Agra: Muslim scholars claim Modi throwing baseless aspersions on Islam

Reacting to PM Narendra Modi's recent statement against triple talaq in a public meeting in Gujarat, Muslim scholars have charged Modi for throwing baseless aspersions on Islam without knowing the facts.

In a meeting held in Agra on this issue, noted Muslim scholar Naseem Ahmed Advocate said that contrary to the general notion that is being spread by such statements being made by BJP leaders, that Muslim women are being oppressed by their religion, Islam grants women a number of rights, all of which have been mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith.

Quoting a verse from the Quran, he said it is clearly written in Surah Barqaran 2:228, "And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them according to what is equitable," while Surah Nisa 4:124 says "And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female while being a believer - these will enter Paradise and will not be wronged."

Mufti Mudassar Ali Khan Qadri said that Surah An-Nisa 4:129 says "If a woman fears either ill-treatment or aversion from her husband it is not wrong for the husband and wife to bring about reconciliation among themselves (by compromising on their rights), for settlement is better.

Man's soul is always prone to selfishness, but if you do good and are God-fearing, then surely Allah is aware of the things you do." Which means that the matter of talaq is something between husband, wife and Allah and if the two agree on something, then only Allah is the One who can decide what is just and what is not.

He said that the first step towards settling any marital dispute is a mutual attempt for reconciliation as mentioned in Surah An-Nisa 4:129 and the Prophet himself had frowned upon talaq and instructed the believers to avoid it. Surah Nisa 9:71 clearly says that "The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayers and give Zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger."

Social activist Syed Irfan Saleem said that Islam regards men and women as being of the same essence created from a single soul i.e. the equivalent position. In the Islamic perspective, a woman has an honoured position with assured respect, love, affection and gentle feeling along with her legal and civil rights. She plays multiple roles of the compassionate mother, the beloved wife and the affectionate daughter which is explained in verse 46:15 of the Quran, "We have enjoined man to be kind to his parents. His mother has carried him in travail, and bore him in travail, and his gestation and weaning take thirty months. When he comes of age and reaches forty years, he says My Lord! Inspire me to give thanks for Your blessing with which you have blessed me and my parents, and that I may do righteous deeds which may please You and invest my descendants with righteousness. Indeed I have turned to you in penitence and I am one of the Muslims".

He said that there is an instance which highlights Prophet's tender love affection for the womenfolk. Prophet had a daughter Fatimah whom he loved very deeply and tenderly and used to say "Fatimah is a part of me; whoever wrongs her wrongs me and whoever pleases her pleases me." He used to visit her frequently and on his return from any journey, calling on her first before going to his home. Whenever she approached him, his eyes glowed with joy. He would take her in his arms, kiss her warmly and offer her his own seat. This is an ideal model for the mankind, of love and respect to the womenfolk.

He said that the general perception about Islamic society being unjust to women needs to change, but statements like what are being made in the media about so-called injustices meted out to the women in Islam are giving an entirely incorrect picture to the society. He said that Islam was the first religion to give equal property right to women whereas other religions are yet to give them the same rights.