Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Kerala Cleric’s Remarks Restricting Women Spark Fresh Controversy
A senior Muslim cleric in Kerala made comments about where women should live and work.
He said women should stay inside their homes and not enter public life.
He said this was what the Quran required, in his interpretation.
He compared women to valuable gold that should be kept safely in a box.
He said this rule was meant to protect and honour women, not insult them.
He also said Islam improved women’s status by ending female infanticide and granting property rights.
Some organisations questioned whether he should make such statements.
The cleric replied that religious scholars had studied Islam and had a duty to speak about it.
Kerala cleric Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said women should remain confined to their homes and avoid the public sphere.
Speaking in Kochi, he said Islam prescribed purdah to protect women’s dignity.
He compared women to gold ornaments that must be kept safely inside a box.
The cleric argued that allowing women into public life could cause “great destruction.”
He said Islamic scholars had the authority and duty to explain these views to Muslims.
- Who
- Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, Kerala’s grand mufti, made the remarks.
- What
- He said women should remain at home and not enter the public sphere, arguing that purdah protects their dignity.
- When
- The remarks were made during a speech at the Hubbul Rasool conference; the article does not provide a date.
- Where
- Kochi, Kerala.
- Why
- He said his interpretation of the Quran and Islamic teachings requires women to be protected through confinement and purdah.
Those Questioning the Remarks
The Cleric’s Position
Women’s role in public life
Those Questioning the Remarks
Organisations questioned the cleric’s authority to make statements restricting women’s participation in the public sphere.
The Cleric’s Position
The cleric said women should remain confined to their homes and that bringing them into public life could cause “great destruction.”
Meaning of restrictions
Those Questioning the Remarks
The remarks have sparked controversy because they present confinement as the proper position for women.
The Cleric’s Position
The cleric said restrictions and purdah were intended to honour and protect women rather than diminish them.
Authority to interpret religion
Those Questioning the Remarks
Critics questioned whether he should make such pronouncements on behalf of Islam or the Muslim community.
The Cleric’s Position
He said religious scholars had studied Islam and therefore had both the authority and duty to explain their understanding of the religion.
- Speaker
- Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar
- Event
- Hubbul Rasool conference
- Location
- Kochi, Kerala
- Main claim
- Women should remain confined within their homes and should not enter the public sphere.
- Justification
- The cleric said purdah protects women’s dignity and honour.
- Organisations
- All-India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama and Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama
- Religious references
- He cited the Quran and said Islam prohibited female infanticide and gave women property rights.