In a significant upshot for Muslim women seeking permission to offer prayers inside mosques, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has admitted before the Supreme Court of India that there is no restriction in Islam on women entering mosques to offer namaz.
Senior advocate M.R. Shamshad, appearing for the Board, made the submission before a nine-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant hearing the Sabarimala reference case, with related petitions on women’s entry into mosques tagged to the case as they too involve constitutional questions with respect to Articles 25 and 26.
The question of the right of women to enter mosques stemmed from a PIL petition filed in March 2019 by a Pune-based couple, Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad and her husband Zuber Ahmad Nazir Ahmad Peerzade. The husband-wife duo had requested the Mohmidiya Jama Masjid in Pune to allow women entry to offer prayers. However, the request was denied following which Ms. Yasmeen approached the Supreme Court seeking relief under the writ of mandamus.
Explained | On the entry of women in masjids
Broad agreement
