Talking on the burning topic of Muslim Personal Laws, Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, member Working Committee of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, highlighted the present controversy on the Muslim personal laws and emphasised the need to educate Muslims on such issues. He also advised them to get their issues resolved in Darul Qaza or Shari’ah Panchayat. He was addressing a public meet at JIH headquarters in New Delhi on 23 October.
While opening up the speech, Ilyas, who is also president of Welfare Party of India, said that whoever is at the centre, the objection to and interference in Shari’ah keep taking place. When the Deve Goda government was at the centre, it voiced its opinion that the Government can’t enforce Uniform Civil Code unless Muslims and other communities are in favour of it. The present government has always on its agenda to enforce Uniform Civil Code.
Explaining the status of man and woman in Islam, Ilyas said, “As far as Islam is concerned, it says that man and woman both are given equal rights. Although, man has more rights than women in some cases, man has been made the manager of the family. In case of marriage, woman presents herself and man accepts her responsibility. He accepts the maintenance and the responsibility for the child and family. After the marriage, he is bound to run the family.”
Elaborating the conditions of polygamy in Islam, he further said: “Islam has allowed four marriages. It allowed four marriages under special circumstances with the condition of equal justice.”
Ilyas, who is also Convener of Compulsory Marriage Registration Committee; Joint Convener, Committee on Babri Masjid and Convener of Tafheem Shariat Committee, Delhi, also informed the audience that Jamaat has planned a nationwide awareness campaign in February next on personal laws to educate Muslims about Shari’ah and its use and misuse. In case of any difference between the spouses, Muslims should be educated to get their personal issues resolved in Darul Qaza or Shari’ah Panchayat.
On the feasibility of Uniform Civil Code, he furthermore said, “The government has earlier constitutionally agreed not to make any law that will supersede the tribal family laws of Nagas, Kukis and Mizos then how can the government think of Uniform Civil Code?”
Speaking from the chair, Amir-e-Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said that in the Qur’ān and Sunnah (the two prime sources of Islam), there is no discrimination of any kind between men and women.