Now, Shariat law on the net

LUCKNOW: The Islamic world would soon have a new star in the East to look up to for guidance. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is in the process of updating its website ‘aimplboard.org’ at a cost of Rs50 lakh.

Post-update, the website would serve as a beacon to the 56 Islamic nations and over 120 crore Muslims throughout the world on issues related to the Holy Quran, Islam and the Shariat or Islamic law.

“Muslim judges and Maulanas from several countries, including Pakistan and Iran, have been consulting us on the Shariat and other matters related to Islam,” much-respected Shia Maulana and AIMPLB Vice-President Maulana Kalbe Sadiq told DNA. This, he said, was the reason behind the ambitious AIMPLB project to update the website. 

At present, Muslims all over the world consult the ‘Fiqah Academy’ in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India for clarifications. The issue is learnt to have been discussed at the recent executive body meeting of the AIMPLB in Chennai.

“There is a need for uniformity in interpretation of the Shariat in the Muslim world,” says Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, executive member of the AIMPLB. “The contents on the website would go a long way in achieving this,” he said.

After the AIMPLB website is updated, people all over the world would be able to get answers to questions on the Shariat as well as about other issues related to the religion and the Islamic way of life on the internet.

Those who log on would also be able to directly interact with much-revered clerics. The website would have fulsome content on these subjects with the authenticity of renowned clerics promising to make it virtually unimpeachable

Another senior AIMPLB executive member Zafaryab Jilani points out that Shariat courts of several Islamic nations often consulted the veteran Maulanas associated with the AIMPLB before passing verdicts in cases demanding profound  interpretation of the Islamic law.

AIMPLB president Maulana Rabe Hasan Nadwi himself is an internationally acclaimed Islamic scholar, books written by whom are part of curricula in several Islamic countries. Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Iran and Saudi Arabia are among the several countries frequently seeking counsel from such learned Indian Maulanas on matters of ‘deen’ (religion), says Jilani, adding that India was respected throughout the Islamic world for its high standards of Islamic education.

“I hope such guidance becomes available at the earliest. At least it would put an end to the ridiculous ‘fatwas’ and serve as a common guide for Muslims all over the world,” remarked Maulana Yasoob Abbas.