Men and women will not be allowed to touch sanctum at Haji Ali

Affidavit by Haji Ali Trust says no prohibition, but segregation essential

Mumbai: The affidavit filed by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust at the Supreme Court said, “The trust believes in complete equality between men and women” and has “decided” to grant equal access to both men and women in the sanctum sanctorum of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari.

The affidavit, a copy of which is with The Hindu , says, “The Haji Ali Dargah Trust is pleased to allow access to women and children up to the same point as men through a separate entrance as was done prior to 2011-2012. Both men and women will be allowed to enter the room which houses the Sanctum Sanctorum; however both of them will not be allowed to touch the Sanctum Sanctorum.”

Under the sub-heading of ‘The equality between men and women’, the affidavit reads, “Islam believes in equality among men and women. However, segregation between the sexes in the place of worship is contemplated. There is no prohibition against women from having access to places of worship in Islam as women used to pray contemporaneously in the same mosque as Prophet Muhammad.”

The 21-page affidavit points out, “Segregation of devotees on the basis of gender (and age) is essential and was practised as is evidenced from the

hadiths and the Sunnah . This is not only necessary from a religious point of view, but also from the point of view of ensuring ease of access, comfort and crowd control to segregate men from women and children.”

“It is relevant,” the affidavit adds, “that while hadiths do not bar women from entering places of worship where their exists infrastructure for segregation, hadiths do indicate that in Islam there is a higher reward for women if they were to offer prayers (Namaaz) in house,” it said.