On clerics’ Urs agenda: Appeal to Muslim men not to marry minor girls, give triple talaq

BAREILLY: With Sharia and Indian law in apparent disagreement over triple talaq and

child marriage

, clerics at

Dargah Aala Hazrat

have decided to ask their followers during

Urs-e-Razvi

this year to refrain from marrying

minor girls

and giving triple talaq to their wives. Clerics said that they do not want a situation to arise where people have to choose between Sharia and Indian law.

The 99th Urs-e-Razvi, the death anniversary of Mujadid Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri, founder of the Barelvi school of Islam, will be observed from November 13 to 15. The annual event is likely to be attended by lakhs of people from across the world.

Spokesperson of Dargah Aala Hazrat, Mufti Mohammed Salim Noori, told TOI, “As there is disagreement between Sharia and Indian law, it will be a challenge for Muslim men to choose one over another. We do not want people to be confused and hence have come up with the third alternative. We will appeal to our followers to not marry girls below 18 and also refrain from giving triple talaq to their wives.”

He added, “Today, girls in the community are focusing on their education and are getting married only in their 20s. However, we will still go ahead with the appeal as a precautionary measure.”

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision ruled that sex between a man and his wife below 18 years of age will count as rape and the husband can face up to 10 years’ imprisonment under the IPC or even a life term under the POCSO Act. However, according to the Sharia law, a girl is considered to have reached marriageable age when she reaches puberty, and physical intimacy between the girl and her husband is not unlawful.

Similarly, while the apex court declared the practice of triple talaq unconstitutional in August this year, a section of Muslim clerics claimed that it is legal according to Sharia.