Controversy over banning women entry to Dargah Sharif

Ajmer, June 15 (UNI) A controversy is brewing over the presence of women during the Friday namaz at Dargah Sharif here, which is supposedly to distracting the men.

All India Kaji Board's national spokeman and Dargah Khadim S F Hasan along with a number of other Khadims met the Dargah Committee president a few days back and lodged their objection to women sitting near the main mazar during the Friday namaz, saying it distracted their attention.

Hundreds of women offer prayers at Begami balcony and Ahetaenoor opposite the Dargah Sharif's main mazar everyday but the whole controversy arose due to their presence during the Friday prayers.

Khadim Hasan claimed as per the Islamic traditions, the namaz became a futile exercise for a man if he saw a woman while performing the prayers.

Specially on Fridays, the Dargah becames overcrowded with people offering prayers and hundreds of lines were formed. Moreover, with women occupying the Begami balcony and Ahataenoor, the men often had to face the women during the prayers.

Khadim Hasan said they had complained to the Dargah committee several times but occupied with personal fights, this problem has always been overlooked. He alleged the committee only declared the banning of entry of women but in reality took no action in this regard.

Dargah Nazim Abdul Aalim said during the Friday prayers, hundreds of women who came for ziyarat were accommodated in Jhalra and Makbra but as the crowds surges, some women, unaware about the ways of the Dargah, came and occupy the balcony opposite the main mazar.

These women were often asked to clear the space. He said these kinds of problems arose due to surging crowds but it was not right to raise a controversy over the issue.

Dargah committee chairman Pirzada Sibli Kasim refused to comment on the issue, saying he was not aware of the controversy and in any case, this particular issue was the responsibilty of Dargah Nazim.

It is to be noted that some days back, a khadim beat a woman devotee sitting in Begami balcony which led to the intervention of police.

UNI XC RRT PK PC1505