After banning selfies, shaping eyebrows, and hair-cutting, Darul Uloom Deoband has now ousted about a dozen Muslim women who worshipped Lord Ram on Diwali and participated in an Aarti function in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Infuriated over the Varanasi event, Darul Iftaa, the fatwa factory of Darul Uloom Deoband, issued a fatwa ousting Muslim women who indulged in idol worship.

"Worship of anyone except Allah is banned in Islam, which does not allow idol worship. The act of these Muslim women is anti-Islamic and they are ousted from Islam with immediate effect," said Mufti Taikh Qashmi.

Qashmi added that these Muslim women may embrace Islam again, if they sought an apology from Allah and read Kalma to complete the Islamic purification process.

These women, members of Muslim Women Foundation, had organised a function on the eve of Diwali, worshiped Lord Ram and had also performed Aarti.

The Muslim Women Foundation has been organising the programme since 2006 after the terrorist attack on Sankat Mochan temple. They believe that even though they practice Islam but Lord Ram remains their ancestor.

"We may practice a different religion but we cannot forget about our ancestors. Such events will not only showcase humane face of Islam but also help bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims," said Nazneen, an office-bearer.