Words are so impactful that they can even bring war. They own a prowess which is non-ignorant.
Yet isn't it injustice to end an emotional commitment by uttering a word merely three times?
A marriage is a crucial affair and certainly it cannot be assessed as a profit and loss statement, neither a woman is an asset which can be discarded by a husband on an excuse of expiry of its useful life.
Triple talaq infamously known as Talaq-e-biddat, a 1400 year old practice which allowed a Muslim man to legally divorce his wife by the pronouncement of the word ‘Talaq' thrice became a controversial issue in the year.
The practice was declared “unconstitutional” by the apex court of the country on August 22nd 2017. A bench of five judges passed its verdict in a split decision of 3:2 and asked the government to ban the custom by enacting a law.
The issue attracted media attention in the past two years when a Muslim organisation, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) launched a campaign to ban ‘triple talaq' and ‘nikah halal'.
The custom is against the basic tenets of Quran and is banned in Muslim majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Triple Talaq was held unfundamental to the Muslim women and they have been denied their Quranic rights owing to missinterpretations and influence of patriarchal orthodox bodies.
Like a coin, this story too has two sides. Triple Talaq looks bad only if the intent is unfair. Now nearly 41% of women themselves want a divorce and if a husband gives, it is out of mutual agreement.
It is a divorce by consent and in Islam it is known as Talaq-e-Mubarra.
But unfortunately, some leaders saw it as a political opportunity and despite our PM's urge to not politicise the issue, a member of the ruling party said that Muslims use triple talaq to satisfy their “lust".
Flavia Agnes, a prominent women's rights lawyer, said that illiteracy and lack of awareness were the biggest problems when it came to women rights.
She said “Talaq does not extinguish her economic rights, the ban is not a magic wand that will solve all her problems. We have created an image that Muslim women have no rights because husbands can pronounce triple talaq."
On the contrary, the Supreme court stated triple talaq is the ‘worst form of divorce'.
The Muslim Women Bill is listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on December 28, in the Lower House.
The step would bring parity to women in the Muslim community.
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