Training Female Muftis In India

Teachers and students at Jamiat'ul Mominath

Muftis are Islamic authorities saddled with the responsibility of explaining Islamic rulings to Muslims and, Madrassa Jamiat’ul Mominath in Moghalpura is the only institute in India that trains women to become Muftis (Muftias). The coaching is done in Darul ifta which is the fatwa department of the school. The founder of Jamiat’ul Mominath Hafiz Mastan Ali said it’s a good initiative because there are certain questions women find difficult to ask Muftis but with Muftias present that will be no more. The Jamiat’ul Mominath madrassa started in 1991 and now has about 2,500 students 400 of which are boarders. The Muftia course started with 5 girls but now has 15 girls being trained currently with 318 already graduated. Aziz and her students support the stand of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on divorce. Muhammad Hasnuddin, the head of Mominath’s fatwa department for men has been quoted to have said: “Talaq in one sitting should be discouraged but cannot be banned as that would be tantamount to interference with sharia laws, we don’t agree that talaq is a sword dangling above the head of women, it’s an option to end an opresseive marriage and should be used as a last resort.” He concluded.