Religion
Punish three consecutive divorce declarations: Pakistan cleric
The Council of Islamic
Ideology in Pakistan decreed Wednesday that a husband who uttered
“divorce†thrice consecutively would liable to punishment as it was
un-Islamic.
The chairman of the council, Maulana Muhammad Khan
Sherani said at a press conference that a man could pronounce one
divorce at a time as per the method prescribed by the Shariah, according
to a Geo News report.
Islamic family law says that a man has to divorce his wife thrice before the divorce legally comes into effect.
The
council also suggested that the person approving on paper, three
divorces consecutively, should also be liable to punishment.
According
to the council, a reference would be needed to remarry after the first
divorce and a Nikah (marriage contract) would be necessary to remarry
after the second divorce.
Shirani added that any woman over 40
years of age could be appointed as a judge, provided that she followed
the practice of wearing the hijab (veil).
Backing the council's
recommendations, chief cleric of the Deobandi Islamic educational
institute, Jamia Binoria, Mufti Mohammad Naeem, said that three
consecutive divorce declarations were against the Sunnah.
Sunnah
is the way of life that is considered to be normative for Muslims, based
on the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad and
interpretations of the Islamic holy text-- the Quran.
“In our society, divorces are given on petty issues,†he said, adding that divorce rates were increasing in Pakistan.