[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n Monday, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the issue of triple talaq should not be politicised. He asked people, is it fair for a man to say ‘talaq’ thrice over the phone and a Muslim woman’s life to be ruined? He criticised both politicians and people on TV debates saying such discussions on triple talaq would keep women “bereft of their rights”. He requested people who participate in TV debates not to make women rights a Muslim-Hindu issue. Women’s rights are a development issue. The debate should be between Muslims who want reforms and those who do not want them. However, if people have to take Modi’s words at face value, he should have been more eloquent when people were getting killed in the name of cow and beef. People were called anti-national just because they didn’t agree with his party gimmicks. They were called dogs and puppies because of their religion and Hindu fanatic organisations seemed like controlling Government administration. He lost his precious time with his silence at the wrong time and expressiveness at the wrong time and thus the credibility too. However, this is not to justify a religious custom of triple talaq. It’s just a barbarian, just like the caste system prevailing among Hindus.
Though, this thought is noble and if followed whole heartedly without making it a political stunt, one must come forward and get ready for the change. Or there is another way too, all those Muslims who advocate triple talaq and oppose change, should be treated by the Sharia law. Just pass a law that all Muslim criminals will be punished according to law of sharia. All Muslims arrested will not be prosecuted under Indian Penal Code but they will be tried by a sharia court separately conceived by state and central government. Each state, city, district should have a sharia law centre (similar to court) with its head judge appointed by the concerned state. All Muslims arrested for any crime should be presented in such courts and punished according to sharia at that very moment of crime without any delay e.g. a rapist should be buried half in the mud and stoned by public to death.
A thief should have his hands amputated on the crime scene itself. A murderer should be hanged publicly on a tree. All Muslim bank accounts should be made interest free according to sharia. All Haj subsidies should be abolished. Muslim men should be debarred from using alcohol and tobacco products. They should not be allowed in music concerts, theatres and debarred from any means of recreation or entertainment. Why follow sharia with a half heart, let’s make them follow it with full support those who don’t follow the law should be lashed 100 times and then let off.
Prime Minister has assured justice would be given to Muslim women under the Constitution regarding the issue. It is the responsibility of government and people of the country to deliver justice to Muslim women under Constitution. It’s high time, this religion needs reform and I am happy if government is committed to bring some change to their lives. However, again this should not be limited to Uttar Pradesh election campaign. Even BJP should fulfill the promises made by them and work in the interest of public.
Muslim man cannot divorce his wife simply by repeating “I divorce you” three times. It is a controversial practice called the talaq or “triple-talaq”. Quran has very categorically specified certain things about talaq. It says “the divorce is not sought as and when a man wants in certain criteria’s but once you said talaq, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness. And it is not lawful for you (men) to take back (from your wives) any of your Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) which you have given them, except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah (e.g. to deal with each other on a fair basis). Then if you fear that they would not be able to keep the limits ordained by Allah, then there is no sin on either of them if she gives back (the Mahr or a part of it) for her ‘Al-Khula’ (divorce).
These are the limits ordained by Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah, then such are the Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.) and if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband. Then, if the other husband divorces her, it is no sin on both of them that they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge.
Explanation in short words:
If a man divorces his wife the second time, he can either marry her again or leave her in good terms. The man cannot ask his divorced wife her mahr back. If a woman divorces her husband, then the wife can give back her Mahr to the divorced husband. If a man divorces his wife for the third time, he cannot marry her again (because marriage is not a joke that a man just keeps divorcing and remarrying his wife again and again). If the wife marries a second husband after divorce, and the second husband divorces her, only then can the first husband marry her again.
What triple talaq is NOT?
A man saying ‘talaq, talaq, talaq’ is not the Islamic way of doing talaq, because unless the woman has passed her Iddat period (3 menstrual cycles) the man and woman can still come back, and the talaq will be considered null. The Islam religion as it is explained, expressed and bifurcated according to their own profit and values. However in modern India, when religion is followed half-heartedly, it is better to follow constitution of the country and move on progressively.
Inputs from various sources
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