The famous Haji Ali Dargah, one of the most famous landmarks of Mumbai, has been following strict rules of not allowing women of any religion to enter the inner sanctum of the mosque. Only men are allowed. It was perfectly acceptable for women to enter the sanctum until this rule came in place in 2011. Apparently, the trustees started to believe that female proximity to the tomb of a revered saint is “a grievous sin” in Islam.
But seems like change is around the corner because a women’s rights group, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), has taken it up with the government and has petitioned the Bombay High Court seeking a ruling that the ban is unconstitutional, hoping such a decision would mark a major step forward for women’s rights in India.
Legend goes that a sufi saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari left all his worldly possessions to travel to Mecca and died on the way. His body washed off to the rocks of Arabian Sea and was found where the Haji Ali Dargah stands today. His body is kept in the inner mausoleum, where women are prohibited to enter.
According to the trustees, the reason why women were barred from entering the mausoleum four years ago is because they menstruate. And yet again, because we bleed, we are being banned from every place known. When will all of this stop? It’s about time we took a stand.
