Why has Jamaat President declared CM Omar Abdullah and Nidhi Razdan’s marriage unlawful?

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tied the knot with journalist Nidhi Razdan two days earlier, but now a controversy has erupted as the All India Muslim Jamaat president, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, declared the marriage unlawful under Islamic principles.

The cleric has raised objections to the marriage of Abdullah and Rajdan, describing their union as ‘najaayaz’ (unlawful) under Islamic principles. His remarks have brought attention to the religious rules surrounding interfaith marriages and the importance of personal freedom.

Explaining the matter, Razvi said Islam has specific conditions for a marriage to be recognised as lawful. According to him, both the man and the woman must follow Islam for their marriage to be considered valid under Islamic principles.

“If either one of them is not Muslim, the marriage cannot be considered lawful,” he said, making his objection to the couple’s union clear.

Razvi also gave an explanation for why the marriage between the CM and Razdan is unlawful because, under the Islamic principles of Sharia, both individuals must be Muslim, but in Abdullah’s case, Razdan is Hindu; that’s why their marriage is impermissible from an Islamic perspective.

The cleric added that Abdullah should have ensured that the marriage was done under Islamic principles and that Razdan should have embraced Islam before their nikah.

To consider Abdullah’s marriage permissible under Sharia, Razdan must convert to Islam, and then both individuals must marry according to Islamic customs and traditions, according to the cleric.

Why did cleric object to marriage?

Razvi further argued that Abdullah should have ensured Rajdan converted to Islam before going ahead with the marriage. Since this requirement was not met, he maintained that their relationship could not be considered lawful according to his understanding of Islamic teachings.

Religious views and legal validity of marriage

The cleric’s comments have once again brought the discussion around religious beliefs and individual choices into focus. However, a religious ruling does not automatically determine the legal status of a marriage in India. Its validity depends on the applicable marriage laws and legal requirements, rather than a fatwa alone.