CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News / Agencies: A religious controversy has erupted over Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan’s visit to the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand, where she offered prayers and performed worship rituals. Bareilly-based Islamic cleric Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has objected to her visit to the temple and participation in religious rituals, issuing a fatwa. Calling it against Sharia, the cleric asked the actress to seek forgiveness from Allah and repent.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi is the national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat. In a video statement, he said that in Islam it is not permissible for a Muslim to take part in the religious rituals of another faith and worship according to them. According to him, if Sara performed worship rituals at Kedarnath of her own will, then in the eyes of Sharia it is a sin. He said she would have to answer before Allah on this matter.
Sara Ali Khan had reached Kedarnath on October 25. In photos and videos that surfaced, she was seen standing in a queue for darshan at the temple and praying with folded hands after the worship. The actress has been visiting Kedarnath for the past several years. Her association with the temple has also been discussed since the time of her debut film “Kedarnath”.
However, other religious scholars have disagreed with the cleric’s statement. Deobandi ulema Maulana Qari Ishaq Gora supported Sara, saying it is not appropriate to target an individual’s personal religious faith. He also said that every statement should not be considered a formal fatwa. The developments have once again sparked debate over individual religious freedom and the role of religious leadership.
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