All India Muslim Personal Law Board

All India Muslim Personal Law Board
AbbreviationAIMPLB
Formation7 April 1972 (52 years ago) (1972-04-07)
Founder
Founded atHyderabad
TypeNGO
PurposeTo protect and promote the application of Muslim personal law in India
Headquarters76 A/1, Main Market, Okhla Village Jamia Nagar, New Delhi - 110025 (India)
Region
India
President
Khalid Saifullah Rahmani
General secretary
Maulana Mohammed Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi
Websiteaimplb.org

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is a non-governmental organisation in India that represents the interests of Muslims in matters of personal law. It was formed in 1973 with the objective of protecting and promoting the application of Islamic personal law among Muslims in India. The AIMPLB is primarily concerned with issues related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and other personal matters governed by Islamic law, known as Shariah. The AIMPLB has been involved in various significant cases and debates, including those related to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, the Shah Bano case, and the Triple Talaq issue. It has also played a role in advocating for the preservation of Muslim personal laws and resisting attempts to introduce a uniform civil code in India.

The board consists of members who are scholars, legal experts, and representatives of various Islamic organisations across India. It functions as a consultative body, providing guidance and opinions on matters related to Muslim personal law. The AIMPLB does not have any legal authority or power to enforce its decisions, but it carries significant influence within the Muslim community.

Description

AIMPLB is a private body working to protect Muslim personal laws, liaise with and influence the Government of India and guide the general public about crucial issues. The board has a working committee of 51 ulama representing various schools of thought. In addition to this, it also has a general body of 201 persons of ulama as well as laymen, including about 25 women.[citation needed]

However, some of the Shia Muslims and Muslim feminists have formed their own separate boards, the All India Shia Personal Law Board and the All India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board, respectively but have failed to win any significant support from the Muslims or the government.[1]

Executive committee

Rabey Hasani Nadvi is the incumbent president of the board and Kalbe Sadiq, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, Syed Shah Fakhruddin Ashraf, Sayeed Ahmed Oomeri are its incumbent vice presidents. Khalid Saifullah Rahmani is the incumbent acting general secretary after the demise of Wali Rahmani and Fazlur Rahim Mujaddedi, Zafaryab Jilani and Umrain Mahfooz Rahmani are its incumbent secretaries. Riaz Umar is the treasurer of the board.

Its executive members include K. Ali Kutty Musliyar, Muhammad Sufyan Qasmi, Rahmatullah Mir Qasmi and others.

Associated scholars

Criticism

The AIMPLB focuses primarily to defend the Sharia laws from any law or legislation that they consider infringes on it.[2] In this role initially it has objected to any change in the Divorce Laws for Muslim women.[3] In this regard it has even published a book – Nikah-O-Talaq (Marriage and Divorce).[2] However, from time to time it has been hinted by the board that it might reconsider its position.[4] It has also objected to gay rights[5][6] and supports upholding the 1861 Indian law that bans sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex.[7]

The Board has also objected to the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 as they believe it will infringe on the Madrasa System of Education.[8] It has also supported child marriage and opposes the Child Marriage Restraint Act. It supports marriage age as 15 but says we do not promote it but people should have choice.[9] It has also objected to the Supreme Court of India Judgement on Babri Mosque.[10] For this, it is also willing to threaten political action.[11] The Board was in the headlines for its opposition to the live video conference of author Salman Rushdie to the Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2012.[12] After government considered making yoga compulsory in schools They argued that "there is a serious threat to our religion. There is a sinister design to impose 'Brahmin dharma' through yoga, Surya Namaskara and Vedic culture. They all are against Islamic beliefs. We need to awaken our community for launching a protest on a large scale."[13]

Model Nikahnama

AIMPLB drafted a model 'nikahnama' in 2003 laying down specific guidelines and conditions on which a marriage can be annulled by both husband and wife in large sections of Sunni Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.[14][15]

Legacy

Muhammad Qasim Zaman, a professor at Princeton University, described this organisation as the most influential in matters related to Islamic law in India.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "All India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board on Muslim Women's Reservation". The Milli Gazette. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Aims and Objects". AIMPLB. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Sharia courts should be first option: AIMPLB". The Times of India. 18 July 2007. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  4. ^ "All Muslims are equal: AIMPLB". The Times of India. 25 October 2006. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  5. ^ Jyoti Thottam (2 July 2009). "All India's Historic Ruling on Gay Rights". Time. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  6. ^ "All India Muslim Personal Law Board moves SC over legalising homosexuality". indlaw.com. UNI. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. ^ Gardiner Harris (11 December 2013) Court Restores India's Ban on Gay Sex The New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2013
  8. ^ TNN (5 February 2012). "Bill to address minorities' RTE concerns in next session: Sibal". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  9. ^ Haviland, Charles (5 September 2002). "Battle over India's marriage age". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Not satisfied with Ayodhya verdict; will move SC: AIMPLB". Zee News. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  11. ^ Deepak Gidwani (29 January 2012). "AIMPLB set to corner Congress in UP polls". DNA India. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Salman Rushdie has hurt religious sentiments in his book: AIMPLB member". IBNLive. CNN-IBN. 24 January 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  13. ^ India Express: "AIMPLB calls conclave to push its fight against ‘Vedic culture, Brahmin dharma’" by Mohd Faisal Fareed 13 August 2015
  14. ^ Hindustan Times
  15. ^ "No Triple Talaq Without Both Husband And Wife's Consent: Shia Law Board". NDTV. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023.
  16. ^ Zaman, Muhammad Qasim (2007). Ashraf Alī Thanawi: Islam In Modern South Asia. Makers of The Muslim World. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-85168-415-1.