AIMIM's Shahabuddin Razvi Defends Grand Mufti Kanthapuram's Remarks on Women

Sheikh Abubakr Ahmed, Abdlrasheed, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 | Jihad Watch

The debate over Kerala's Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, has intensified after Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, publicly defended his comments on women's role in society. Razvi stated that the Grand Mufti's remarks were rooted in the principles of Sharia and argued that they had been widely misunderstood.

According to Razvi Bareilvi, Islam seeks to protect a woman's honour and dignity by discouraging unnecessary exposure in public spaces. He said that women hold a respected and cherished position within the family, adding that their dignity should never become a subject of public display or ridicule.

Clarifying the controversy, Razvi emphasized that Kanthapuram did not prohibit Muslim women from pursuing careers or fulfilling professional responsibilities. He maintained that women are free to work in offices and other workplaces, provided they observe the hijab in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The controversy stems from remarks made by Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar during the Hubbul Rasool Conference in Kochi. Addressing the gathering, the Grand Mufti stated that women should remain within their homes and avoid entering the public sphere, attributing this position to the teachings of the Holy Quran.

His comments have sparked widespread discussion across Kerala, with supporters describing them as a religious interpretation of Islamic scripture, while critics have questioned their relevance in the context of women's participation in modern public life.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)