Kerala: Muslim League leader Munavvarali Thangal corrects daughter's remarks supporting women's mosque entry; calls it child's spontaneous response

KOZHIKODE: Muslim League national secretary Panakkad Munavvarali Shihab Thangal issued a clarification on the remarks made by his 16-year-old daughter at a literature festival, where she expressed support for allowing women to enter mosques.

Thangal said her comments should be viewed only as a spontaneous response from a child who lacks the required understanding and learning to speak on a question pertaining to Islamic jurisprudence.

Fathima Nargis, his daughter, had in a programme held in Kochi recently, voiced her support for the entry of women to the mosques for prayers, saying that it was a result of cultural practices and created by some people and that it is never said in religion that women cannot enter masjids.

"That should be changed. That is also part of women's evolution and I think it will be changed," she responded to a question from the audience.

Her remarks triggered strong reactions from sections within the Sunni community, which follow the tradition of restricting women's entry into mosques for prayer.

Thangal in a Facebook post, said he understands that his daughter's response provided while responding to an unexpected question and without having the deep religious scholarship required for such a topic, does not align with the mainstream Muslim religious beliefs.

"On a matter that Kerala's traditional Muslim scholarly community clearly defined based on profound knowledge, I wish to clarify and correct her response here, taking full responsibility as a father," Thangal said.

IUML supremo Panaakkad Sadikkali Shihab Thangal said the remarks were made by a 16-year-old girl and should not be turned into a controversy.