Bhopal, September 11 (Pervez Bari): The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, (AIMPLB), has passed a resolution to constitute a committee to examine the Supreme Court judgement on instant Triple Talaq to see the inconsistencies, if any, with the Islamic Shariat. The Committee shall also advise the method and process for undertaking large scale community reform programme within the Islamic Sharia (Islah-e-Mashrah).
The above decision was taken by the AIMPLB in its Executive Committee’s marathon meeting here on Sunday. The Board again accused the government of attempting an attack on Muslim personal laws, and welcomed the court order for not going in that direction. The meeting did not discuss filing a review petition against the Supreme Court order holding instant triple talaq (Talaq-e-Biddat) illegal.
It may be recalled here that on August 22, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, by a 3-2 majority verdict, had held the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat) illegal. Several Muslim organisations, including the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, among the oldest in the country, had objected to this, saying that instant triple talaq should continue and be recognised as a legitimate divorce among Muslims even if that meant courting punishment as per the law of the land.
Addressing a joint Press Conference Executive Committee Members said the AIMPLB has further resolved to initiate different programmes at different levels to educate Muslim women and men on Shariah and in this process it shall take assistance from different organisations. The Board also resolved to take appropriate steps to ensure help to divorced ladies. It shall urge upon the government to grant financial assistance to Waqf Boards for this purpose.
Kamal Farooqui, a member of the Executive Committee, on behalf of the Board made a categorical statement that the Muslim Community cannot and shall not tolerate such attack on personal law of the community. He said in the light of the Government India had laid bare its intention in the form of Attorney General’s submission in the Supreme Court that all forms of dissolution of marriage without intervention of the court should be declared as unconstitutional.
“We record our displeasure and consider it as attack on personal law of Muslims. This stand of the present government is contrary to the protection guaranteed by the Constitution of India”, Farooqui emphasised.
Replying to a question Dr. Asma Zehra, the convenor of AIMPLB’s Women Wing, Board’s position, as per Shariah applicable the four Sunni School of thought has been that the Talaq-e-Biddat is sinful but valid. Prior to the judgement the Board had already submitted to the Supreme Court that the AIMPLB had passed a resolution on 16-04-2017 stating that those who indulge in Talaq-e-Biddat should be socially boycotted.
Dr. Zehra pointed out Sunday’s resolution said Islamic/Sharia law is based upon Quran, Hadith, Ijma and Qiyas and that the sanctity of belief and practices in personal/matrimonial relationship in Islamic laws cannot be treated differently from the belief and practices in personal/matrimonial relationship by other citizens who follow own customs and practices.
She claimed 99 per cent of Muslim women are in favour of Muslim personal law. “In the name of showing sympathy with Muslim women, a door is being opened to interfere in our religion.” She added that there would be a lot of difficulties in implementing the SC order on triple talaq.
Babri Masjid case
Meanwhile, the AIMPLB executive committee also expressed its surprise over the Supreme Court’s decision to begin hearing the Babri Masjid case on a daily day-to-day basis. Noting that the court had previously found it impossible to speed up the hearing because it had to go through a lot of documents, the board said it would abide by whatever the court decides. However, the process has to be judicial without bringing politics into it. It’s related to property, it’s a title suit.
Adv. Zafaryab Jeelani said the court had now given very little time to the two parties, and that there was not enough time to translate all the documents. Saying “we would do our best”, the board said, “We feel this may be used as a plank by a certain political party. We want the might and respect of the court should not be compromised. Court is our last resort.” “Justice hurried is Justice buried”, he quipped. (pervezbari@yahoo.co.in)