UP cleric calls Sara Ali Khan's Kedarnath prayers sin under Sharia, faces backlash

Actor Sara Ali Khan's recent visit to Kedarnath temple was criticised by a Bareilly-based cleric who called her prayers a "sin under Sharia" and issued a fatwa. The actor had earlier defended her temple visits as a matter of personal choice. People have backed her and slammed the cleric.Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi called Sara Ali Khan's prayers at Kedarnath "haram" under Sharia and asked her to repent for participating in Hindu religious rituals. (File/ ANI)New Delhi,Oct 30, 2026 14:42 ISTBollywood actor Sara Ali Khan's visit to the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand has drawn criticisms from a Muslim cleric from Uttar Pradesh, who has called her prayers a "sin under Sharia law". The Bareilly-based cleric has also issued a fatwa against the actor. The cleric's remarks have drawn a backlash from the common people, who have backed the actor's "personal choice".Sara last visited the shrine last week, and was seen standing in a queue for darshan and offering prayers.Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, has called her actions "haram" and asked her to repent. The cleric said participating in the religious rituals of another faith was impermissible under Islamic law."I have received information, and many young Muslims have also asked me regarding actress Sara Ali Khan visiting the Kedarnath Temple and offering prayers," Razvi told ANI on Friday. Razvi Barelvi said that if Sara performed the rituals of her own free will, she had committed a sin and should seek forgiveness from Allah. People slammed the cleric, calling his moves "religious policing"."An adult's faith, prayers and spiritual choices are personal. No cleric gets to dictate them through guilt or demands for repentance," said a person on X. "Who the hell asked Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi to issue this unsolicited fatwa on Sara Ali Khan?" wrote Mohd Shadab Khan on X.This is not the first time Sara, the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, has faced criticism over her temple visits.In November 2021, she was trolled for visiting the Kedarnath temple, while in June 2023, she defended her visits to Hindu shrines as a personal choice. Sara's connection with the Kedarnath temple dates back to the shooting of her debut film, Kedarnath, in 2017. The film, starring the late Sushant Singh Rajput, was released in 2018.The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee proposed requiring non-Hindu visitors to submit an affidavit affirming their faith in Sanatana Dharma.UP CLERIC CALLS SARA ALI KHAN'S PRAYERS AT KEDARNATH SHRINE 'HARAM'Razvi, who issued an oral fatwa over Sara's temple visit, said, "For any Muslim, whether a man or a woman, to participate in the faith of another religion, offering prayers and performing religious rituals, is considered impermissible (najayaz) under Sharia."The cleric described such worship as "shirk"."She stood in a queue for darshan and performed religious rituals at the temple. All these acts are impermissible and haram under Sharia. Sharia does not permit any Muslim to engage in such practices," he said.Razvi said that if Sara had voluntarily performed puja, sought blessings and participated in religious rituals at Kedarnath, she had committed an act forbidden under his interpretation of Sharia.He also warned that she would have to answer before Allah if she did not repent. His remarks were conditional on her having willingly participated in the rituals. "She should repent. Only then can she be forgiven. If she does not repent, she will remain guilty of a grave sin and will have to answer before Allah," he said.A fatwa is a religious opinion issued by an Islamic scholar on a question of religious law. It is not a court order.CLERIC COUNTERED BY PEOPLE ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOMMost of the criticism of the cleric came from the common people, who slammed him for "religious policing"."Why should anyone face religious pressure for visiting a place of worship? Faith is personal. The freedom to visit a temple, mosque, church or gurudwara should be respected," wrote CA Anurag on X, adding, "India's beauty lies in its diversity and the freedom to practise one's faith. Let people pray in peace."Some schooled the maulana citing India's Constitutional safeguards."India is a secular country. Our Constitution guarantees every citizen freedom of religion and personal choice. Where someone goes and which religion they respect is a personal matter. The Maulana cannot decide who is allowed to go where," wrote another person on X."The only thing 'haram' here is the sheer level of entitlement it takes to police someone else's personal life. Keep your fatwas to yourself," said Bhagavathee Charan on X.Even as the UP cleric faced a backlash over the fatwa, several people said it was a needless controversy over a needless remark.- Ends