Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Muslim Clerics Urge Review of Allahabad High Court Hijab Ruling
A student wanted to wear a hijab with her school uniform.
The Allahabad High Court did not allow her request.
The court said she had not shown enough religious evidence that hijab was essential to her faith.
It also noted that some other students from the same religious community did not wear scarves.
Muslim clerics disagreed with the court.
They said the Quran and other religious texts make hijab an important or compulsory Islamic practice.
They said students should follow school uniforms but should also be allowed to wear a hijab.
Some clerics asked the court to reconsider its decision.
One cleric said the case should be taken to the Supreme Court.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed a minor student’s petition to wear a hijab with her prescribed school uniform in Prayagraj.
The court said she had not provided religious texts or other material showing that hijab was an essential part of her faith.
The court also observed that photographs showed other students from the same religious community without scarves.
Muslim clerics said hijab is integral or compulsory in Islam and should be permitted alongside school uniforms.
Several clerics urged reconsideration of the ruling, with Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi calling for an appeal to the Supreme Court.
- Who
- A minor student, the Allahabad High Court, and Muslim clerics including Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli, Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, and Maulana Sajid Rashidi.
- What
- The court dismissed a petition seeking permission to wear a hijab or headscarf in addition to a school’s prescribed uniform.
- When
- The clerics criticised the ruling on Tuesday.
- Where
- The petition concerned a private school in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and was decided by the Allahabad High Court.
- Why
- The court found that the petitioner had not established hijab as an essential religious practice, while clerics argued that it is integral or compulsory in Islam.
Allahabad High Court's Position
Muslim Clerics' Position
Whether hijab is essential
Allahabad High Court's Position
The court said the student had not submitted sufficient religious material to establish that hijab was an essential part of her faith.
Muslim Clerics' Position
The clerics said the Quran, Hadith, or other Islamic teachings establish that hijab is integral or compulsory in Islam.
Hijab and school uniforms
Allahabad High Court's Position
The court dismissed the request and held that students cannot alter an institution's prescribed dress code according to personal preferences.
Muslim Clerics' Position
The clerics said students should wear the required uniform, but girls who wish to wear a hijab should be allowed to do so alongside it.
Meaning of non-wearing students
Allahabad High Court's Position
The court noted that photographs showed other students from the same religious community without scarves.
Muslim Clerics' Position
The clerics said the fact that some Muslim women do not wear hijab does not mean it is not an integral or compulsory Islamic practice.
Next steps
Allahabad High Court's Position
The ruling remains the court's decision described in the reports.
Muslim Clerics' Position
Several clerics called for reconsideration, and Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi urged an appeal to the Supreme Court.
- Petitioner's request
- Permission to wear a hijab or headscarf alongside the prescribed school uniform.
- Court's decision
- The Allahabad High Court dismissed the petition.
- Court's reasoning
- The petitioner did not provide religious scriptures or other material proving that wearing a scarf was essential to her religion.
- Court's observation
- Photographs showed other students from the same religious community without scarves.
- Uniform ruling
- The court said students do not have a right to alter an institution's dress code according to personal preferences.
- Clerics' position
- The clerics said hijab is integral or compulsory in Islam and should be allowed with the school uniform.
- Proposed legal step
- Maulana Saif Abbas Naqvi urged that the decision be appealed in the Supreme Court.
