KL Report
SRINAGAR
A group of religious scholars Thursday unanimously concluded that the half-widows whose husbands have disappeared in custody over last 20 years can marry after four years.
According to the KNS correspondent, at the conclusion of third round of consultation over the issue organized by Ehsaas, a civil society initiative, the Ulemas (scholars) from different schools of thought representing various institutions and organizations issued a joint statement saying that any half widows who intends to re marry can do so after 4 years (as per conditions laid down by Hazrat Imam Malik RA). They also resolved that the issue of property in respect of the half widows should be resolved in the light of teachings of Holy Quran and Hadith. However, the Ulemas said that a detailed edict (Futwa) would be issued very soon.
Those who attended the meeting presented papers and later signed the joint statement include Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng (Patron Anjuman e Himayatul Islam), Mufti Mohammad Yaqoob (Jamiat e Ahla Hadees J & K), Mohammad Manzoor Raza (Karwan e Islami J & K), Mujahid Shabir Ahmad Falahi (Jamat e Islami J & K), Mohammad Saeed ur Rehman Shams (Anjuman e Nusratul Islam J & K), Moulana Hakim Sajjad Hussain (Ahle Bait Foundation J & K) and Mufti Mohammad Ishaq Nazki (Darul Uloom Raheemiya Bandipore).
Noted educationist and Head of Ehsaas group Bashir Ahmad Dar, extended gratitude to Ulemas and stressed for need of reaching out to those affected in the conflict in last 20 years.
Pertinently, the dissolution of Muslim marriage act 1939 is already in place in India wherein it is mentioned that A woman married under Muslim law shall be entitled to obtain a decree for the dissolution of her marriage on any one or more of the following grounds, namely:-
(i) that the whereabouts of the husband have not been known for a period of four years;
(ii) that the husband has neglected or has failed to provide for her maintenance for a period of two years;
(iii) that the husband has been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of seven years or upwards;
(iv) that the husband has failed to perform, without reason- able cause, his marital obligations for a period of three years.
