The Deoband ruling that talaq given in a state of drunkenness is valid (March 30) is against the Koran because marriage in Islam is a very strong bond. Only if the lives of the husband and wife become unbearable because of irresolvable disputes, can they separate through divorce. The rules that govern divorce are: appointment of two conciliators from the families of the husband and wife to settle the dispute; in case the efforts fail, divorce is granted in the presence of two eyewitnesses over three months. At the time of pronouncing talaq, the man must have the intention to divorce. Uttering talaq in a state of drunkenness is thus invalid.
Mohaimina Khatoon , New Delhi
According to the Holy Koran, there are only two types of talaq. First is Talaq-e-Ahsan, (most preferred). The husband pronounces talaq and does not have any physical contact with his wife for the next three months. If, after three months, he changes his mind, the marriage will be valid, without Halalah. The second type is Talaq-e-Hasan (preferred). Here the husband utters talaq thrice but not in one sitting. He utters it once for three months. If he changes his mind, he can go back to his wife.
Talaq in one sitting, which is not mentioned in the Koran but is propagated by our country's Islamic school, is called Talaq-Biddah, propagated after the death of the Holy Prophet. This inhuman treatment of women should be strongly condemned by all right-thinking Muslims.
Rashid Ghani Khan , Aligarh
It is inconceivable how the utterance of the word talaq by a man in an inebriated condition can lead to an irrevocable divorce in a modern, civilised society. How can an injunction to discipline the man for consuming alcohol end up punishing the helpless wife? Can such irrational interpretations by those whose thoughts are frozen in the ancient times be allowed to dictate the peaceful conduct of family life? The affected couples should take recourse to the Common Marriages Act, rather than follow such an interpretation by the bigotry.
Kasim Sait , Chennai
Talaq is being justified as punishment for the man. What about the woman? Why should she suffer for no fault of hers? The Deoband is famous for presenting complex solutions to simple problems.
Syed Abbas Haider , Meerut
A drunkard is bad enough for a hapless woman to handle. The Deoband fatwa punishes her further by saying the divorce is valid. How does the religious establishment intend to solve her problem?
N. Sekar , Salem
