Consensus may elude modern nikahnama

Consensus may elude the ‘Modern Nikahnama’ (terms of marriage) proposed by the All India Shia Personal Law Board that accords  equal rights to women and does away with the controversial triple talaq (divorce).

The sources said that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the apex body of Muslims in the country, must give its approval to the Nikahnama for it to be accepted by the community, especially the sunnis.

Shia Personal Law Board spokesman Maulana Yasoob Abbas said that he had handed over the Nikahnama to prominent shia cleric and AIMPLB vice-president Maulana Kalbe Saadiq and requested him to put it before the board for consideration.

According to Yasoob Abbas, the new Nikahnama provides the women the right to divorce under certain conditions.

 “The nikahnama is in accordance with the constitution of the country....it gives equal rights to women...it also gives the women the right to work if they so want,” he added.

Maulana Saadiq said he was for equal rights to women in every field of life and assured that he would take up the proposal with other AIMPLB members.

Sources, however, said that the AIMPLB was not likely to give its nod the Nikahnama. Shia clerics here said the sunni sect had a different view on the issue of marriage and divorce.  “Triple talaq (giving divorce by uttering the word divorce three times) system is prevalent among sunnis,” said a prominent shia cleric here.