The board, for the first time, asked the Muslims to give a share of women in inheritance, parental properties, and assets.
Syed Khalique Ahmed
NEW DELHI—Taking strong exception to hate-peddlers insulting Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and Islam, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has asked the government to enact a strong law against blasphemy to tackle this issue effectively. For the first time, the board also asked the Muslim community to ensure that women got their share in inheritance, parental properties, and assets.
It also asked Muslims to avoid interfaith marriage in the interest of communal harmony and peace.
The board made the demand in one of the ten resolutions passed unanimously at its meeting in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Stating that Hindu, Sikh, and other non-Muslim scholars in India have always held Prophet Muhammad in great esteem, the board pointed out that in line with the teachings of Islam, Muslims never used any offensive word against the religious personalities of other faiths.
However, some so-called religious leaders, social and political workers from the Hindu community have been using highly offensive language against the Prophet and Islam at private and public fora, even at press conferences.
“This attitude of communal forces is unacceptable. This amounts to causing discord in the country and runs counter to the interests of nationalism and patriotism,” the board said in its resolution.
Stating that Muslims worldwide hold Prophet Muhammad in greater love and respect than any other personality, the board pointed out that it hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community the world over.
“This would tarnish the image of India all over the world,” the board resolution said.
The board also expressed concern over the central and state governments not taking any deterrent action against such communal elements and hate-peddlers.
Uniform civil code not suitable for India
The board also strongly opposed the idea of imposing a Uniform Civil Code, directly or indirectly, partially or fully.
Stating that the UCC is against the spirit of the Constitution granting every citizen the right to profess, practice, and preach their religious belief freely, the board said that UCC is not suitable for a multi-cultural country like India.
“A uniform civil code is unacceptable,” the board said.
Misuse of waqf properties amounts to interference in Islamic laws
Voicing concern over increasing incidents of sale of waqf properties by individuals and the government, the board said that the sale and abuse of waqf properties by the government or private persons was contrary to Islamic and Indian waqf laws. It said that the sale and misuse of waqf properties amounted to interference in Islamic laws.
The board clarified that a waqf (endowment) property is the property of Allah under Islamic laws and has to be managed and maintained as per Islamic laws only.
Asks Judiciary, State to refrain from interpreting religious texts
Stating that only those having expertise in scriptures and religious laws and recognized as representatives of their respective faiths have the authority to explain the religious terms and text, the board asked the government and judiciary to refrain from explaining and interpreting the religious text and laws.
“Any arbitrary interpretation of religious text and laws will amount to encroachment upon religious rights of citizens,” the resolution said.
Expresses concern over denial of women’s share in the inheritance
The board noted that women were denied their share in inheritance, their parent’s property, and assets.
The women were denied their right to the parental property despite these rights granted to them by the Holy Quran. This injustice by the family members against their womenfolk came in the way of economic empowerment and independence of women.
The board also spoke against female foeticide, rapes in educational institutions, government offices, trains, and buses.
The board also condemned the marriage of girls against their wishes.
Stating that all this is ” inhuman and immoral,” the board advised the government to frame effective laws for the safety and security of women.
Stop atrocities against minorities, vulnerable sections
Condemning the attack on religious places of Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh, the board also equally deplored the attacks on Muslim religious places and their houses and shops in Tripura state, bordering Bangladesh.
It alleged that the police colluded with the anti-Muslim rioters in Tripura.
The board also came down heavily on incidents of mob lynching in different parts of India.
The Muslim body asked the government to take stringent action against those committing atrocities on minorities, including Muslims, Dalits, and other vulnerable sections.
Asks Muslims to follow Shariah in their private, collective life
Asking the Muslims to practice Islamic Sharia in every walk of life individually and collectively, the board asked the Muslim community to shun expensive weddings, desist from demanding dowry, give due share to women in inheritance, and protect the rights of their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.
It asked Muslims to use the institution of Darul Qaza to solve their family and personal disputes.
Avoid interfaith marriage
In a significant move, the board also asked the Muslims to avoid inter-faith marriages because it causes discord in society and harms communal harmony.
Criticizes arrests of Muslim preachers on the pretext of ” conversion”
Strongly condemning the arrests of some Muslims like Umar Gautam from Delhi and Salahuddin Sheikh in Gujarat on the pretext of converting Hindus through coercion or offering them a monetary incentive, the board said that the allegations of the police were baseless because Islam never allowed change of faith by using threat or allurement.
The board said that this was proved by the fact that Muslims ruled over India for about one thousand years, and yet, they are in the minority. Had Islam allowed coercion or allurement in winning adherents, Muslims would have been in the majority.
The board also said that none of the converts to Islam had told the police or the courts that he or she was converted by use of force and yet, the Muslim preachers had been booked in false cases.
In contrast, some Hindu communalists are campaigning for forced conversion, but the police did not take any action against them.
It demanded the immediate release of Muslim preachers and the withdrawal of cases against them.
The board also demanded communal and hostile propaganda against Muslims and Islam through social media.
