Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

Women to don mantle of qazi

Lucknow: A group of young Muslim women and a man here have decided to break fresh ground by moving for social reform and gender equality from within the religious community rather than defying its traditions and confines.

Five women – a qazi and four witnesses – on Tuesday solemnised the union of Naesh Hasan and her fiance. Hasan is founder member of the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a social organisation.

Although there has been no precedent of women conducting a nikah (an Islamic marriage ceremony) in recent Muslim history, women are known to have attained the position of qazi and mufti in times of the Prophet.

Dr Sayeda Hamid, a member of the Union Planning Commission and an expert of Islamic studies, flew in from New Delhi to perform the wedding. Dr Sabra Habib of Lucknow University officiated as witness. For Hamid too, it will be a first.

“The response from our families and local religious leaders has been positive,” said Hasan. “We speak of progress but leave all the important jobs to men folk. Religious duties have nearly solely been a male premise, not only in Islam but also in other religions.”

The nikah of Hasan and her fiance will take place according to the tenets of Islam, some scholars supporting the cause said.

Kalbe Jawwad, noted Shia scholar and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, has endorsed the idea of the wedding. “There is nothing wrong if a woman conducts a nikah if she has the same knowledge as her male counterpart,” Jawwad said.

However, Riyaz Ahmed, an Islamic scholar and President of the Idgah Committee in Farrukhabad, raised questions on the legal aspect of such a nikah. “What is the status of a woman qazi? Is she approved by the government? If not, what will be the legal status of such a nikah?” he said.

Expressing similar views, the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board, president Shaista Amber said that although women are known to have performed as qazi and mufti in earlier times, “It would be better if religious work is performed by men. Women can take over in the absence of men.”

Noted Islamic scholar and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali said that there is no bar on women performing a nikaah. “It is not unIslamic,” he said.

However, he said that personally he did not approve of the act. “It is not practically possible for women to become qazi and hence religious tasks have always been limited to men like all other challenging work,” he said.

“Anyone can perform a nikah,” the Maulana added. “But the khutba which is read alongside is performed by Islamic scholars. All alim have so far been men.” –PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

450 BJP activists held in Lucknow
Women to don mantle of qazi
Unmarried girls to get share in property
Man held with fake currency notes
Woman held for husband’s murder
U.P. withdraws search power to SSB personnel

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu