Post by Javed on Mar 6, 2007 18:32:14 GMT
Salam,
what does everyone make of this?
The Khadims, traditional servers, of the Sufi shrine in Ajmer have decided to ban women from the dargah at the time of prayers
SAUDI ARABIA , 14-June-2006 3:23:52 AM
The Khadims, traditional servers, of the Sufi shrine in Ajmer have decided to ban women from the dargah at the time of prayers as they purportedly distract men.Several Islamic saints including Moinuddin Chishti,RA the Sufi saint of the Ajmer dargah, may have advised complete equality for women, but their present day religious heirs seem reluctant to follow them.The dargah in Ajmer symbolises tolerance and spiritual solace for millions. However, in a letter to the Dargah Committee, the Khadims claim that under Islam if a man sees a woman while performing namaaz, it becomes a futile exercise.
"We have a lot of rush at the time of namaaz, and we hardly have any space left particularly during the Friday prayers."
"But if a woman sits in front, then the man's prayer becomes unacceptable. That is why we have raised this demand," says Zahoor Chishti, Joint Secretary, Khadim Association, Ajmer Dargah.In order to discuss this sensitive issue, the Dargah Committee, which manages the shrine, has held a series of meetings, but refused to give any statement.Devotees upset
Women devotees, however, are angry and say that the demand to banish them from prayers is unacceptable.
"They should not try to stop us. We come from long distances and it is one of our fondest dreams to offer namaaz at this dargah. So they should allow every woman to offer her prayers here," says a female devotee.
However, the Khadims say that in recent months, some men have even manhandled women who disturbed their prayers.
Thus, women's entry needs to be banned to avoid such clashes at the annual Urs in the dargah next month.
In the Sufi ideology of Moinuddin Chishti, there was no place for any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or gender.
But ironically his traditional servers the Khadims have now raised a ticklish issue that smacks of gender inequality.
From : www.ndtv.com
