Keralam chief minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday challenged Sunni Islamic scholar Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad’s remarks on holding girls confined to their houses, calling it a “misinterpretation” of Islamic historical past.
The cleric, who holds the title of the Grand Mufti of India, had reportedly sparked outrage after he mentioned girls shouldn’t be allowed into the general public sphere as it could result in destruction.
The Keralam chief minister rejected the scholar’s remarks saying his view doesn’t align with the “progressive” custom of the south Indian state, information company PTI reported.
ALSO READ: Like ‘gold kept safely in box’, women must remain in homes: Islamic cleric in Kerala
Addressing a press convention after the state Cupboard assembly, Satheesan mentioned, “Now we have completely no settlement with that assertion. It isn’t a place that fits progressive Keralam. We can’t agree with it in any method.”
The Islamic scholar, also called Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, had cited the Quran to again his perception that ladies ought to keep confined to their houses and should not seem within the public sphere.
Opposing this view, Keralam CM Satheesan mentioned girls weren’t meant to be confined to their houses and will participate, even play a central function, in all spheres of life and society. “That’s our progressive place, with none doubt,” he mentioned.
What Keralam cleric mentioned on girls
Talking at an Islamic convention in Kochi on Sunday, Kanthapuram mentioned if girls entered public areas, it could result in “nice destruction”. His assertion got here after a controversial round, issued lately, mentioned “girls shouldn’t be current on public platforms”.
Kanthapuram likened girls to gold ornaments which should be stored safely. “If the necklace has to retain its magnificence, it must be stored safely inside a field,” he mentioned. He went on to assert this as and that Islam prescribed purdah for girls to forestall this.
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To clarify his level, he drew a comparability with a close-by retailer that offered stone grinders, which may very well be left exterior alongside the street with out concern. In distinction, he mentioned, if a gold necklace was left on the roadside, individuals would contact it, progressively damaging its look and diminishing its worth.
VD Satheesan challenges Islamic cleric
Keralam chief minister V D Satheesan mentioned the cleric’s view amounted to a “misinterpretation” of Islamic historical past. To show his argument, he cited examples of girls who held positions of energy within the faith.
The chief minister mentioned Prophet Muhammad’s first spouse Khadija was a profitable businesswoman, whereas one other spouse Aisha, participated within the Battle of the Camel and had performed a management function.
Satheesan additionally talked about Queen Bilqis, who, he mentioned, was recorded as a ruler in Islamic historical past. “There was a lady who carried out enterprise, a lady who performed the function of a navy chief and a lady who was a queen. All these examples are there in Islamic historical past,” he mentioned.
He additionally cited an incident the place a lady raised questions over mahr (dower) beneath the Caliphate. Her argument was acknowledged and accepted by the ruler.
“These examples present that ladies had a spot even within the royal court docket. Subsequently, we can’t agree with such a place in any method,” the chief minister mentioned.
Who’s Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is the ‘Grand Mufti of India’, a prime non secular determine of Sunni Muslims in India and the South Asian area. He’s the tenth particular person to carry the title. Islam and India produce other grand muftis too, with outstanding mosques being their headquarters. ‘Mufti’, the time period, primarily means an Islamic regulation professional.
(With inputs from PTI)
