Jaipur:
The demand by the religious head ofAjmer dargah to ban visits by film stars and producers to theshrine to pray for the success of their films has drawn flakfrom the community of khadims (caretakers) and some artistes,though clerics have supported his stand.
Anjuman committee, representative body of khadims whoperform ziyarat in the dargarh, said that Dewan Zainul AbedinAli Khan's objection was uncalled for.
"Those who have faith in Khawaja come here irrespectiveof caste and creed. They come here for the great saint Khawajaand bow to him, not Dewan," Wahid Hussain Chisti, Secretary ofAnjuman Committee, told PTI.
"It is totally an objectionable stand. People come herewith their wish and pray to Khawaja Sahib. It is between theKhawaja and the devotee," he said.
Qutbuddin Sakhi, a khadim, said that film producers,actors and actresses usually come with the first print oftheir films and seek blessings for the success of their work.
"Many of them come with first print, which only containsthe names of director/producers/actor/actress/crew, not theentire film and they seek blessings for the success of theirperformance. I do not think that there should be any objectionto this," he said.
According to him, the Dewan has no right to interfere inthe matters related with ziyarat and he is just doing for"publicity".
Actor Raza Murad, a frequent visitor to the shrine, saidfilm stars have been visiting the dargarh for a long time andsuch objections should be rejected.
"The kaum (community) is already backward and suchstatement has only worsened the situation. The dargah of Sufisaint is not a personal property. It is open for all and suchstatement at the time of Ramzan is really not acceptable,"he said.
"If he has talked about Islamic law, then the entry ofwomen should also be banned. Why are female devotees allowedto enter the dargah," he asked.
Rajasthani folk singer and actress Ila Arun, who hasexpressed her wish to organise a Sufi performance in thedargah, said that if something is against spirituality or alaw, it should be avoided.
"If one has ill-wish or something unfair and prays to theGod in mind for that, no one can stop him or her from doingso. Such wishes would not be addressed so why is there a needto create a hype," Ila Arun said.
"If the wish is for such a film which has vulgarity orobscenity, it will not be successful," she said.
However, Ila Arun said, that if offering of CD/DVD/print inthe dargah is obejectionable, it should be banned.
On the other hand, scholar Mohammad Salim said that theDewan was correct in principle because things which areprohibited from an Islamic point of view should not bepromoted.
"In principle, he is correct but my view is that when itcomes to offering prayers, one should pray to the supreme Godand seek blessings from Him only," he said.
Peer Abdul Ruab Chisti of Nagaur dargah, Maulana Mashkoorof Lucknow and other religious people also supported Dewan'sstatement.
They said that he was fundamentally correct as far asIslamic law is concerned.
The dargah Dewan in a statement yesterday objected toactors and producers visiting the shrine to pray for thesuccess of their films saying that they were seeking blessingsfor something which is taboo in Islam.
He had said in that his objection was only over the visitwith this particular purpose, not for a general visit.
Maulana Mushkoor Ahmed from Lucknow said that the standDewan of Ajmer dargah took was absolutely correct from Islamicpoint of view.
"All Maulanas should hold a meeting to discuss and takeaction on this issue. I will speak to Maulanas in thisregard," he said.
Peer Abdul Ruab Chisti of Nagaur dargah in Nagaurdistrict in Rajasthan also raised the same voice and demandedban on the entry of such people who come with 'unfair'intentions.
"All intellectuals should come forward to support theissue. Not only at the Ajmer dargah, but at all the religiousplaces, things which are not permissible as per the religiouslaw should never be allowed to happen," he said.
Chisti said that there is no doubt that the things whichDewan has highlighted are true and need urgent attention.
"Any activity against Islamic law is considered Haram andthose who are opposing the views of Dewan is also beingunfair," he added.
Anjuman committee, representative body of khadims whoperform ziyarat in the dargarh, said that Dewan Zainul AbedinAli Khan's objection was uncalled for.
"Those who have faith in Khawaja come here irrespectiveof caste and creed. They come here for the great saint Khawajaand bow to him, not Dewan," Wahid Hussain Chisti, Secretary ofAnjuman Committee, told PTI.
"It is totally an objectionable stand. People come herewith their wish and pray to Khawaja Sahib. It is between theKhawaja and the devotee," he said.
Qutbuddin Sakhi, a khadim, said that film producers,actors and actresses usually come with the first print oftheir films and seek blessings for the success of their work.
"Many of them come with first print, which only containsthe names of director/producers/actor/actress/crew, not theentire film and they seek blessings for the success of theirperformance. I do not think that there should be any objectionto this," he said.
According to him, the Dewan has no right to interfere inthe matters related with ziyarat and he is just doing for"publicity".
Actor Raza Murad, a frequent visitor to the shrine, saidfilm stars have been visiting the dargarh for a long time andsuch objections should be rejected.
"The kaum (community) is already backward and suchstatement has only worsened the situation. The dargah of Sufisaint is not a personal property. It is open for all and suchstatement at the time of Ramzan is really not acceptable,"he said.
"If he has talked about Islamic law, then the entry ofwomen should also be banned. Why are female devotees allowedto enter the dargah," he asked.
Rajasthani folk singer and actress Ila Arun, who hasexpressed her wish to organise a Sufi performance in thedargah, said that if something is against spirituality or alaw, it should be avoided.
"If one has ill-wish or something unfair and prays to theGod in mind for that, no one can stop him or her from doingso. Such wishes would not be addressed so why is there a needto create a hype," Ila Arun said.
"If the wish is for such a film which has vulgarity orobscenity, it will not be successful," she said.
However, Ila Arun said, that if offering of CD/DVD/print inthe dargah is obejectionable, it should be banned.
On the other hand, scholar Mohammad Salim said that theDewan was correct in principle because things which areprohibited from an Islamic point of view should not bepromoted.
"In principle, he is correct but my view is that when itcomes to offering prayers, one should pray to the supreme Godand seek blessings from Him only," he said.
Peer Abdul Ruab Chisti of Nagaur dargah, Maulana Mashkoorof Lucknow and other religious people also supported Dewan'sstatement.
They said that he was fundamentally correct as far asIslamic law is concerned.
The dargah Dewan in a statement yesterday objected toactors and producers visiting the shrine to pray for thesuccess of their films saying that they were seeking blessingsfor something which is taboo in Islam.
He had said in that his objection was only over the visitwith this particular purpose, not for a general visit.
Maulana Mushkoor Ahmed from Lucknow said that the standDewan of Ajmer dargah took was absolutely correct from Islamicpoint of view.
"All Maulanas should hold a meeting to discuss and takeaction on this issue. I will speak to Maulanas in thisregard," he said.
Peer Abdul Ruab Chisti of Nagaur dargah in Nagaurdistrict in Rajasthan also raised the same voice and demandedban on the entry of such people who come with 'unfair'intentions.
"All intellectuals should come forward to support theissue. Not only at the Ajmer dargah, but at all the religiousplaces, things which are not permissible as per the religiouslaw should never be allowed to happen," he said.
Chisti said that there is no doubt that the things whichDewan has highlighted are true and need urgent attention.
"Any activity against Islamic law is considered Haram andthose who are opposing the views of Dewan is also beingunfair," he added.
