Ahmedabad would open up equally for women.
J S Bandukwala, Human Rights Activist: I welcome the High Court judgment. It is high time that the Muslim community progresses towards gender equality. When the Mecca and Medina are welcoming it, I see no reason why others should not follow it. The judgment, in a way, is symbolic too because women in the society should feel healthy and welcome within the community. What also strikes me is that many are disagreeing to women going close to a dead person. I do not see any point in it. The body, after death, is mere bones and the soul is with Allah. Why such halla bol over such petty issues?
Tejal Amin (Educationist): We should move with the times and such a verdict is a reflection of the changing times. Equality for everyone is at the heart of every religion and personally, I believe that there should be no gender bias at places of worship.
Cassim Unia (Senate Member, M S University): Having travelled to many countries and visited thousands of mosques, I feel that there should be absolutely no problem in giving women the same rights. If there is no issue when women pray with men at Mecca, why should there be a problem anywhere else? While this is a sentimental issue, we have so many great examples to draw inspiration from, be it the Ajmer Sharif dargah or some famous shrines in Iran and Iraq. There’s no need to create such a big hue and cry over this, let us agree once and for all that women deserve equal rights.
A COUNTER VIEW:
Dr. Shakeel Ahmed, President, Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind: In logon ne non-issue ko issue bana diya hai. It is not an issue of women rights and liberation. People usually compare how temples let in women, while darghas and mosques don’t. But one shouldn’t compare religions. It is men for whom offering namaaz five times a day is compulsory, and not for women. Also, till a certain limit, women were let in to the shrines. Earlier, no one was allowed in the graveyard, including men. Till date, women are not allowed in the janaza. Why do people stay silent over those issues? This is no women empowerment. This wouldn’t help Muslims in battling major issues like poverty or fighting terrorism. We need to address the real issues. These issues wouldn’t change the ground reality of what is happening.
Quick Facts:
• In 2012, the Haji Ali Dargah Trust imposed a ban on women, which barred them from the area which houses the ‘mazaar’ or tomb. • The trust claimed that the presence of women in close proximity to the tomb of a male saint was a grievous sin in Islam. • Acting on a PIL, the Bombay High Court recently ruled that just like before, women should now be allowed into the sanctum of the 15th century saint Haji Ali Shah’s mausoleum. • Buoyed by this historic verdict, Muslim women in Ahmedabad are now demanding that dargahs in the city should allow women to enter the inner sanctum, which isn’t allowed at many places.
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