Ehsaas, a group working on empowerment of women, today released a model Nikahnama, aimed at including broader details that would define the position of women and elaborate on their rights.
The model Nikahnama was released in presence of Ulema fromdifferent sects, members of civil society, including academicians, formerjudges and women rights activists.
Ezabir Ali, Founder Secretary Ehsaas gave an overview of themodel Nikahnama. She said that this is in continuation of the work done earlierby the group, where Ulema representing all sects and various religious scholarshave been involved to address the issues faced by women in our society.
“While engaging on the subject related to half widows, itwas observed that after the disappearance of husbands, most of the half widowsalong with their children are denied property rights and turned away from their homes. The marriagecontract or Nikahnama of half widows as well as, of most women in Kashmir andelsewhere does not include broader details that would empower, strengthen ordefine the position of women. It generally mentions the amount of Mehr (dower)given to the bride at the time of marriage, as per financial strength of thefamily,” she said.
“As such we felt there was a big gap that neededattention. Various efforts and exercise in the background helped to explore thedifferent kinds of Nikahnama existing in the society, none of them was complete– each had a serious gap. Many Ulema and religious scholars have contributed tothis process,” she said.
She said the Ulema and religious scholars who contributed tothe process, include Moulana Shams-ur-Rehman, Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng,Moulana Sheikh Ghulam Rasool Noori, Moulana Hakeem Sajad, Moulana ShabirFalahi, Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami and others.
The organisers said people from civil society whocontributed in the process, included former judge Goussun Nissa, renownedacademicians like Prof Nusrat Andrabi, Prof A G Madhosh, Prof Hameed NaseemRafiabadi, former chairman of J&KBOSE, Bashir Ahmad Dar, former presidentof KCCI Shakeel Qalandar, Shahid Shabir and many others.
On the release of the model Nikahnama, MoulanaShams-ur-Rehman said “we had discussed it with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and heis very keen to look into it.” “We had several deliberations over themodel Nikahnama and if there are any suggestions or modifications, they can belater included in it.” Moulana Showkat Hussain Keng and Moulana SheikhGhulam Rasool Noori also spoke on the occasion.