Women will offer namaz at Aishbagh Eidgah today

Special arrangements are in place to increase women’s participation

This year too, women will be offering Eid namaz at the 300-year-old Aishbagh Eidgah.

Last year - for the first time special arrangements were put in place at the Eidgah, to ensure increased participation of women during the Eid namaz.

“Earlier, only a few women used to offer prayers at the Eidgah. So, we dedicated a separate hall, with a capacity of over 5,000, to women namazis last year. This initiative saw a very good response. This year too, we have made special provisions for women so that they don’t face any inconvenience,” said Sunni cleric, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, who will lead the Eid prayers.

“Also, as the Eidgah will have a congregation of about 3 to 4 lakh men, we have ensured that ‘purdah’ is maintained, and women don’t have to struggle due to rush. Separate entry points have been marked for them,” he added.

The move, the cleric insisted, was aimed at dispelling controversies regarding gender disparity among Muslims.

“We want to put to rest controversies and rumours regarding clerics and Islamic leaders being against the rights granted to women by Islam,” said the maulana.

The practice is prevalent in Arab countries, he said, where men and women offer namaz together at the Eidgah. “Islam doesn’t prohibit women from doing so,” he said.

This time’s Eid namaaz will also include special prayers. “There will be special prayers for peace in Kashmir and Arab countries. We will also pray for communal harmony,” said the cleric.

Agrees Shaista Ambar of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, “Islam doesn’t deny women’s entry inside mosques and Eidgahs. In fact, it grants men and women equal rights to offer prayers in holy places.”

“It is their right and no one can stop them from doing so. This initiative will only make women feel more empowered,” said Ambar, who got a mosque constructed in the state capital where women can freely offer namaz and make visits.