Islam Allows Women To Enter Mosques: Muslim Law Board Tells Supreme Court

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that Islam doesn't bar women from entering mosques to offer 'namaz'. The AIMPLB said this in response to a PIL of Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade who has sought judicial intervention in ensuring entry of Muslim women in mosques.

"Considering the religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers. It is her option to exercise her right to avail such facilities as available for prayers in Masjid.

"The All India Muslim Personal Law Board does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect," Mohammed Fazlurrahim, Secretary of AIMPLB, said in his affidavit filed through lawyer MR Shamshad.

The Muslim Law Board said that Islam has not made it obligatory on women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for them to offer Friday Namaz in congregation. However, men are supposed to join congregational prayer, the affidavit said.

"The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam she is entitled to the same religious reward (Sawab) for praying as per her option either in Masjid or at home," it said.

The top court Tuesday said that its nine-judge Constitution bench would hear within 10 days questions related to entry of Muslim women into mosques, female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and barring of Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, from the holy fire place at Agiary.

(With PTI Inputs)