By RINA
New Delhi: Expressing grave concern over the evil practice of dowry, Deoband’s Sheikhul Hadees Maulana Talha ‘Peerr Ji’ said, “Numerous mishaps of dowry in Saharanpur during last few months have forced Ulema, Muftis and intellectuals to contemplate on the issue deeply.”
Maulana Talha said, “Dowry is a social curse and contrary to Islamic teachings. Yet it is spreading like an epidemic in Muslim society apace its reach in other communities in the country.” This is a bitter fact that in spite of ‘Social Reforms’ and ‘Islamic Family Campaign’ launched by reputed Muslim organizations like Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively, harshness of the problem only aggravated.
“Cancerous growth of dowry in Muslim society is because of ignorance and greed for easy money”, Maulana Talha said, “Efforts for social reforms should be accelerated in order to overcome this menace.” He also demanded a harsh law against exploitation in name of dowry.
When contacted, Maulana Mohammad Salim Qasimi, Mohtamim of Darul Uloom Wakf Deoband, said, “Demanding dowry is not only a religious evil but also a social evil. This is our religious duty to stop this practice and all of us should work for it jointly.” His solution was, “Muslims should solemnize marriages in a simple way. Islam likes simplicity. It prohibits adopting all those practices that give way to evils in society.”
Jamia Mazahir Uloom’s Maulana Syed Mohammad Shahid Mazahiri said, “Due to lack of knowledge and greed for worldly possessions, Muslims have come to turn their marriages a difficult and costly affair whereas demanding dowry and exploiting women on this pretext is contrary to Islamic Shari’ah.” He also thinks simple marriages are a solution.
In charge of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Saharanpur Unit), Dr. Jamil Manavi said, “Poor Muslim girls whose parents are unable to bear huge expenses of marriage sit aside in their homes waiting for eventual marriage but in vain. Should Muslims revert to the Prophet’s tradition, the issue can be solved.” His suggestion was, “We should immediately pay attention towards moral training of our children in order to prevent un-Islamic practices.”