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LUCKNOW: Leading by example, Yogi cabinet’s lone Muslim minister Mohsin Raza and his wife Fauzia registered their marriage at the Lucknow collectorate here on Thursday morning, a day after Uttar Pradesh government made it mandatory.

The move assumes importance, considering the resistance among Muslim clerics over making marriage registration compulsory for all religions. Clerics, including those at the Islamic seminary Darululoom Deoband, have termed it unnecessary “since nikahnama is a valid form of marriage registration”.

Talking to TOI, Mufti Abul Qasim Naumani said, “We are not against marriage registration, but making it mandatory is like imposing an order. A mandatory order of this nature interferes with religious freedom.”

Clerics in Lucknow stated that poor and uneducated Muslims will suffer because they will not be able to fulfil the formalities for registration.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Zafaryab Jeelani said that the board has never opposed registration of marriage. “Marriage registration certificate as a proof of marriage is fine. But failure to register marriage should not amount to non-recognition of a marriage or lead to deprivation of state benefits.”

Other sections of the community, on the other hand, welcomed the move. Social scientist Nadeem Hasnain said that the clergy’s opposition of registration of marriage was a farce. “Opposing marriage registration on the grounds that nikahnama is a valid marriage certificate is a flimsy ground,” he said, citing Prof Tahir Mehmood , dean faculty of law, university of Delhi and an authority on Quran and Muslim law.

Adding that clerics were mixing religion with rule of law, he added, “The move should not be associated with Yogi because marriage registration for all has been proposed by previous governments too. None could, however, take it further, following opposition from clerics.”

Hasnain pointed out that the clerics are probably fearing losing their importance in the community. “It is obvious that registration will check the rate of divorce and in turn minimise their role and challenge their dominance in the community. The clerics are wrong to be speaking on this issue because the government is not interfering in the procedure of marriage.”

“This is a welcome move. There are different marriage registration procedures and certificates for different Islamic schools of thought (like Shias, Sunnis, Wahabis, etc). The common certificate will bring the much-needed uniformity,” said Royal family descendent, Masoom Raza.

All India Women’s Muslim Personal Law Board also welcomed the move. “Registration is the first step towards checking arbitrary divorce,” said founder president Shaista Ambar, who wants the rule to be followed across India. “This will help check fake NRI marriages as well,” she added.

Mohsin Raza and his wife called up on the community to come forward and follow the rule which is set to make their lives simpler. “Voter and Adhaar cards were also greeted with similar scepticism but today no one questions it. We have to change with the times,” he stated.

