Muslim religious leaders and women rights groups are at loggerheads in Rajasthan over equal rights for women. The bone of contention is whether a woman qazi can conduct marriages or not.
The matter is being debated after two women from Jaipur claimed to have become qazis.
Jahan Ara and Afroz Begum completed a two-year training course from Mumbai-based Darul Uloom-i-Nisawa. After being handed over the qaziyat on Friday, they will be now be called Qazi Jahan Ara and Qazi Afroza Begum.
The duo from Jaipur was among a group of 16 women from different states across the country that during the period of course also learnt Hadith, Indian Constitution and the rights of women.
The duo was sent for training by the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, of which the two women are members.
Jahan Ara who passed with 69 per cent marks and more vocal of the two, said that “qaziyat” is not just limited to solemnising nikaah but has other responsibilities as well.
“I have become a qazi so as to bring a change in attitude towards women and improve the condition of women who, at present, are facing a lot of atrocities. As a qazi, I will ensure that women get all the rights they deserve according to Islam,” Jahan Ara said.
However, Khalid Usmani, Rajasthan’s chief qazi, and Abdul Sattar, Mufti of Jaipur Mufti said that Islam did not allow a woman to hold the position of a qazi and that the Koran states that women cannot be above men.
