Muslim Women Can Offer Namaz in Mosques: Muslim Law Board to SC  

New Delhi: The All-India Muslim Law Board (AIMLB) has approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to allow women to offer namaz in mosques. “The Board is consistent with its opinion in terms of Islamic texts that there is no prohibition on Muslim women entering Mosques and offering Namaz,” a statement issued by AIMLB said.

In this statement issued on February 8, the AIMLB said, “Free intermixing of genders in the same line or common space is not in conformity with the position prescribed in Islam.”  The board suggested that mosque management committees could address this by segregation of space for offering namaz inside mosques.

AIMLB informed that such practice continued in mosques in Mecca. The board has on many occasions reiterated that as per Islamic law, women are not prohibited inside mosques.

“Apart from this stated position in the Affidavit, the Board also appeals to the Muslim community at large that wherever new mosques are constructed, this issue of making appropriate space for women be kept in mind,” the AIMLB statement said.

The statement comes days after the AIMLB restored its women’s wing on February 5, which was discontinued in March 2022. The board also announced that it would involve more women in its decision-making processes.