Haridwar, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Swami Chidanand Saraswati, spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, on Friday opposed the ‘fatwa’ issued by a Muslim cleric against Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan for offering prayers at the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. He said such rulings should not be issued against anyone following the “path of virtue”.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, issued the fatwa against Sara Ali Khan, describing her visit to the Kedarnath Temple and her offering of prayers as ‘haram’ (forbidden) and ‘najayaz’ (impermissible) under Sharia law.
Addressing reporters in Haridwar, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, “I believe ‘fatwas’ should not be issued against anyone. If a person has committed a sin, one can understand the concern. But issuing a ‘fatwa’ against someone who is following a path of virtue is difficult to understand.”
“I do not know all the details, but I would say that anyone who does something good, follows a positive path, works for the welfare of society or helps others should be appreciated, not targeted with ‘fatwas’,” he added.
Meanwhile, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, said the matter concerned Muslim clerics, who could decide whether women from their community should visit temples.
“This is a matter for Muslim clerics. They can stop women of their community (from visiting temples),” he said.
“We have clearly said that if Islam believes Muslim boys should participate in our Dandiya celebrations, then why only boys? Why shouldn’t their entire families participate? Why shouldn’t their daughters join as well?” he added.
Referring to a Madras High Court ruling that Agamic Hindu temples are places of pilgrimage rather than tourist destinations, the seer said, “As for Sara Ali Khan…people can visit if they have faith, but they must demonstrate that faith.”
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that non-Hindus who display religious markers of other faiths and do not affirm reverence for the deity concerned cannot be allowed inside the premises of Agamic temples. The ruling extended existing restrictions beyond the areas surrounding the flagstaff.
On Thursday, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi defended his decision to issue the fatwa against the Bollywood actress.
Speaking to IANS, the cleric said, “I have received information that film actress Sara Ali Khan visited Kedarnath (Temple) and performed acts of worship. If she truly did this from the heart, then the rulings of Sharia apply to her, because she is a Muslim, and for a Muslim, visiting a temple and engaging in acts of worship falls under the category of shirk (polytheism); it is ‘najayaz’ (impermissible) and ‘haram’ (forbidden).”
“Sara Ali Khan has committed an impermissible and forbidden act; therefore, according to Sharia, she is required to perform ‘Tauba’ (repent),” he stated.
Sara Ali Khan is the daughter of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his former wife, Amrita Singh.
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