Muslim Personal Law Board sends out warning

Muslim men who misuse triple talaq and use it arbitrarily without valid reason will be subjected to social boycott, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board warned on Sunday.

“Whoever gives triple talaq without valid Shariat reasons will be boycotted by the society... so that such cases do not arise in future,” the governing body for Muslim personal law in the country concluded after a two-day executive meeting at the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulam, a key Islamic seminary in Lucknow.

The AIMPLB, however, asserted its “full constitutional right” to implement Muslim personal law in the country.

‘Meant to shield women’

"It is our responsibility to implement it and the best way is to ensure that is following its guidelines. Islamic Sharia gives equal status to men and women. The truth is that talaq was kept to protect women from danger," Mohammaed Rabey Hasan Nadwi, AIMPLB president, said.

The Board also announced that it would follow the Supreme Court decision in the Babri Masjid case.

Released an eight-point code of conduct for divorce, the Board encouraged Muslim couples to try and resolve differences on their own, and if that fails, adopt the "reconciliation and arbitration" method though involvement of family elders, before settling for a divorce. If after the waiting period ( iddat ), reconciliation happens, the two can, through mutual consent, restore the relationship with a fresh marriage, says one of the guidelines.

Mr. Hasan said there was a lot of “misconception” about Muslim personal law and norms for divorce due to “lack of correct of information.”

Elaborating on the threat of social boycott, Kamal Farooqui, senior executive board member, said it would involve restricting the offender entry into public functions and community programmes. Though it would have no legal standing, the AIMPLB feels the fear of social isolation would serve as a deterrent for men misusing triple talaq. "Man is a social animal. Social boycott has worked welll in Mewat [Haryana] where 20-25 years ago a panchayat issued orders that a man uttering talaq thrice would be socially boycotted and denied resources. Since then, hardly any such cases were reported there," Mr. Farooqui told The Hindu .