Patna: One of the prominent organizations working for the rights and empowerment of Muslim women, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), has called for the codification of personal laws. “There are many countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arab, Yemen, Jordan and Malaysia wherein Muslim personal laws have been codified but India which has a large number of Muslims is still behind in this regard,” said Naish Hasan, one of the founders of BMMA. She was speaking at a round-table discussion organized by BMMA on May 7 at Gandhi Sangharalay here in Patna.
“It’s a fact Muslims are in bad condition in the country but it is also true that Muslims women are worst compared to others. It is only because the rights that Islam has given to women are not being implemented in the society. So, we want codification of personal laws on the basis of Quran and other authentic sources of Islamic Shariah,” Hasan demanded.
Noor Jehan speaking at the program
Speaking on the occasion, Noor Jehan, another founder member of BMMA, said: “People are misusing the provision of divorce and destroying women’s life. There must be mutual talks before divorce as it is before marriage. Similarly, polygamy is allowed in Islam but Quran has clearly mentioned several conditions for that. But people are using it for their sexual desire.”
“The age of marriage for Muslim girls should be codified as in various cases they are married in minor age. Islam has instructed to seek girls’ permission for marriage but it is not practiced in the society. Mostly meager amount of meher is fixed. That too is something women never get in their lifetime. Islam has declared mehr-e-moajjal nikah) as the best meher. The amount of meher should be fixed keeping the income of husband and at least it should be income of his one year,” Noor Jehan added.
Noor Jehan putting her words while Naish Hasan looks on
Making a very important point Noor Jehan said, there is an urgent need to research personal laws on the basis of Quran and Hadith in women’s perspective. “Researchers and scholars of Islam, who have been mostly men, approach various issues related to women from men’s perspective. The need of the hour is to rethink that approach,” she added.
“We call upon Islamic scholars, Muslim leaders and dignitaries to come out and help us in preparing a draft bill for codification of personal laws that will be submitted to the law ministry,” Jehan appealed.
View of audience
BMMA was established in 2007 by a group of Muslim women. Besides other issues, it has been demanding for the codification of Muslim personal laws. The program was to intensify the demand and to create awareness among Muslim women of the state.
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