Kanhangad: Lawyer and actor Shukur Vakil has announced that he and his partner Sheena are remarrying through a special act as there is an unequal system in the name of Islam. In a Facebook post, Shukur said that he is looking for the possibility that Muslim personal law will not affect those who get married through the Special Marriage Act and is doing this for the sake of his children.
According to the Muslim Personal Act of 1937, children can inherit only two-thirds of the property of their parents in the case of girls. The remaining portion will go to the siblings of the parents. It is against this background that Shukur and Sheena have decided to get married again.
‘What is the solution to the worries of thousands of Muslim parents like me who have only daughters, what will they do to get their life savings to their own children?
The only way for us Muslims to overcome this crisis from within the existing legal system is the Special Marriage Act passed by our Parliament in 1954.
“Therefore, Sheena and I, who got married on October 6, 1994 according to Islamic rites, hereby inform you that on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2023, we will remarry under the Special Marriage Act before the Sub-Registrar, Kanhangad Hozdurg at ten o’clock in the morning,” he said.
He added that this is not to challenge anyone or defy anything, but they are only looking for the possibility that those who marry through the Special Marriage Act will not be affected by the Muslim Personal Law.
He said that everyone is equal in front of Allah and in front of our constitution and added that it is very regrettable that those who practice Islam in the country have to face this kind of gender discrimination.
“It is very regrettable that the children of those who practice Islam have to face this kind of gender discrimination in a country where Article 14 of the constitution adopted for us in 1950 guarantees equality to all regardless of caste, religion, class, gender as a fundamental right,” he said.
Shukur and his partner Sheena are constantly fighting against gender discrimination in property inheritance rights in Muslim personal laws. This decision of both of them is part of the same struggle.
Full version of the Facebook post
Never expected to have another marriage in life. Some things are like that. We will submit.
That being said, this coming March 8th is my second marriage… To be precise, my first marriage was on October 6th, 1994.
As a believer in Islam, I am from Palakkad Puthupariyam Palakkatil Alikutty and K.M. Sara and daughter P.A. Sheena also performed Nikah according to religious rituals. Our nikah was held at Nazima Manzil, Cheruvatur, Kadankod by the respected Hyderali Shihab of Panakkad.
Sheena and I started living together from October 9th. Three daughters came into our happy life one after the other. I am a blessed heaven-sent father of three daughters!
On two extraordinary occasions when death flashed before my eyes, some anxiety about life arose within. Even though the car I was traveling in was reduced to dust in a terrible accident in 2017, which I still fear to remember, I survived.
Three years later, in 2020, he narrowly escaped another accident. In those two near-death situations, the seat belt saved life.
If I die, many will be sad!
Friends’ posts may appear on FB. After burying the grave and offering prayers, the relatives will separate and finally only the family will remain.
What are your dad’s reserves? Do you have a debt to pay? Aren’t the savings for the children?
The time for such questions will come.
Shouldn’t my (our) life savings go to my three children? What is the doubt
Gotta get it. But will they get it?
What a question!
No, that’s it.
The reason is The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. According to this law, the law of Muslim succession in India is under Muslim Personal Law or Sharia.
This 1937 law does not say anything about what Sharia is.
But in 1906, Sir D.H. According to the approach taken by our courts based on Mulla’s book Principles of Mahommedan Law, only two-thirds share of my/our property will be given to our children after our death. The remaining one share belongs to our brothers.
Or in the inheritance certificate issued by the Tehsildar, apart from our children, there will also be a place for our siblings. The only reason for this is that we have no sons. If we had at least one son, our entire property would have been inherited by the children.
Our children face severe discrimination just because they are born as girls. Not only that, according to Sharia even a will is not possible.
It is very regrettable that the children of those who practice Islam have to face this kind of gender discrimination in a country where Article 14 of the constitution adopted and implemented for us in 1950 guarantees equality to all regardless of caste, religion, class, gender as a fundamental right.
What is the solution to the worries of thousands of Muslim parents like me who have only daughters, about what they will do to pass their life’s earnings to their own children?
What is the method for daughters to inherit property?
The only way for us Muslims to overcome this crisis within the existing legal system is the Special Marriage Act passed by our Parliament in 1954. We are determined to rely on it.
Or, our second marriage. Sheena and I, who were married on 6th October 1994 according to Islamic rites, hereby inform you that on International Women’s Day 8th March 2023, we will remarry under Section 15 of the Special Marriage Act before the Sub Registrar, Kanhangad Hozdurg at 10 am.
Insha Allah will sign the register in the presence of family members and friends.
This is not to challenge anyone or defy anything. When a system which does not correspond to the human concept of equality exists in the name of Islam, we can only take refuge in our great constitution for justice.
We are only exploring the possibility that Muslim personal law will not affect those who marry under the Special Marriage Act. Sheena and I are remarrying for our children.
May Almighty Allah raise the self-esteem and confidence of our daughters. All are equal before Allah and before our constitution.
Let equality spread in all areas. Wishing everyone goodness and love. Happy women’s day in advance to all.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHT: Daughters should get property: Shukur Vakiel is about to remarry his partner