Hyderabad: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Saturday announced that several youths took a pledge to have their nikah (marriage) solemnized in a simple manner. The board made a plea to the faithful to avoid elaborate wedding ceremonies, during a 10-day campaign against pomp and avoidable ceremonies and customs.
The social reforms committee of AIMPLB has launched the campaign to make marriages simple and easy so that the burden on families will be less. The campaign also exhorted people against demanding dowry as also committing oppressive acts on daughters and daughters-in-law. This campaign would go on till April 5 in various states.
Concerned over the growing extravagance in wedding ceremonies, the AIMPLB has asked the ulema, clerics and qazis to refrain from participating in wedding ceremonies where dowry system is practiced, so as to curb this social evil.
As a part of the campaign, preachers in their Juma sermons emphasized the importance of solemnizing weddings in the true spirit of Sharia. They urged the faithful to avoid unnecessary customs and rituals associated with weddings, as these caused a financial burden on both families.
Youths particularly college students took pledges to solemnize their nikah in the masjid in a simple manner and promised they would not seek dowry from brides. They would participate in nikah ceremonies but abstain from dinner and arrange simple valima dinner.
They also took a pledge to pay the dower (payment of an amount at the time of the wedding to the bride).
Chief organiser of the women's wing of AIMPLB Dr Asma Zehra said the response of the community was tremendous and the new generation has realised that seeking dowry is a wrong action and extravagant marriages must be avoided. Participation in marriages where dowry is given or taken should be avoided totally, to curb this evil, she said.
She said the evil of dowry has taken deep roots in society. Due to lack of Islamic teachings, many wives are suffering from harassment at the hands of their husband and in-laws. Rich and poor, educated and illiterate continue to demand cash, furniture, vehicles and feast from the bride's parents.
Islamic laws empower women with 'mehr' at the time of marriage and lay the responsibility of setting up the house on man as he is the 'Qawwam' (caretaker) of the family.
