She’s Back in Kedarnath & So Is Controversy
Sara Ali Khan’s yearly pilgrimage to Kedarnath has drawn a fatwa from an Islamic cleric again, putting her personal faith back in the public spotlight once more
For Sara Ali Khan, Kedarnath is more than the backdrop of her Bollywood debut. The Himalayan shrine, which she has returned to repeatedly over the years, is a place she describes as a source of peace. But her latest visit has drawn criticism from an Islamic cleric who has issued a fatwa over her offering prayers at the temple.
Sara visited Kedarnath on October 25. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, subsequently issued a fatwa, calling her temple worship impermissible under Sharia and urging her to repent.
The controversy has reignited debate over personal faith. Sara’s association with Kedarnath dates back to her 2018 debut film opposite the late Sushant Singh Rajput. She has since revisited the shrine several times and also visited Kashi Vishwanath and Mahakaleshwar.
In an earlier interview, Sara spoke candidly about what Kedarnath means to her. “My personal trip to Kedarnath, with all due respect to anybody that likes it or hates it, it’s not about any of you. It’s about me. And I feel comfortable there,” she said.
She also recalled asking her mother, Amrita Singh, about her own identity while growing up with parents from different religious backgrounds. Her mother’s answer, Sara said, was that she was Indian.
The cleric’s views do not necessarily represent those of all Muslims.
The controversy has also spotlighted the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee’s rules for non-Hindu visitors. BKTC CEO Sohan Singh Rangar reportedly confirmed that Sara’s team submitted the required affidavit before her visit.
A fatwa is a religious opinion, not a legal order. Yet the episode highlights how a celeb’s private beliefs can become flashpoints in wider debates over faith.
For Sara, Kedarnath appears to remain personal destination.
Highlight: AIMJ National President Maulana Mufti has issued fatwa claiming that Islamic Sharia does not allow Muslims to partake in religious practices of other religions. He also called on Khan apologise.