Sara Ali Khan is in the news again, and this time it is not about a film. A fatwa has been issued against her after her recent trip to Kedarnath Temple.
Who Issued the Fatwa?
The fatwa came from Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi. He is a Bareilly-based cleric and the National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat. He spoke to ANI and also shared a video statement.
He said many young Muslims had asked him if it is right for a Muslim to pray at a temple, so he gave his answer.
“Islamic Sharia does not permit its followers to engage in shirk.”
— Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President, All India Muslim JamaatHe called Sara’s visit “impermissible” (najayaz) and “haram” under Sharia. He asked her to seek forgiveness from Allah.
He also added a condition. He said that if Sara did all this “of her own free will and volition,” then she has sinned.
What Happened at Kedarnath?
Sara visited Kedarnath on October 25. She reportedly went by helicopter and then stood in the queue with other devotees for darshan.
According to reports, she took part in the puja and aarti. She also visited the Bhukunt Bhairav Temple nearby. Some reports say the weather was very cold and women devotees offered her a shawl.
Sara’s Connection With Kedarnath
This is not her first visit. Sara made her Bollywood debut with the 2018 film Kedarnath, opposite the late Sushant Singh Rajput. She has gone back to the temple several times since then and often shares photos from her trips.
Her visits have drawn debate before. When Kedarnath released in 2018, some right-wing groups protested against the film.
The Temple Committee’s Affidavit Rule
The controversy has also brought back attention to a rule from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). In March 2026, the committee said non-Hindu devotees must submit an affidavit before entering the shrines.
BKTC CEO Sohan Singh Rangar reportedly told News18 that Sara’s team had already submitted this affidavit before her visit.
An Old Statement Is Going Viral
An older statement by Sara is also doing the rounds online. In it, she says she visits places like Ajmer Sharif, Bangla Sahib and Mahakal with the same faith, and that she believes in the energy of a place.
Please note this is an old clip. It is not a reply to this fatwa. Sara has not publicly responded to the fatwa so far.
What Does a Fatwa Mean?
A fatwa is a religious opinion given by an Islamic scholar on a question of Islamic law. It is not a court order. This fatwa reflects the view of one cleric and not the opinion of all Muslims or all Islamic scholars.
Sara’s Latest Work
Sara was recently seen in Udta Teer alongside Ayushmann Khurrana.
Stay tuned to Buzz Originals for more Bollywood updates.