Sects spar over Kalyan dargah 'Urs'

Battle lines seem to have been drawn in Kalyan between two Muslim sects — the Barelis and the Ahle-Hadees, over whether the former should be allowed to perform Urs at Peerachi dargah, which according to historians is where Hazarat Shaikh Ahmed Shah Fakih Paru is buried.

The two sects have been fighting a legal battle in the Bombay high court, which on Thursday directed the two to make their representations before the Wakf board on Friday.

The petition was filed by a Madeena Shaikh, who is associated with the Pir Makhdum Sahib Charitable Trust. According to the petition, the dargah, which is 644 years old, used to be managed by the Mahim dargah trust. In 1944, the trust gave the caretaking responsibility to one Ghulam Gous Mohiddin Jalal.

His family members, who later adopted the Ahle-hadees sect which does not believe in dargah and other rituals like fatiha (remembrance meet), locked the dargah, thus denying the followers of the Peerachi Dargah of worshipping its saint. The petition also says that “The Ahle-Hadees sect is known for its involvement in terrorist acts and involvement in several blasts across India.”

Advocate Rizwan Merchant, appearing for the petitioners, argued before the court, “The area in dispute is 140 sq ft and it is under threat that there would be bloodshed if we perform Urs there.”

Advocate Abad Ponda, appearing for the respondents, argued “Holding qawalis and other ceremonies at the dargah would be derogatory to the religious beliefs of my community.”

The petition further said it had approached the Wakf board earlier to seeking permission for holding the Urs between May 28 to 31, but as no police protection was offered, the Urs was dropped.

The court wanted that the two parties decide the issue of Urs. However, Ponda said that would adhere to orders of the Wakf board only if they were given a hearing.  The bench directed the board to pass an order on the issue of holding a ceremony by June 15. The bench has adjourned the hearing till June 17.