Like 'gold kept safely in box', women must remain in homes: Islamic cleric in Kerala
The Islamic scholar further claimed that the purdah system was meant to keep women safe.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the Grand Mufti of India, has sparked controversy by suggesting that women should remain confined to their homes, similar to how valuable jewelry is kept in a secure box. The Islamic scholar believes that bringing women into the public sphere could lead to destruction, and that the purdah system, which involves concealing women's appearances, is meant to protect them.
He likened women to gold ornaments, stating that they should be kept safe in a box to maintain their beauty. The cleric made his remarks during an Islamic conference in Kochi, India, where he drew a comparison between a nearby store selling stone grinders and a gold necklace being left on the roadside. He argued that while stone grinders can be left outside without issue, a gold necklace should be kept safely inside a box to prevent damage and preserve its value.
His comments came in response to a controversial circular that instructed women not to appear on public platforms, which received criticism from several women political leaders. The Kanthapuram faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the state's largest council of Sunni-Shafi Islamic scholars, recently advocated for religious celebrations and programs to remain within prescribed boundaries.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad is a prominent figure among Sunni Muslims in India and the South Asian region, often referred to as the 'Grand Mufti of India.'
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