30 October,2026 10:32 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sara Ali Khan in Kedarnath. Pic via Instagram
Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is reportedly facing a fatwa over her visit to the Kedarnath Temple. In the fatwa, issued by an Uttar Pradesh-based Islamic cleric named Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, he claimed that Islamic Sharia does not permit Muslims to participate in the religious rituals of other faiths.
According to Bhaskar English, while speaking about the controversy, the Maulana in a video said, "I want to make it clear that Islamic Sharia does not permit its followers to engage in shirk," adding, "This means that no Muslim, whether a man or a woman, is allowed to adopt the religious practices of another faith or worship at a temple," as reported by Bhaskar English.
The cleric went on to reportedly describe worshipping at another religion's place of worship as "impermissible and haram" underthe Sharia law. He also said that Sara should repent before Allah like a "guilty person". Addressing questions regarding the actress's visit to Kedarnath, he reiterated, "I want to make it clear that such acts are not permissible."
For the unversed, Sara recently visited the Kedarnath Temple to seek blessings. On October 25, she was reportedly spotted standing in the queue before offering prayers with folded hands. Sara also reportedly participated in puja and aarti and even visited the Bhukunt Bhairav Temple. Despite the cold weather, the actress continued with her visit.
Sara's recent visit comes nearly eight years after she first travelled to the temple in 2017 to shoot her Bollywood debut film, Kedarnath, co-starring the late Sushant Singh Rajput. Ever since, Sara has often visited the shrine several times and has even shared glimpses of her visits on social media. Last year in October, she posted pictures from her visit to the temple with a heartfelt note of gratitude for the role Kedarnath has played in her life.
In March this year, Sara was asked to submit an affidavit if she wished to visit the Kedarnath temple. Hemant Dwivedi, the committee chairman of the Badri-Kedar Temple, had said that all non-Hindus would be required to submit an affidavit if they wish to seek blessings at the temples.
He had told the media, "If Sara Ali Khan expresses her devotion towards Sanatan Dharma and submits an affidavit, we will allow her to offer prayers."
