A video grab of girl hugging youths outside a shopping mall in Moradabad on the eve of Eid (File photo)

MORADABAD: The district imam has pronounced as “illegal and un-Islamic” the act an unidentified girl hugging youths outside a shopping mall in Moradabad on the eve of Eid. A video of the girl hugging youths was widely shared on social networking sites. The girl hugged almost 50 youths who waited in a queue for their turn.

Traditionally, in Muslim society, women and girls are not permitted to hug or make any physical contact with male strangers, regardless of whether it is a festive occasion or not.

Read also: In departure from Eid tradition, girl hugs men at UP mall

After facing flak for her act, the girl who had uploaded the video on YouTube apologized through social media.

The cleric also criticized the youths who hugged the girl and said they too violated Sharia laws.

District imam Maualna Mufti Mohammed Ashrafi told TOI, “I have spoken with the girl and convinced her that hugging the boys is un-Islamic and against the Shariat. She had committed this act in innocence and the same law applies for the boys who committed this un-Islamic Act.

"She is like my daughter and I have told her that under the Islamic law, you can only hug people who are ‘ mahram ’ to you (category of people with whom marriage is not permissible for example father, brother etc) and your spouse of course,” said Ashrafi.

The youth who hugged the girl should also perform repentance and never repeat it, said Ashrafi.



In Video: Viral video: Girl hugs long line of men outside UP mall on Eid