NEW DELHI: Influential Islamic seminary

on Saturday issued a fatwa against Muslim women who performed 'aarti' on

in Varanasi, pronouncing that they can no longer be considered 'Muslim-Ulema' if they worship other gods.

"If anyone worships any god except Allah they don't remain Muslim-Ulema," a representative for the Islamic seminary told news agency ANI.

The edict comes days after a group of Muslim women performed aarti and dedicated prayers to Lord Rama on the eve of Diwali in Varanasi. The event was organised by

and Vishal Bharat Sansthan to promote communal harmony.

"Shri Ram is our ancestor. We can change our name and religion, but how we can change our ancestor? Singing in praise of Lord Ram not only bridges the gap between Hindus and Muslms, but also reflects the generosity of

Islam

," group leader Nazneen Ansari had remarked on the occasion.

Of late, the Darul Uloom Deoband has been on a fatwa-issuing spree. On Wednesday, the Islamic school decreed that Muslim men and women should not upload photos of themselves or their family on social media platforms. Earlier this month, the seminary prohibited women against shaping their eyebrows and cutting their hair, terming all such hair-grooming activities as "un-Islamic".