Panic causes rush for marriage among Muslims

THE Central government's move of raising the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years has led to an unprecedented rush for marriages in the Muslim community in Hyderabad and other towns of Telangana.

Hundreds of marriages are being solemnised in the state every day due to the panic that had set in after the Child Marriage Amendment Bill 2021 was tabled in Parliament last month.

Though the Bill was referred to the Select Committee following objections raised by the opposition parties, the fears of the Bill getting Parliament's approval in the next session of Parliament has been driving parents to advance the marriages originally fixed for later this year or next year.

Fearing that the legislation will delay the marriages of their daughters by three years, parents were convincing the parents of bridegrooms to advance the marriages. In many cases, only the legal formalities were being completed, with both sides agreeing to have reception, Valima and other rituals according to the original schedule.

Several qazis (a Muslim judge who interprets and administers Islam religious law) were performing 10-20 nikah (Islamic marriage ceremonies) each every day. Nikahs are not just being solemnised in mosques and function halls but also at homes.

Nikahs are usually held in mosques in the evenings but due to the huge demand nikahs, were also being performed in the afternoon. The number of nikahs has gone up to eight to ten.

Even at the peak of the marriage season, qazis says they used to perform 3-4 nikahs. Parents are in a hurry to complete the entire process by obtaining the marriage certificates from the Wakf Board. The unscrupulous are cashing in on the situation by offering anxious parents to help them complete the formalities.

Appeals by Muslim leaders and organisations to parents not to panic are not having much impact. Parents fear if the Bill is passed, not only will they have to wait more years, but it may lead to cancellation.

It has forced Telangana State Waqf Board to step in. Chairman Mohammed Saleem held a meeting with qazis and advised them to help allay parents’ apprehensions.

A leader of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) claimed that 90 percent of parents marry off their daughters at the age of 18-20 and only 10 percent give them higher education.

He said TRS and other parties would oppose the Bill in Parliament. Since the Bill has to be passed by both the houses and the President has to give his assent to make it a law, he believes the process may take two years.

United Muslim Forum, an apex body of various Muslim socio-religious organisations, has also appealed to the community not to rush through the marriages as the Bill has still not been passed by Parliament.

The Waqf Board chairman said even if the Central government pushes through the Bill it is not likely to be passed early. He pointed out that the Bill has already been referred to the Select Committee. The panel will have consultation with members of different parties and this process itself will take a few months.

The Bill has drawn flak from several Muslim groups, who see this as an interference in Muslim Personal Law. They say Muslims permit marriage once a girl attains puberty.