Swami Chidanand Saraswati Condemns Fatwa Over Sara Ali Khan’s Kedarnath Visit

October 30, 2026

Haridwar: Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the spiritual head of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, has opposed a ‘fatwa’ issued by a Muslim cleric on Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan’s visit to and worship at the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand. He said on Friday that such fatwas should not be issued against anyone following the righteous path.

Indeed, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, had issued a fatwa declaring Sara Ali Khan’s visit to the Kedarnath temple and offering prayers as ‘haram’ (forbidden) and ‘illegible’ (inappropriate) under Sharia law.

Speaking to reporters in Haridwar, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, “I believe that a fatwa should not be issued against anyone. If someone has committed a sin, their concern is understandable. But issuing a fatwa against someone who is following the righteous path is beyond comprehension.”

He further stated that he did not have complete information about the matter, but anyone who does good work, follows a positive path, works for the welfare of society, or helps others should be appreciated, not targeted with a fatwa.

General Secretary of the Sant Samiti also responded

Meanwhile, Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, General Secretary of the All India Sant Samiti, stated that the matter concerns Muslim religious leaders and that they can prevent women from their community from visiting temples.

He said, “We have clearly stated that if Islam requires Muslim boys to participate in our Dandiya celebrations, why only boys? Why shouldn’t their entire families participate? Why can’t their daughters also attend?”

Citing the Madras High Court’s decision, which declared Agamic Hindu temples as pilgrimage sites rather than tourist destinations, he said that people of faith can visit the temple, but they must also demonstrate their faith.

It is noteworthy that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had ruled that non-Hindus wearing religious symbols of other religions and not affirming devotion to the respective deity cannot be allowed to enter the premises of Agamic temples. Under this decision, the ban has been extended beyond the areas surrounding the flagpole to the temple premises.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi defends fatwa

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, who issued the fatwa on Thursday, defended his decision. Speaking to IANS, he said he had received information that actress Sara Ali Khan had visited the Kedarnath temple and offered prayers there.

According to the Maulana, if Sara did this wholeheartedly, then Sharia law applies to her because she is a Muslim. He claimed that a Muslim visiting a temple and offering prayers there falls under the category of Shirk (polytheism) and is illegal and haram according to Sharia law.

He said that Sara Ali Khan had committed a forbidden act and, according to Sharia law, she should repent.

It should be noted that Sara Ali Khan is the daughter of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his former wife Amrita Singh.