Muslim Personal Law Board bats for women's inheritance rights as per the Sharia

New Delhi: In response to reports of Muslim women being denied their rights to parental properties, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to launch a nationwide campaign to uphold Islamic Sharia, which ensures women have their due rights on their parental properties.

AIMPLB's decision seeks to address this imbalance and empower Muslim women economically. Although Islamic law mandates that daughters are entitled to a share of parental property, the lack of an effective enforcement mechanism has allowed many families to sidestep this obligation.

Consequently, the principles of Shariah have been undermined, and women have been deprived of their rightful inheritance.

According to Muslim activists, only a small percentage of Muslim families in India voluntarily provide daughters and sisters with their due share in parental property. However, no comprehensive survey has been conducted to quantify the extent to which Muslim parents adhere to Shariah law in property distribution.

During the AIMPLB's working committee meeting, several participants acknowledged that daughters frequently do not receive their rightful share of family inheritance. Moreover, widows and mothers often face similar challenges in securing their inheritance rights from their husband's and son's properties.

The board's decision to address this issue is particularly notable, given its potential to empower Muslim women economically.

Dr SQR Ilyas, the spokesperson for AIMPLB, highlighted the board's broader commitment to addressing various social issues affecting women in India. These issues include female foeticide, dowry-related problems, late marriages, attacks on women's dignity and chastity, exploitation in workplaces, and domestic violence.

AIMPLB has recognized the need for comprehensive social reform to combat these challenges and has outlined a strategy to effect change from within the Muslim community.

To facilitate this social reform, AIMPLB has divided the country into three segments and appointed three secretaries, each responsible for one segment.

The appointed secretaries are Maulana S. Ahmad Faisal Rahmani, Maulana Mohammed Umrain Mahfooz Rahmani, and Maulana Yasin Ali Usmani. Additionally, a committee comprising these secretaries and Dr. SQR Ilyas has been formed to develop a roadmap for the implementation of these reforms.

Maulana Syed Bilal Abdul Hai Hasani Nadvi has been tasked with leading the Tafheem-e-Shariat Committee, responsible for interpreting Islamic laws for both the general public and others.

The AIMPLB's efforts in addressing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) proposed by the central government were also recognized and applauded during the meeting. The board played a pivotal role in gathering input from the Muslim community regarding the UCC, with approximately 6.3 million Muslims responding to the Law Commission of India's notification.

AIMPLB's delegation engaged in discussions with the Law Commission, firmly expressing its stance against the UCC.

In addition to addressing inheritance rights and social issues, the AIMPLB expressed deep concern over the government's actions concerning Wakf properties. The board condemned the negligence of Wakf boards and the legal cases filed against the Wakf Act in various high courts.

AIMPLB resolved to organize Wakf conferences in five major cities across the country to examine the Shariah status of Wakf, threats to Wakf properties, and potential remedial measures.

The AIMPLB also reviewed the new Mediation Act in detail during the working committee meeting. A committee comprising legal experts from the board, under the leadership of its general secretary, will examine the Act's various aspects and provide recommendations on how it can be used to resolve matrimonial and other social problems.

The meeting was presided over by AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani and conducted by General Secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi.

Numerous prominent members of the AIMPLB attended the meeting, including board vice-presidents Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, Prof. (Dr.) Syed Ali Mohammad Naqvi, and Mr. Syed Sadatullah Husaini, as well as treasurer Riaz Umar and several secretaries and special invitees.