JAIPUR: Solemnizing nikaah will no longer be a male bastion in Rajasthan, which got its first women Qazis on Friday in Jahan Ara and Afroz Begum, both 40.

The Jaipur-based duo, who completed the two-year training from Mumbai-based Darul Uloom-i-Nisawan, were handed over their certificates for 'Qaziyat' on Friday, which officially call them Qazi Jahan Ara and Qazi Afroz Begum, respectively.

"I completed the course in the light of Quran, Hadith and Indian Constitution. I learned about the rights of women, which Quran bestowed to them some 1,500 years ago. It was a challenging task for me but I passed with 69% marks," Jahan Ara said, adding that being a Qazi is a matter of pride for her.

She added that 'Qaziyat' is not just limited to solemnizing nikaah but has other responsibilities too.

"A Qazi has to speak about truthfulness and rights. In Ayats of Quran, rights are clearly mentioned. We will put our efforts to ensure women get the rights related to marriages, talaq and mehar along with other issues," she said.

Elaborating on mehar, which was part of the curriculum during the two-year training, Jahan Ara said: "It should not be less than one-year salary of bridegroom. Mehar is a right of a woman at the time of marriage." Jahan Ara added, "Quran spoke about mehar for financial safety of a woman entering into marriage." Jahan Ara and Afroz Begum were sent for training by Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, which concluded its national conference in Jaipur on Friday.

"If a family wants to solemnise nikaah, it will have to inform us a month before. We will find out details of both the girl and the boy - like their age, identity, salary, medical condition, level of education and job. We will do this to ensure that a nikaah solemnised by a woman Qazi does not end with a talak," Nishat Hussain, Rajasthan convener of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, said.



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