The Muslim Women Act

Introduction : A Muslim woman has no social prestige in the world of Muslims. She is the most oppressed lady. She is always sad at heart thinking the impending danger of divorce. She has reconciled herself to the barbarism of her husband.  To see her is to feel pity for her.

The new Act and its promises :  The new called" The Muslim Women Act" has recently come in to existence.  Its purpose was to mitigate the suffering of Muslim Women Court allowed maintenance allowances to a divorced Muslim Woman called Shah Danu. A furious storm raised over this judgment of the Supreme court's all over the country. The Muslim raised a strong protest by saying that it is undue interference in their religion.  To curb down this unnecessary social uproar the New Act came into existence. 

Bill in the Parliament : A bill was presented in the Parliament to put an end to the controversy in the circle of Muslims. In the bill it was declared that a divorced Muslim Women cloud claim welcomed the bill but it was attacked by those Muslims Who are fundamentalist.  Some modifications were made in the bill and then ii was presented in the Parliament. It was discussed again and again. Heated debates look place over it. At last the bill was passed half-heartedly.

The criticism of the act : The act has been badly criticized on the following grounds:

[i] The Act is a fraud on the sacred Constitution of the country because the Constitution does not permit the Government to make laws community wise instead of topic wise.

[ii] Again,  the Act, is discriminatory against the Muslim Women since it deprives them of the benefits of Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code enabling destitute Muslim divorces to get a maximum of Rs, 500 /- a month for their whole life from their ex-husband who created sufficient menarche at their disposal. 


[iii] Further the Act violates the Constitution,  the Quran, the Hadis and Sunna. It is discriminatory beyond all doubts but it forcibly puts the burden of maintenance of the divorced women on their parents or relatives while parents and relatives in other countries are not obliged to bear such a burden. 

[iv] The new act violates Article 27 of the Constitution because the Act amounts to taxing citizens at large for payment only to Muslim divorcees from the Waqf funds. Such payment are avoided since there would be infringing the right of the donors of Waqf whose benefactions would be diverted for purpose other than those declared by them.

[v] The provision in the Act for the maintenance of minor children by the father only till two years,  is inconsistent with the provision in the shariah that a father must maintain a daughter all his life.

[vi] Finally,  the Act would encourage divorce or Talaq.

Conclusion : For a Muslim woman her life is a curse on her. Throughout her whole life she suffers from 'Purdah' and 'polygamy ', To her I'll luck, if she is divorced,  her condition becomes worst. May- God help in her plight!