Ahmadiyya scholars for ban on ‘nikah halala’

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 30

Welcoming the Centre’s approval of an ordinance making instant triple talaq a punishable offence, scholars from the Ahmadiyya sect demanded government’s intervention in stopping the practice of ‘nikah halala’ here on Sunday.

Gyani Tanveer Ahmad Khadim, deputy secretary of the Qadian(in Punjab’s Gurdapur)-based sect of Islam, told The Tribune that ‘nikah halala’ has become a “barbaric” tool for the exploitation of Muslim women.

An Islamic scholar, Khadim said ‘halala’ was a pre-Islamic practice which deserved to be condemned.

“Like instant talaq, ‘halala’ is being abused by a section of Muslims, and holds no religious sanctity,” he said.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat is of the opinion that if subjects of its state are subjected to exploitation in the garb of religion, the government should intervene to check such malpractices,” he said while speaking at a “peace symposium” . Khadim said Islam permitted a Muslim to divorce and remarry the same woman twice. However, if he decides to dissolve the marriage for the third time, he can only remarry the woman if she first marries another man, consummates the marriage, and only if her new husband man dies or willingly asks for a divorce, can the woman go back to her first husband and remarry him, said the scholar. “However, the religion is being misinterpreted and women are being sexually abused. ‘Halala’ has become an industry where middlemen charge money for a short-term marriage in the name of religious practice,” he added.

Another Islamic scholar Abdul Alim Aftab said the Ahmadiyya sect maintained a progressive approach. “Religious intolerance is a serious threat to the social fabric. The sect prohibits slaughtering of cows and eating its meat worldwide as a mark of respect for Hindu sentiments. Also, we have no objection to chant ‘Vande Matram’. However, these cannot be parameters of the patriotic integrity of a person or community,” he said.

Aftab said Islam emphasised on attaining education and skills, but its wrong interpretation has deprived a sizeable section of right education. “Following Islamic traditions, the Ahmadiyya sect has more than 30 schools where students from various faiths are enrolled. Corrective measures need to be taken,” he said.

About 'Nikah halala' 

Tanveer Ahmad Khadim said Islam permitted a Muslim to divorce and remarry the same woman twice. However, if he decides to dissolve the marriage for the third time, he can only remarry the woman if she first marries another man, consummates the marriage, and only if her new husband man dies or willingly asks for a divorce, can the woman go back to her first husband and remarry him, said the scholar.