Bhopal, May 1
Asserting that Indian Muslims were “not bound to follow any other Muslim country”, All- India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) today asked them to refrain from pronouncing ‘talaq’ thrice.
The model ‘nikahnama’ cleared by the AIMPLB here asks Muslims to refrain from pronouncing triple ‘talaq’. If it is pronounced once, divorce remains “revokable” within a period of three months - called ‘iddat’, AIMPLB secretary Abdul Rahim Qureshi said at a press conference here.
On the practice of triple ‘talaq’ in other countries, he said, “they may do whatever they like. We are not bound to follow anyone.., any other Muslim country.”
“This provision was made to give a chance to the couple to reunite after they decide on divorce. If ‘talaq’ is pronounced thrice, it becomes irreversible,” he said.
Stating that divorce was the most detestable thing before the eyes of Allah, Mr Quereshi said the ‘nikahnama’ provides that divorce should be last resort and should be attempted for if it becomes “inevitable”.
The ‘nikahnama’ follows the “total breakdown theory of marriage” generally followed in the West, he added.
Meanwhile, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), also discussed inconclusively another issue — the marriageable age for girls.
Most of the members appeared to favour 15 years, which they said is the age of marriage for girls in several countries.
An early decision on the issue becomes imperative in view of the Prevention of Child Marriage Bill 2004 now pending before Parliament.
The Shariat, it was pointed out, permitted a girl or boy to be married on attaining puberty. A general feeling among the members was that the AIMPLB should raise its voice if there was any infringement in the law of the Shariat in the proposed Bill.
AIMPLB secretary Maulana Abdul Rahim Qureshi told mediapersons that he felt that the government should bring down the age of marriage for girls from 18 to 15 years as earlier . He said he did not see any rationale behind fixing the marriageable age for girls at 18. He, however, made it clear that the board was yet to take a decision on the matter.
