By M. Burhanuddin Qasmi

The infamous Triple Talaq Bill (TTB) becomes Triple Talaq Act (TTA) today, the 1st August 2019. The President of India has singed it, as was expected, to finally make it a new set of law under CrPc. within Indian Constitution.

It went against Muslims. The BJP and it’s troll army are chest-thumping all around media and social media. They won and Muslim Indians lost – to precisely draw the conclusion.

Win or defeat is of course important, similar important is the contest itself. History also records which party did what and how did plan the battle. The two pan India Muslim organizations – All India Muslim Personal Law Board #AIMPLB and Jamiat Ulama-e Hind or #Jamiat need serious introspections. How and what went wrong or all were just right? Or at least how can it be done better in future?

The duo were the ones in the helm of business for all Muslims. They claim the same and rightly so, majority of Muslims accept it as such. They were parties in the notorious Talaq cases in the apex court. They were also dealing with the issues out of the court.

The Board will challenge the newly enacted Act in the apex court, as it declared yesterday. Will it work? I think, it won’t. Given the present style of Board’s functioning, unfortunately, one more face off is but inevitable.

Both the Board and Jamiat need to open the breasts and walk the talk. Islam is for all- Shia-Sunni, Deobandi-Bareilwi, Salafi-Jamati, Tablighi or non-Tablighi. The recently enacted law may or may not effect Muslims in general but it was aimed at to insult all Muslims and present Islam in bad lights.

Intra-organizational communication is seemingly poor among Delhi based Muslim organizations. Most leaders are seen engage with less important or individual institutional business instead of carrying out serious responsibilities as leaders of national level organizations.

Those who were supposed to be in Delhi, constantly lobbying and meeting political leaders or at least in their central offices in the capital, found to be busy with something else, in far areas elsewhere. Relief distribution, educational institution, madrasa, khanqa and all socio-welfare, political and religious work are important but a lone organization or a lone entity must not take all alone on his or its poor head at a time. Work distribution, mutual cooperation and constant communication among Muslim leaders, on individual as well as organizational level, is an urgent call. A plan must be in place including all – ulama and non-ulama Muslim intellectuals.

A particular individual may live certain years and a particular organization may or may not survive the test of time. However, Muslims in India are going to live here as long as India lives. It is our time to face the tide, without making it worse for those following us behind.

The author M. Burhanuddin Qasmi is editor of Eastern Crescent, Mumbai.