New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), one of the prominent Muslim organisations, has come out strongly against the government’s stand on triple talaq, insisting that there should be no interference “in the belief and religion of any citizen”.
In a statement, JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said Muslims consider divorce, polygamy and other personal laws as “an intrinsic part of their religion and are hence obliged to follow the Sharia in those matters”.
“The government should respect this position of Muslims, instead of conspiring to put an end to it,” he said.
Maintaining that attempts to “impose” a common civil code in the name of social reform and gender justice will prove “counterproductive”, he said, “The Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate one’s own religion.”
Stressing that the government cannot force Muslims to follow other communities in issues related to personal laws, the Jamaat chief said it would amount to “infringement” on their fundamental rights.
“Those clamouring against triple talaq and demanding a ban on polygamy are a minuscule minority and are not representative of the Indian Muslim community,” he said, adding the government should respect this position of Muslims instead of “conspiring” to put an end to it.
“Jamaat-e-Islami Hind completely stands by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board which is the authentic representative body of Indian Muslims,” he said, adding all “major” Muslim organisations and a “vast majority” of the Muslim community stand solidly behind the Board and “will not accept any interference in their personal law.”
Asserting that those who are trying to “sow the seeds of dissension among Muslims will never succeed”, the Jamaat chief said, “The problem of triple talaq and polygamy has been blown out of proportion with the sole motive of portraying Muslims as being patriarchal and misogynistic.”
On the question of triple talaq, the JIH President said, “Most of the Islamic scholars accept pronouncement of triple talaq in one sitting as leading to a final and irrevocable divorce. However, if a person pronounces triple talaq in one sitting but says that he intended only a single divorce, then it will be treated likewise.”
“The ideal way of divorcing one’s wife is to pronounce talaqs one by one over a period of three months between her menstrual cycles, so that there is an opportunity for reconciliation between the spouses,” he said. PTI