Coming together under the banner of All India Muslim Majlise-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), Islamic scholars and clergymen of all Muslim sects — including Sunnis, Shias, Barelvis, Deobandis and Ahle Hadees — on Monday lodged a vehement protest against the Centre's views on triple talaq and opposed its plans to introduce a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Expressing serious concern over Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement that the personal laws should be Constitutionally-compliant and that triple talaq was distinct from the UCC, the AIMMM categorically stated that any interference in the Muslim Personal law would not be tolerated.
“Any interference in Muslim Personal law will not be tolerated. Any efforts to impose a Uniform Civil Code in the name of social reform and gender justice will prove counter-productive,” Islamic scholars owing allegiance to AIMMM said in a joint statement here.
The AIMMM's statement comes two days after the All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPlB) reiterated its opposition to the UCC and maintained that the Muslim Personal law was based on divine law and hence could not be altered. The AIMPlB had also said that the Supreme Court should consider the issue of triple talaq in its entirety.
Nearly 400 Islamic scholars and clergymen, who had gathered under the banner of AIMMM, deliberated at length on the stand taken by the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre on the triple talaq issue and its efforts to push the UCC.
Maulana Sayed Mohamed Khalid Ashraf, the president of Daruloom Mohamdiya, chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives from all Muslim sects and also members of the AIMPlB.
“The Government should respect this position of Muslims (that they would not tolerate interference in Muslim personal laws) instead of conspiring to put an end to it. The Government cannot force Muslims to follow other communities in issues related to personal laws as it would amount to an infringement on their fundamental rights,” Maulana Sayed Mohamed Khalid Ashraf said.
“Those clamoring against triple talaq and demanding a ban on polygamy are a miniscule minority and are not representative of the Indian Muslim community,” Maulana Sayed Ashraf added.
Dubbing the move of banning triple talaq as a “conspiracy” to impose the UCC, Maulana Zaherudin Khan, president, All India Ulema Council, said: “We will boycott this (law Commission's) questionnaire. No Muslim will respond to it because it is misleading and deceitful. The Uniform Civil Code is divisive and will lead to social unrest”.
“The Government should not interfere in the belief and religion of any citizen. Muslims consider divorce, polygamy and other personal laws as an intrinsic part of their religion and are hence obliged to follow the Sharia in those matters,” Maulana Nusrat, vice-president, All India Jamiat Islami, said.
Naveed Hamid president, Mushwarat, reminded that the Constitution of India guaranteed the freedom to profess, practice and propagate one's own religion. “This inviolable freedom is given to every individual and enshrined as a fundamental right in our Constitution,” he said.
Prominent among them who attended the meeting include Mujtaba Farooq, general secretary, Mushawarat, Sayed Athar Ali, executive committee member, AIMPlB, Maulana Mohd Islam, Imam of internationally-famous Haji Ali Dargah, Maulana Asgar Imam Salfi (Ahlehadis) Maulana Asgar Haideri, noted Shia scholar, and others.