Hyderabad Muslims
reject the NRI books's proposal to meet alone before
marriage
'No' to meet-before-marriage proposal
HYDERABAD,Feb. 28, 2006
Md A Basith
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
A proposal of allowing brides and grooms to meet
alone before marriage to understand each other and
share feelings, in case the groom is an expatriate
or an NRI, has been rejected by Muslims in Hyderabad.
The idea was proposed by the Union government's ministry
of overseas Indian affairs. A booklet of guidelines
on 'marriages to overseas Indians' has been drafted
by the ministry of overseas Indian affairs as a safeguard
for women getting married to an expatriate or an NRI.
The booklet proposes that women be given an opportunity
to get information about the groom, his job, salary
and living status abroad.
The most important issue in the failure of some NRI
marriages is the lack of understanding between the
bride and groom once the bride is taken abroad.
The ministry has found that the hurried marriages
could mar relationship. The ministry sent the guidelines
to Hyderabad through the wakf board for a feedback
of the community.
The wakf board referred the guidelines to several
religious institutions and scholars who all promptly
rejected them stating they were against the shariah.
"We can allow the couple to see each other before
marriage for a few minutes. But they can not be left
alone for understanding each other or sharing their
feelings," a senior wakf board official said.
"It is wrong to say that relationships are breaking
up due to lack of sharing of feelings and likes and
dislike before the marriage.
Not many had an opportunity to know each other before
marriage in the past but still the relationships survived,"
said Moulana Abdul Mughni Mazahiri of Madarsa Sabeel
al Falah.
Hafez Mastan Ali of Jamiatul Mominath said that shariah
is same for all whether they are expatriates or not.
Dr Rehana Sultana, director Centre for Women Studies,
Moulana Azad National Urdu University, suggested that
the boy and the girl be allowed to speak in the presence
of the guardians before the marriage.
There is nothing wrong if they have a free talk but
this should be done in the presence of elders only,"
Dr Rehmana Sultana told STOI here.
