Triple Curses for Muslims: Triple Talaq, Halal Meat and Dar-ul-Islam/Dar-ul-Harb

Triple Talaq (Three Time Pronouncement of Divorce), Halal Meat (Permissible Meat) and Dar-ul-Islam (House of Islam)/Dar-ul-Harb (House of War) - are all considered to be solemnized by the Holy Quran - a revelation by Allah to Muhammad and also by Hadith - the reports of the words, actions or habits of Prophet Muhammad. Muslims’ adherence and implicit obedience to the tenets as enshrined in these holy scripts are their ultimate aim and goal of their religious life and they are ready to uphold them with all their might, as they feel that any deviations from the Islamic jurisprudence prescribed therein will be against the wishes of Allah and Prophet Muhammad. Hence for Muslims, their religion Islam is paramount important and hence allegiance to any nation other than Islamic rule is not in their blood - they are not secular and do not want to be secular, but, they are proud to be equated as Muslims first and last. Devout Muslims believe that their God Allah is to be accepted and worshiped as the only God by all throughout the world and that death or conversion to Islam for others is the ultimate solution as ordained in their holy scriptures.

Let us now deal with the first curse of Muslims: Triple Talaq. Talaq simply means ‘Divorce’ - without any obligation on the part of the husband to spell out the reasons for his divorce. This can be pronounced thrice in one go at any time, in any manner as the husband feels fit - oral, phone, e-mail, skype, facebook, twitter or WhatsApp etc. 

When triple talaq is pronounced, the wife becomes totally alienated from the husband and he cannot remarry her. She becomes haram (totally prohibited) for him. Neither can he take her back nor can he go for fresh nikah with her. The most horrific condition set by the Islamic Marital Law for the husband for the remarriage of his divorced wife on his realizing his mistake is: He can go for nikah with her only after she marries another person and that person divorces her or she becomes a widow. That means that he is barred to marry his Divorced Wife straightway! 

Dr. Ambedkar had condemned this practice of Triple Talaq in these words: “This practice of Talaq destroys the sense of security which is so fundamental for a full, free and happy life for a woman. This insecurity of life to which a Muslim woman is exposed is greatly augmented by the right of polygamy and concubinage, which the Muslim Law gives to the husband. These privileges for Muslim Husbands are easy for them to abuse to the misery and unhappiness of their wives. Such practice is not being opposed by the Muslims as the Muslims all over the world are an unprogressive people!”

Dr. Ambedkar, in the course of his argument, had questioned the Muslims’ mindset by quoting the example of Turkey: Indeed, the social reforms which have taken place in Turkey have been of the most revolutionary character. If Islam has not come in the way of the Muslims of these countries, why should it come in the way of the Muslims of India? It is tragic that Indian Muslims are insisting on preserving everything that is Islamic without caring to examine whether it is helpful or harmful to his society.’ 

Muslims’ Clerics believe that triple talaq is sinful or wrong, but, valid! Really, there is no logic in their belief - when it is sinful and wrong, how can talaq be considered proper or valid? Even if it is permissible under Islamic Jurisprudence, it should be taken up as an issue for reform.

Throughout the World, 21 Islamic Countries which includes Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, had banned this un-secularistic practice of Triple Talaq, but, in India, Vote Bank Politics and the so-called Leftists/ Liberals/ Congress are ruthlessly preventing this most welcome reform to take place to give  justice to the Muslim Women. Even today, these politicians and communes are not forthcoming with their support to ban this triple talaq - quoting without shame that ‘religious sentiments of Muslims need to be protected’ and they claim to be the purest of the pure undiluted ‘Secularists’ of high order! Now, in India, of late, Muslim Women had come out in large numbers to protest against this curse of ‘Triple Talaq’, but, the so-called secularist parties had not come out openly in support of these Muslim Women. In the recently held Delhi Municipal Election, the BJP had put up 5 Muslims candidates in the predominant Muslim localities where the main issue raised was to ban Triple Talaq, but, none could get elected. 

Still, the struggle needs to go on till the Common Civil Code is brought into effect to all Indians irrespective of their religious beliefs thereby establishing true secular culture in Indian body politics. All depends upon the support base of our Muslim Brothers and Sisters and Muslim Clerics.

Second Curse for Muslims is Halal Meat- Permissible Meat. Halal Meat is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran. The Islamic form of slaughtering animals involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe thereby allowing the animals to bleed to death. This method of slaughter is proved beyond doubt to inflict prolonged torment, fighting and gasping for their last breath, struggling to stand while the blood drains from their necks. 

But, unfortunately, Muslim Script defines that such slaughter is stated as the morality of human action in Islam and that the Halal food authority rules for halal are based on Islamic Shariah. Meat obtained by other method of slaughter - animals effectively stunned before slaughter to save these to be slaughtered animals from unnecessary sufferings - is considered haram - opposite of halal - which means unlawful or forbidden for muslims. European regulations require animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered, but, they also grant exemptions on religious grounds - i.e. Permitting Halal Meat. 

But, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark amongst the European countries banned the religious slaughter on the ground - animal rights come before religion. Animals forbidden to be killed in Islam are pigs, ants, bees, woodpecker birds, mules and domestic donkeys. 

Peta and various other organizations for the welfare and protection of animals are not vociferous in taking up the issues in all seriousness and it is very much doubtful this unholy and inhuman Halal Meat will end at all, unless the professed Merciful Religious Muslims themselves come forward to end this practice of Halal Slaughtering of Animals for Meat.

Third curse for Muslims is Dar-ul-Islam (Abode of Islam) and Dar-ur-Harb (Abode of war). A country is Dar-ur-Islam, when it is ruled by Muslims and a country is Dar-ul-Harb, when Muslims only reside in it but are not rulers of it. This is more a political ideology than a religious one - Islam does not distinguish the two - rather their principles of Islam are ‘Sword of Politics should protect Islam and it is not sin, if in the process, Muslims kill non-Muslims.’

 Actually, it is enshrined that such Muslims will be rewarded with Heaven after their deaths. And again, among the tenets the one that calls for notice is the tenet of Islam which says that in a country which is not under Muslim rule, wherever there is a conflict between Muslim law and the law of the land, the former must prevail over the latter and a Muslim will be justified in obeying the Muslim law and defying the law of the land. It must not be supposed that these views are only of academic interest but, it is capable of becoming an active force capable of influencing the conduct of the Muslims.

To transform Dar-ul-Harb into Dar-ul-Islam, Muslims are ordained to use the weapon of Jihad – Holy War to bring the land under Islamic Rule. Islam does not recognize territorial affinities and this leads every Musalman in India to say that he is a Muslim first and Indian afterwards. 

Further, to the Muslims a Hindu is a Kaffir and a Kaffir is not worthy of any respect. Such a yard stick had been applied to even Gandhi by Mr.Mohamed Ali Jinnah who said, ‘However pure Mr.Gandhi’s character may be, he must appear to me from the point of view of religion inferior to any Musalman, even though he may be without character. Yes, according to my religion and creed, I do hold an adulterous and fallen Musalman to be better than Mr.Gandhi.’  When Gandhi could be treated like this, what would be the fate of poor Hindus!

Secular Minded People may view these three as curses, but, the Devout Muslims see them as Boons of Islam. Unless Muslims realize the evils in them, the reforms cannot happen. 

To start with, at least Triple Talaq should be banned and it should be brought under civilian code as applicable to Indians in general. Fear is the real culprit to raise voices against such uncivilized act and let us pray Allah to make reforms to happen in India - a Land of Dharma and Ahimsa and Universal Brotherhood.