Scholar defends purdah at Kochi conference
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, said on Sunday that women should remain confined to their homes, speaking at an Islamic conference in Kochi. He defended the position by saying Islam had prescribed purdah for women to prevent what he described as "great destruction" caused by their presence on public platforms.
"It is precisely recognising that bringing women onto public platforms in this manner causes great destruction that Islam mandated purdah for women. The Holy Quran states that women should live confined within their homes and must not make public appearances," he said, as quoted by multiple outlets.
The Samastha circular
The remarks came days after a circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, a prominent council of Sunni-Shafi Islamic scholars in Kerala. The circular, issued by Samastha president E Sulaiman Musliyar and general secretary Kanthapuram, directed that religious celebrations and programmes should remain within prescribed boundaries and said women should not share stages with men or appear in public spaces alongside them. According to The News Minute, the circular also stated that it is "not permissible" for young women to be present among unrelated men at public roads and stages, and directed madrasas and local committees to bar women from public stages.
Cleric's defence
Defending the organisation's position, Kanthapuram said such teachings had been followed by religious scholars, particularly Samastha leaders, for around a century. "Therefore, you must understand that it is because all knowledgeable people, especially the leaders of Samastha, taught this here for 100 years that the women in this country have maintained their honour and dignity," he said.
He further argued that religious scholars who had studied Islam had an obligation to speak on the issue despite criticism. "When this is said, if leaders of any other organisation or Samastha leaders object to or question it, we have studied the religion and therefore have an obligation to say it," he said, adding, "We will say it and continue to say it. No one can make us stop."
The circular drew criticism from several quarters, including women political leaders who questioned the directive, according to India TV News and The Times of India.
Political reactions
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan said that neither his government nor the Congress party endorses the restrictions on women's participation in public life advocated by Kanthapuram. "We do not agree with his statement at all," the CM said, adding that Kanthapuram's stand is not suitable for progressive Kerala.
"It was said that the Quran teaches that there will be great destruction if women enter the public sphere and that women should remain indoors. We do not agree with his statement," Satheesan told media on Wednesday, September 2. "Something that was spoken in the 19th century is being reiterated in the 21st century and we strongly oppose that," he said, adding, "Women are not meant to be restricted, they are meant to be part of mainstream life in every way. This is the progressive stand we endorse."
Satheesan also cited characters from Islamic history to argue that Kanthapuram's statements were a wrong interpretation of Islam. "The prophet's first wife Khadeeja was a businesswoman. Ayisha, another one of the prophet's wives, participated in the Battle of the Camel as the commander-in-chief. The Bilkis mentioned in Islamic history was a queen. When a proposal was made to reduce mehr in the court of Khalifa Umar, a woman opposed it, and the Khalifa decided to pay heed to the woman's opinion. So we cannot in any way agree to what was said, and neither this government nor our party will stand with such views," he said.
Sadiq Ali Thangal, leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), played down Kanthapuram's stand, suggesting he may have meant women are victimised or targeted and spoke with women's safety in mind, as reported by The News Minute.