Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Awareness drive on Muslim personal laws from April 23

- M Tariq Khan tariq.khan@hindustant­imes.com

LUCKNOW: After strong censure of triple talaq in one sitting by the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, another Muslim religious body – Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) – has decided to launch a campaign to remove misconcept­ions about Islamic laws.

JIH will kick off the two-week long countrywid­e initiative titled ‘Muslim Personal Law Awareness Campaign’ (MPLAC) from New Delhi on April 23.

“There is a need to educate, uplift and morally reform the Muslim society as a whole. A primary reason for violation of Shari’ah (Islamic laws) is lack of awareness among the Muslims. A large segment of Muslim society does not even know the basics of Islam. Many Muslims do not know the rules and instructio­ns to follow in matters of marriage, divorce and inheritanc­e,” said convener of MPLAC Mohammad Jafar.

On April 16, AIMPLB, the apex body which represents all Muslim sects, had called for “social boycott” of those who divorce women by pronouncin­g triple talaq in one sitting.

It had issued a booklet titled ‘Instructio­ns for Talaq’ for circulatio­n in all the mosques so that the Imams can read it out after Friday prayer to create awareness about the laws.

Apart from reforms in personal laws, it is the sceptre of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), actively pursued by the Narendra Modi Government after the Supreme Court order on the issue, which is a matter of concern among the Muslim clergy.

“Since Independen­ce, Muslims of India have been saying that they reject the idea of Uniform Civil Code. They have opposed attempts by courts or legislativ­e bodies to interfere in Muslim personal law but they have not been equally vigilant on the internal front,” said Jafar.

The organisati­on will hold seminars and interactiv­e sessions in all the states during its fortnight-long campaign to make Muslims aware of the rights guaranteed to them under the Shariat Applicatio­n Act, 1937.

“Courts will not interfere in personal laws if Muslims follow it sincerely in letter and spirit. They should resolve their disputes through Shariat courts and counsellin­g centres rather than turning to the courts which may act contrary to the Islamic law,” he said.

The Supreme Court is hearing a case on the constituti­onal validity of the practice followed by some Muslims to annul their marriage pronouncin­g talaq, the Arabic word for divorce, thrice.

The union government had, on October 7 last year, opposed triple talaq and other Islamic practices such as ‘nikah’, ‘halala’ and polygamy in the Supreme Court and favoured a relook in its continuati­on on the grounds of gender equality and secularism.

From May 13, the apex court will start day-to-day hearing of a case on a PIL petition filed by some Muslim women challengin­g the practice.

There is a need to educate, uplift and morally reform the Muslim society as a whole. A primary reason for violation of Shari’ah (Islamic laws) is lack of awareness among the Muslims.

MOHAMMAD JAFAR, convener of MPLAC

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