Misogyny today
The decision by dargahs in Mumbai, including the iconic Haji Ali dargah, to prevent women from entering the sanctum sanctorum, where the saint is buried, has provoked a belated outcry following a survey that highlighted this fact. The ban has been in force for over a year.
This decision is in keeping with the Sharia, according to Muslim clerics who say women are not allowed to visit graves. It is, however, against Sufi practice, which has traditionally permitted women to visit dargahs.
It is also misogynistic. All manner of practices can be justified in the name of tradition or religion if no further justification is sought. The mere fact that something is tradition does not mean it is right.
For extremists, however, tradition is beyond questioning. The khap panchayats in India and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan are examples of such extremists.
The issue, therefore, is not merely one of a Sufi tradition versus an Arab Wahabi tradition. It is an issue of right versus wrong where these terms are decided on moral and humanistic considerations, not on the basis of differing traditions.
Misogyny is an anachronism in the modern world. Those who support it belong mentally to a world that has passed away. The defining values of today are liberty and equality. The onrush of technology is serving to spread these values. This is frightening to some, but the tide of change cannot be stemmed.
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