Deoband seminary issues fatwa against Muslim female receptionists
– File Photo
MUZAFFARNAGAR: India’s leading Islamic seminary, the Darul Uloom Deoband, has barred Muslim women from working as receptionists, calling the act un-Islamic and against Shariah law, said a reported published on Tuesday.
According to the Press Trust of India, the Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa against the appointment of Muslim women as receptionists. The seminary issued the fatwa after a Pakistan-based company submitted a query on Nov 29 regarding the appointment of Muslim women as receptionists, said the report.
Darul Uloom said that a Muslim woman working in offices as receptionist was un-Islamic because Muslim women were not allowed to appear before men without wearing a veil, as ordained by Islam.
Muslim cleric and president of the UP Imam organisation, Mufti Zulfikar Ali, defended the fatwa and said that Muslim women could work in offices if they wore the veil. However, he added, the post of receptionist required constant interactions with people, and thus should not be practiced.
As someone who is not a Muslim, I welcome this step wholeheartedly. Women are more suited by nature to take care of family, inculcating moral values to children, supporting her husband, etc. However, these days we find they interact with strangers without any shame and end up getting cheated. It is also scientifically proven that women are more emotion, constantly insecure and less rational which is why they easily fall prey to wrong persons. It is my request that this fatwa should be extended to all communities.
I believe in moderation anything too much is too bad.Buddha said the middle way.The truth is not towards the left nor towards the right its is in the center or middle truth(god) is present.Its not in the extremes of liberal or fundamental but in the middle that is moderate.
I request the Mufties of the Deoband Seminary to give a fatwa against women who who go to Arab countries and work in their homes like slaves, OR declare that a slave girl is better than a receptionist in the eyes of a Mufti.
We have gone so astray that we can’t tolerate Islam, these people have not their thought but interpreted from verses. Shame to all muslims who comment this blog without researching what Islam is about? and what is written in holy Quran and Hadith?
Who are these mullahs. Most of them are uneducated madrassa educated, brain washed extremists.It is strange even this 21st century some people are following them.. These type of people are the main reason for the backwardness of muslims in all fields.
Guys, had anybody think why that company (name not mentioned) put that query (if any company really did) and what was the motive behind. Are we not putting useless efforts behind that report????
Mullahs from both India and Pak should be sent to Malaysia on an incentive tour to see Muslim women working all around the country. Kota Bahru is a predominantly Muslim state in Malaysia with Sharia in operation as the state law but I saw women working all around the place.
u r right ,i have been working in kota bharu for 3 years ,as a hindu i lov the other side of islam ,where peace and love dominates …..i love islam there and peace there
good thought by muslim scholars.
these mullah’s are crazy where ever they live in the world. there should be a ban on mullah receptionists.
How about banning the mullahs from this seminary from visiting any offices where women work. That will prevent them from looking at the ladies so that they can maintain their status as true believers.
Nobody listen Mullahs in INDIA. Why don’t these idiots issues fatwa against Bollywood Muslim Women. hypocrites.
its strange to see all these comments , we are muslims and this means that we accepted a way of life in accordance to sharriah , we have no right to comment against ulema , and those who are not happy with sharriah should decide their own way, they may be going out of Islam by these comments
In the eyes of god, all humans are equal. But, especially in Islam Allah imposes insaaf i.e justice to one & all. He is the ultimate authority, not the mullah interpreting according to his will.
Don’t ever disagree with the ulema or you’re going against the Shariah and could be committing kufr??? You need to do some serious research buddy.
Enlighten my about Ummul Momineen Khadeeja(a.s). was not she a bussiness woman and social worker ?
Going out of Islam? Really? Whose Islam? Yours?
that’s ok, but can someone anwer this:
Is it permissable for Molvi’s to keep an unblinking eye contact when talking to TV hostesses especially of morning shows!! ? what is the fatwa for them
Eye contact alone is OK, eyes shudnt wander. Why not have the women wear dark glasses ?
We should ban this organization immediately and punish this mullah,so no such mullah such dare to give such fatwas against women.
Who will bell the cat?
I urge Indian government should bell the cat.
Just forget that!! Indian government has no courage to act against any religious organization be it Hindu, Muslim etc.
I think no one should have, as all have the same destiny in this world today i.e. Geo or Genay Do.
But the same quesiton applies, who will bell the CAT…..?
Then you do it.
High hopes ? Deoband gives parties block muslim votes or atleast some quantity though less than previously. Else why the improtance to the seminaries and moulvis and preists ?
The fatwa does not seems to be against womens,in fact this is in favor to protect the sanctity of womens….those who don’t believe are deaf,dumb and blind. They should get their mind free from the clutches of westernize culture. Only then they can understand……
It seems like it’s against my basic right Nasir Sahib! I have a better solution. why don’t you issue a fatwa against men ooglin at women, I think that’s definitely in favour of sanctity of your face
those who blindly follow the mullahs are themselves blind, deaf, and dumb.
Nope. You should get your mind free from the clutches of ignorant, bigoted men who speak in the name of absolute authority and require all others to follow them in, among other despicable things, subjugating half of the human race.
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these Mullanas are lifting the women by not allowing them to become showcase for many companies and protecting them from lustful eyes.
My dear sister, I don’t know your religion but I advice if you are muslim, please read the Prohphet PBU him Sharia, and Law of Quran, then comments.
May Allah give us bright vision and peace in this world and after.
Fatwa is a religious ruling and as I understand it is not binding in Sunni Islam. It is on followers of a particular faith to abide by it or not. Darul-uloom-deoband is a respectable institution in India on Islamic faith. I do not see any wrong in their ruling. However, the fact is that such thoughts have become obsolete in our developing society.
Sorry sir, there is everything wrong in their ruling.
Not being a follower of Islam or its particular sect, to me also it is not in line with present day thoughts. If you are Deobandi, I would like you to read this religious ruling,, interpret it according to the the faith and get it amended? No issue. Otherwise, are we not poking our nose in personal affairs of a particular sect? We should learn to live with diversified thoughts as long it doesn’t affect our social fabric. This is what we have learned in our society
Satish I appreciate your study on the islamic issues and believe you are a learned person.
My humble view on the issue which non-muslims will also comprehend is that instead of running away from issues by declaring a fatwa on it as impermissible, our cleric should assist muslim women by charting out the parameters of do’s and dont’s which the religion explains very well anyways. Any muslim women who cares about being muslim and works as a receptionist never let any one consider her a piece on showcase or a “pleasant scene at welcome desk”. Muslim women just like any other women from noble faith and family oriented cultures like indian know it well how to behave in today’s environment, not compromising on their faith and/or culture, not being rude but at the same time not giving any one a wrong impression of “extra-curricular” engagements.
The growing problem with muslim clerics is that instead of working a bit harder to research and find the acceptable ways, they run away from the issues by issuing fatwas.
That is the only reason world has started seeing islam as a competitor religion where as islam is actually a complete way of life. Religion is too narrow and misleading term for islam.
Farooq Bhai, to my understanding anyone trained in Islamic law may give an opinion (fatwā) on its teachings? A fatwa doesn’t become teachings of Islam automatically. Fatwas are only interpretations of Quran, Hadits etc. To my understanding what we all are doing here is for ‘Ijma’ which is difficult due to women empowerment in present times. I am not sure whether there were posts of ‘receptionists’ during Quranic times? Till such time a consensus is arrived we should enjoy the discussions …
True, why focusing receptionist only? Had this fatwa had true spirit it would have talked about general degradation of women in workplaces (not all).
@ Skchadha. Rightly said sir.
This fatwa is a hate speeches against women.The person who issued the fatwa should immediately punished.
Who will bell the cat?
Having such mullahs is not god for the health of the society.Immediately government of India should take action against him and put him behind bars.
Mullahs always are men they always stood for men and they will always stand for men.
Seems maulvis forgotten they born from womb of one of women. From when women become inferior to men? Even our Prophets came in this world from blood and cells of these women. Lets respect them, not make them an item.
wah wah well said Sardarjee.
@ Singh.
Fatwa may be wrong or unagreeable but if by chance you read it, it says that women working as receptionist are more prone to men’s disrespectful behaviour and should not take such jobs. It is protective in nature not degrading towards women. However, I agree fatwa should have been against disrespectful men !
@ Sheikh Chilli
LOL
I love the mullahs they always stand for male dominance.:)
Its time to have our women mullahs to defend women against these men mullahs.
Its about time. We should have some good looking female mullahs. I nominate Veena Malik….
I see you have a lot more likes than dislikes, but thats a really messed up thing to say.
I as a Muslim women ask our Muslim men to voice their opinion against these mullahs and prevent them from giving such fatwas against Muslim women.
These mullahs using fatwas are indoctrinating the Muslim males to torture their wives,this amounts to inciting domestic violence.
We can’t allow male mullahs ruling the show by imprisoning innocent women by their fatwas.
Women have become presidents,prime ministers etc its time for women to be mullahs and give fatwa against mullah men and ordinary men.
Women only became prime ministers and president in third world countries not in USA. How back ward is USA.
excuse me, but i’m a student of islamic education and am studying by women and i believe this fatwa is completely right. we need to keep ourselves protected so as not to be probed by the eyes of so many other men except our husbands.
and if you believe i may jux be a normal female student with no education but that of religion then you are wrong because i have also studied in university and done textile designing with in the veil and now i am applying for ACCA. there is no rule bounding us to our homes, there are rules only to keep us protected and to keep our bodies safe.