Darul Uloom Deoband, one of the most prominent Muslim seminaries in the country, has come out with a new fatwa, saying women in the community should not wear nail polish.
Mufti Ishrar Gaura, a cleric at the seminary, said, "Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa against Muslim women using nail polish because it is un-Islamic and illegal. Rather, women should use mehendi on their nails," reports the news agency ANI.
Gaura, however, clarified to the news agency that Islam does not prohibit women from using beauty products and added that women can apply nail polish, but they should remove it at the time of offering Namaz. He justified the diktat saying the nail polish prevents water, which is used for ritual purification before the prayers, from washing the nails completely.
The seminary is infamous for issuing regressive decrees. A few months ago, it had asked Muslims to avoid families that raise 'haram' (illegitimate) money earned from a banking job while considering marriage proposals. It also prohibited any sort of investment in businesses that are considered 'haram' or against the principles of Islam.
There was also a fatwa against Mulsim women watching football saying it violates the tenets of Islam. The justification offered for this diktat was men wear shorts while playing football, and the women should not see men with bare knees.
Previously, there were also fatwas issued by the seminary prohibiting women from cutting hair and shaping their eyebrows.
Coming out strongly against the fatwa, national president of Rashtriyawadi Muslim Mahila Sangh Farah Faiz said the seminary never issues a fatwa against men, and pointed out that although Islam prohibits a lot of things, people still do them, reports ANI.
