Why has a fatwa been issued against Sara Ali Khan over her Kedarnath Temple visit? All you need to know
New Delhi: Actor recent visit to Temple has sparked controversy, with an Uttar Pradesh-based Islamic cleric, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, issuing a fatwa over her visit. The cleric described her participation in another religion’s worship practices as impermissible under Islamic Sharia and asked the actor to repent before Allah.
The controversy centres on Sara’s visit to the Himalayan shrine, where she reportedly offered prayers and participated in religious rituals. Reacting to the development, the cleric said that Islamic teachings prohibit followers from engaging in practices associated with other faiths.
Fatwa issued against Sara Ali Khan
Speaking to Bhaskar English, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said, “I want to make it clear that Islamic Sharia does not permit its followers to engage in shirk.”
Explaining his position, he added, “This means that no Muslim, whether a man or a woman, is allowed to adopt the religious practices of another faith or worship at a temple.”
The cleric also characterised such participation as “impermissible and haram” under Sharia. He also suggested that Sara should seek forgiveness and repent before Allah, comparing her position to that of a “guilty person”. Reiterating his objection to the Kedarnath temple visit, he said, “I want to make it clear that such acts are not permissible.”
Sara Ali Khan’s Kedarnath visit
Sara Ali Khan visited Kedarnath Temple on October 25. According to media reports, she travelled to the shrine by helicopter before joining other devotees in the queue for darshan.
In the pictures and videos which circulated on social media, she can be seen offering prayers with folded hands and taking part in puja and aarti. She also visited the Bhukunt Bhairav Temple during her trip. The visit took place amid cold weather in the region. Reports also claimed that some women devotees offered Sara a shawl to help her stay warm during her time at the shrine.
Sara Ali Khan’s long association with Kedarnath
Kedarnath holds a special place in Sara’s professional journey. The actor first travelled to the region in 2017 while shooting for her Bollywood debut film, Kedarnath, opposite the late . The film, which brought Sara to the big screen, was based on the 2013 Uttarakhand floods and featured a love story set against the backdrop of the pilgrimage town.
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Since making her debut, Sara has returned to the temple on several occasions. She has also shared photographs from her visits on social media. In October 2025, the actor posted pictures from Kedarnath alongside a note expressing gratitude for the place and its significance in her life.
Written By Uditi Sharma!