‘Muslim Personal Law changes are against Sharia’

HYDERABAD: Religious figures and others from the

Muslim community

were left disappointed after the

Supreme Court verdict

on

instant triple talaq

. They claimed that passing of legislation, as directed by the court, is akin to ‘interference’ in

Muslim personal law

.

One such voice was that of Syed Ghulam Samdani, associated with the Seerat-un-Nabi Academy. Samdani argued that the Muslim personal laws cannot be changed. “Muslim personal law is not a man-made law. It cannot be changed or amended by any individual or a body. These laws have stayed the same for more than 1,400 years. If any law is passed, then this is a case of direct interference in the Sharia,” he said.

One one hand, he said that instant triple talaq is wrong and should be strongly discouraged, on the other he maintained that divorce will be in effect. “There is no denying that pronouncing instant triple talaq is wrong. But the utterance - that of saying talaq thrice - will validate divorce. This is the rule position,” he said.

Others like Mohammed Hamid (name changed), a store manager, was upset at the apex court’s involvement. By setting aside the practice, the court interfered in the personal law. “I do not understand why this has happened. I am saddened by it. I was hoping that court would say that the matter should be dealt with by the community alone. This is disappointing,” he said.

Other groups wondered whether terming the practice as unconstitutional would actually put an end to it. “We want assurance from the government of India. We demand that when this legislation is made, that Islamic scholars from the Hanafi school of thought be consulted,” said Hafiz Peer Shabbir, a religious scholar.