Muslim Womens Position in Succession and Inheritance

Chanakya national Law University

POSITION OF WOMEN IN SUCCESSION UNDER LAW OF ISLAM

Submitted To-

Submitted by-

Mr. Ravi Ranjan

Nupur Kumari

(Faculty of Family Law

!.!.". LL.! Roll no. - #$%&

 

"c'nowledement

Its a !a"t that any resear"h work #re#are$% "o&#ile$ or !or&'late$ in isolation is ine(#li"a)le to an e(tent* This resear"h work% altho'+h #re#are$ )y &e% is a "'l&ination o! e,orts o! a lot o! #eo#le* Firstly% I wo'l$ like to thank o'r -istory tea"her% Mr* Ravi Ran.an Sir !or +ivin+ s'"h a to#i" to resear"h whi"h assiste$ &e in a"/'irin+ so&e knowle$+e relate$ to one o! the i&#ortant to#i" relate$ to Fa&ily Law* I wo'l$ like to thank hi& !or his val'a)le s'++estions towar$s the &akin+ o! this #ro.e"t*  Therea!ter% I wo'l$ also like to e(#ress &y +ratit'$e towar$ o'r I*t $e#art&ent who #laye$ a vital role in the "o&#ilation o! this resear"h work* I "annot i+nore the "ontri)'tions &a$e )y &y "lass&ates an$ !rien$s towar$s the "o&#letion o! this #ro.e"t work *An$ I wo'l$ also like to e(#ress &y +ratit'$e towar$s the li)rary sta, o! &y "olle+e whi"h assiste$ &e in a"/'irin+ the so'r"es ne"essary !or the "o&#ilation o! &y #ro.e"t* Last% )'t not the least% I wo'l$ like to thank the Al&i+hty 0 &y #arents !or o)vio's reasons*

NUPUR 1UMARI

Table of Contents

Table of Authorities………………………………………………………………………… i Introduction………………………………………………………………………………… 1

 Pre Islamic Law)))))))))))))))))))))))))....... #  Modified Principles of the Quran and the Prophet’s Hadis)))))))))) &

Exclusion of Women from Inheritance…………………………………………………… 3

 Main Cause for exclusion))))))))))))))))))))))) % Other Causes)))))))))))))))))))))))))))... * Woman as a part of the Share))))))))))))))))))))). * Modifications in the Law – hare of Women……………………………………………! " True #osition – Exclusion of $au%hters…………………………………………………! & Modern Case tud'………………………………………………………………………!! (

Obecti!es of Stud"))))))))))))))))))))))))). +  #a$albho"’s findin%s)))))))))))))))))))))))).. +  &owr" and Mehr )))))))))))))))))))))))))) +  Propert" Ownership and Inheritance)))))))))))))))))) , Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………! 11 )iblio%ra*h'………………………………………………………………………………!! 1+

Table of Authorities

Cases

#.  'li 's%har ! Collector of (ulandshahr  #,#/ %, "ll 0*..................................................1 &.  'minabi ! 'basaheb "2R #,%#/ !om &11.........................................................................1 %. )hulam Hassan ! Saa "2R #,+*/ 34K &1........................................................................1 *.  Mohammad *ia+ullah ! ,afi- "2R #,%,/ 5ud6 &#%.........................................................1 0.  Muhammad .amil ! Imtia$ #atima #,$+/ %1 2" &#$........................................................1

tatutes

S6ariat "ct #,%..............................................................................................................................1 ,ther Authorities

Merriam 7eb8ter 5nline 9ictionary...............................................................................................# Treatises

#. 9r. "rc6ana :6aturvedi; Muslim Women and Law (:ommonwealt6 &$$*................%; *; 0 &. Na8reen Fa in ?oya @a88an and Ritu Menon (ed8; In a Minorit"/ 0ssa"s on Muslim Women India (5Aford Bniver8ity Cre88 &$$0...; #$ %. Coonam Crad6an SaAena; #amil" Law Lectures #amil" Law II (&nd edn LeAi8 NeAi8 !utterwort68 7ad6wa Napur &$$+..............................................................................#; & *. Sub6a86 :6andra Sin6; DCo8ition of 7omen under Mu8lim Cer8onal LawE Some 5b8ervation8D in Neera !6ari6o'e; ,i%hts of Hindu and Muslim Women (Serial8 Cublication &$$+.................................................................................................................%

-.#,T-EI/

28lamic law i8 prore88ive in nature but w6en it come8 to in6eritance ri6t8 of women; t6e practice 8tate8 ot6erwi8e. !a8ically t6e 8ucce88ion Law8 of 28lam doe8 not ive appropriate in6eritance ri6t8 to women.

AIM 0 ,)ECTI2E/

To 'now about t6e ri6t8 iven to women in in6eritance To 'now more about t6e ender ineuality 86own in S6ariat toward8 women To 'now more about t6e pre8ent 8ituation of women reardin t6eir

in6eritance ri6t8

EEAC- MET-,$,L,4./ T6e re8earc6er 6a8 primarily relied on t6e Gdoctrinal met6odH. "8 t6e re8earc6 i8 ba8ed on compre6en8ive 8tudy of 8ource8 w6ic6 are primarily teAt boo'8 and reference8 on 28lamic law8; S6ariat etc..T6e web 8ource8 li'e e-boo'8 an d article8 on 28lamic law8 of in6eritance al8o play a very important role in my re8earc6.

Introduction

Society>8 perception of a woman 6a8 alway8 been t6at of a wea'; docile bein; 8ub8ervient to t6e 8uperior race of man. T6i8 view wa8 reflected in 8everal law8 t6at were made acro88 t6e world in older time8. @owever; t6i8 po8ition 6a8 c6aned con8iderably in modern time8. T6e eAception to t6i8 i8 28lamic Law; w6ic6 treated a woman wit6 utmo8t re8pect and dinity ri6t from t6e revelation of t6e Iuran. !efore t6at 6owever; t6e po8ition wa8 8imilar to t6e re8t of t6e world. 2t i8 a common mi8conception t6at t6e Iuran i8 t6e 8tartin point of Mu8lim Law. T6i8 project will deal wit6 t6e po8ition of women in Mu8lim Succ e88ion law8 and 6ow t6ey really 8tand in modern day 2ndia. For t6i8 6owever; it i8 nece88ary to under8tand t6e evolution of 28lamic in6eritance law8.  Pre Islamic Law 2

T6e law8 of in6eritance under 28lam are ba8ed on t6e cu8tomary practice8 of t6e people of

"rabia before t6e revelation8 of t6e Iuran. T6e8e practice8 ave importance to comrade86ip in arm8; and blood relation8 too' a bac' 8eat. "ccordin to t6em; male anate8& were primary 8ucce88or8. T6e neare8t male anate8; primarily de8cendant8 (i.e. 8on8 or rand8on8; would 8ucceed to t6e entire e8tate. T6ey were preferred to a8cendant8 (fat6erJ randfat6er; w6o were neAt in line; w6o in turn were preferred over collateral8 (brot6er8. Female8 and conate8% and relation8 by affinity were not allowed to 8ucceed to t6e property.

2 Coonam Crad6an SaAena; #amil" Law Lectures #amil" Law II (&nd edn LeAi8 NeAi8 !utterwort68 7ad6wa Napur &$$+ 1$0

3 "nate8 are t6o8e w6o are de8cended from t6e male line only or w6o8e 'in86ip i8 traceable eAclu8ively t6rou6 male8 e.. randfat6er  fat6er  8on. T6ey are anate8 of eac6 ot6er  Merriam 7eb8ter 5nline 9ictionary 6ttpEJJwww.merriam-web8ter.comJdictionaryJanate  acce88ed February &0; &$#0; *E$$ pm 2ST

4 2n t6i8 conteAt; :onate8 are t6o8e related from t6e mot6er>8 8ide- Merriam 7eb8ter 5nline 9ictionary 6ttpEJJwww.merriam-web8ter.comJdictionaryJconate  acce88ed February &0; &$#0; *E$$ pm 2ST

@owever; wit6 t6e advent of t6e Iuran; t6e8e principle8 were modified an d importance wa8 iven to blood tie8. GT6ere i8 no bond 8troner t6an blood tieH became t6e uidin principle in all matter8 of 8ucce88ion. 2n6eritance ri6t8 were eAtended to all blood relation8 irre8pective of ender or t6e 8eA of t6e line of relative8 t6rou6 w6om t6ey were related to t6e decea8ed.  Modified Principles of the Quran and the Prophet’s Hadis T6e newly included 6eir8; i.e. mainly t6e female8 and t6e conate8 were called Iuranic 86arer8. T6ey were awarded 6alf t6e 86are of t6e anate8; i.e. every 86arer; irre8pective of ender wa8 awarded 6alf t6e 86are of t6e already e8tabli86ed 6eir8. So if t6e 86arer i8 a male; 6e i8 in no  better po8ition t6an a female 86arer; for eAample  uterine brot6er8 and 8i8ter8 et t6e 8ame 86are in t6e in6eritance*. T6e newly introduced 6eir8 include t6e wife of t6e decea8ed; female8 related to 6im by blood; and ot6er conate relation8. T6e riid rule of eAcludin a8cendant8 in t6e pre8ence of de8cendant8 wa8 relaAed. 2 86all be di8cu88in in detail w6y dau6ter8 were eAcluded in in6eritance and w6at c6ane8 were 8ub8euently brou6t about by t6e modification of t6e principle8. Furt6er; 2 86all try to eAplain t6e true po8ition of Mu8lim women today wit6 re8pect to t6e law8 t6at 8tand.

5 Tyabji; Muslim Law (*t6 edn #,1+ +&1 in C. SaAena (n # 1$1

 0xclusion of Women from Inheritance

Exclusion of Women from Inheritance

"8 i8 evident from t6e pre 28lamic law8; t6e old world e it6er ave ab8olutely no in6eritance to women or; w6en it wa8 iven; t6e woman wa8 treated a8 minor and 86e wa8 not iven independence to do a8 86e plea8e8 wit6 6er 86are. Bnder t6e old law8; in6eritance wa8 rarely iven to dau6ter8; and never to dau6ter8> c6ildren; w6ile a 8on could in6erit 6im8elf; and 6i8 c6ildren 8ub8euently become 8ucce88or8 to t6at property. 2n 8ome law8 around t6e world; eual ri6t8 in in6eritance were iven to men and women; but t6at wa8 in t6e form of te8tate 8ucce88ion.0 2n ancient ypt for eAample; a woman 6ad complete ri6t8 over property 86e owned. S6e could 6old property independently of 6er 6u8band; in6erit it and al8o te8tate it. 7omen 6ad t6e leal capacity to tran8act bu8ine88 ju8t a8 men.1 1he Main Cause for 0xclusion 6

T6e real cau8e for a woman bein deprived of in6eritance wa8 to prevent t6e property bein

tran8ferred to anot6er family. T6e older 8c6ool of t6ou6t propaated t6at t6e woman>8 role in t6e birt6 of a c6ild i8 neliible. " woman wa8 merely a container in w6ic6 t6e 8perm of a man developed and a c6ild wa8 born. T6erefore; a c6ild wa8 con8idered t6e i88ue of a man and not a woman. " 8on>8 c6ild wa8 con8idered a man>8 i88ue; but 6i8 dau 6ter>8 c6ildren were not. T6ey were con8idered t6e i88ue of t6e 6u8band of t6e dau6ter; and con8euently con8idered to be lon to a different family. T6erefore; if a dau6ter 8ucceeded to property; it would pa88 on to anot6er family. 9r. Mu8a "mid; in 6i8 boo' = Inheritance in the Ci!il Laws of Iran> 8ay8 t6at t6e randfat6er wa8 t6e reliiou8 8po'e8man of t6e family; and after 6im; all t6e rite8 and ritual8 were conducted b y

7 9r. "rc6ana :6aturvedi; Muslim Women and Law (:ommonwealt6 &$$* #*1 8 Sub6a86 :6andra Sin6; =Co8ition of 7omen under Mu8lim Cer8onal LawE Some 5b8ervation8> in  Neera !6ari6o'e; ,i%hts of Hindu and Muslim Women (Serial8 Cublication &$$+ &*#

6 :6aturvedi; #*

 0xclusion of Women from Inheritance

t6e male8 of t6e family only. Male c6ildren were con8idered t6e only 8ource of continuation of lineae.+ Other Causes 5ne of t6e ot6er rea8on8 for women not bein included in in6eritance wa8 t6eir wea'ne88 in combat. 2n t6e ancient "rab 8ociety; valour and 6eroi8m were appreciated and were preferred over non warli'e ualitie8. T6u8; t6e women were at a di8advantae. 2n t6eir 8ociety; if t6ere wa8 a man in t6e in6eritance line; 6owever di8tant; 6e would be iven preference over an immediate female 6eir., 76en t6e ver8e8 of in6eritance#$ were revealed in t6e Iuran; w6ic6 8tated t6at women too would  be entitled to a 86are in t6e property; it came a8 a 86oc' to t6e "rab8. T6ere i8 an intere8tin leend; w6ic6 8tate8 t6at a well 'nown poet of t6e "rab8 died and left be6ind a wife and 8everal dau6ter8. T6e 8on8 of 6i8 uncle8 8ei8 property.## Woman as a part of Share T6ere al8o eAi8ted a belief t6at a woman wa8 t6e property of a man and t6erefore; could be included in t6e in6eritance a8 a 86are. "rab8 8ometime8 counted t6e wife of t6e decea8ed a8 a  part of t6e 86are and too' po88e88ion of 6er. S6e wa8 later claimed by anot6er man. T6e8e were 8ome of t6e barbaric cu8tom8; followed by t6e "rab8; w6erein a woman 6ad ab8olutely not ri6t8 over property; and wa8 in 8ome ca8e8; even con8idered a part of t6e property of a man; t6u8 objectifyin 6er. 9 ibid

: ibid #*+ 2; Iuran *E##; *E#&; *E#1/ 22 cf ,

 0xclusion of Women from Inheritance

 Modifications in the Law + Share of Women

Modifications in the Law 5 hare of Women

28lam wa8 one of t6e fir8t reliion8 to reconi8e t6e ri6t8 of women in in6eritance; almo8t #*$$ year8 ao#&. "fter t6e advent of t6e Iuran; modification8 were made to t6e eAi8tin law8 of in6eritance. None of t6e inconruitie8 of t6e pa8t law8 are pre8ent in t6e pre8ent day 28lamic Law of 2n6eritance. @owever; 8ome people claim euality of ri6t8 i88ue8 on t6e i88ue t6at a female et8 6alf t6e 86are of a male in in6eritance i.e. a 8on in6erit8 twice a8 muc6 a8 a dau6ter; a  brot6er twice a8 muc6 a8 a 8i8ter and 8o on. 5nly in t6e ca8e of parent8 of a decea8ed do bot6  parent8 receive one-8iAt6 of t6e 86are in property. T6ere i8 a ju8tification for t6i8 in 28lam. " woman; once married; et8 dower and maintenance. @er counterpart et8 neit6er of t6o8e two benefit8. Moreover t6e male 6eir i8 primarily liable for t6e maintenance of 6i8 c6ildren w6erea8; a female 6eir may 6ave t6i8 liability only in eAtraordinary ca8e8#%. " Mu8lim man 6a8 t6e burden of 8upportin 6i8 family; a8 well a8 6i8  brot6er>8 (in ca8e of 6i8 deat6 and 6i8 aed and retired parent8; w6en t6ey 6ave no income. 2n compari8on to t6i8; a woman 6a8 no 8uc6 burden and live8 off 6er 6u8band and in ca8e of divorce; i8 iven maintenance. 28lam 6a8 ac'nowleded 9ower and Maintenance a8 a nece88ary and effective factor in 8trent6enin t6e mutual relation86ip between 6u8band and wife and 8afeuardin t6e peace in t6e 6ou8e6old and improvin t6e relation86ip between t6e two.#* Since t6e financial burden i8 obviou8ly reater on t6e man; 6e i8 iven a larer 86are in t6e in6eritance. T6i8 i8 t6e ju8tification in 28lam for ivin a man twice t6e 86are 6i8 fe male counterpart et8 in in6eritance.

23 ibid 24 ibid 25 ibid #0#

1rue Position + 0xclusion of &au%hters

True #osition – Exclusion of $au%hters

"ccordin to t6e S6ariat "ct#0; 7omen 6ad t6e ri6t to in6erit property a8 laid down in Mu8lim Cer8onal Law#1. @owever; t6ere are ca8e8 in w6ic6 t6i8 ri6t of women i8 not implemented. 9e8pite t6e Iuranic law; t6ere are certain cu8tom8 and 8tatute8 in 2ndia under w6ic6 a dau6ter i8 not entitled to in6erit. "lt6ou6 t6e8e cu8tom8# and 8tatute8#+ vary from Iuranic provi8ion8; t6ey are very muc6 in practice and are con8idered valid. 2n t6e 'li 's%har case23 it wa8 6eld t6at evidence to 86ow t6at certain cu8tom8 prevailed in t6e area or wit6in t6e family wa8 ad mi88ible; and in t6e Muhammad .amil case45; it wa8 ruled t6at in cu8tomary practice; if dau6ter8 do not in6erit any property; t6en w6en t6e 8ucce88ion open8; dau6ter8 86ould be treated a8 noneAi8tent. "fter t6e Mu8lim inva8ion in 2ndia; t6ere were 8everal local8 w6o converted to 28lam. @owever; t6ey did not want to c6ane all t6eir practice8. 2n t6e ca8e of in6eritance for in8tance; t6e newly converted Mu8lim8 wanted to maintain t6eir own practice8 of women and particularly dau%hters; not in6eritin any property. T6e8e cu8tom8 are 8till in practice. 2n t6e 8tate of 3ammu and Ka86mir; in 8ome communitie8; dau6ter8 can 8ucceed only if t6ere are no livin male anate8 of  t6e decea8ed. 2n 8ome; 86e can in6erit only if 86e i8 a =K6anana86in>&#. " dau6ter cannot in6erit 7atan land eit6er under t6e 7atan "ct #++1 of !ombay. T6e 5ud6 8tate8 "ct #+1, al8o 27 S6ariat "ct #,% 28 @ereinafter MCL 26 Muhammad .amil ! Imtia$ #atima #,$+/ %1 2" &#$P SaAena 1#0 29 'minabi ! 'basaheb "2R #,%#/ !om &11P ibid 2: 'li 's%har ! Collector of (ulandshahr  #,#/ %, "ll 0*P ibid 3; cf note #* 32 )hulam Hassan ! Saa  "2R #,+*/ 34K &1P ibid

1rue Position + 0xclusion of &au%hters  promulate8 primoeniture and ive8 preference to 8on8 over dau6ter8; and 6er 6eir8 =in t6e devolution of taludari propertie8.&&

33 Mohammad *ia+ullah ! ,afi- "2R #,%,/ 5ud6 &#%P ibid

 Modern Case Stud"

Modern Case tud' “For a woman, …, implementing the right to property often involves a delicate negotiation of the different relationships that make up the fabric of family life.” 

+ 6asreen #a$albho"7 8Muslim Women and Inheritance’  76ile t6ere are e8tabli86ed law8 in place for a woman>8 po8ition in in6eritance; more often t6an not; t6e law8 are not followed. More importance i8 iven to familial tie8 and relation86ip8 t6an t6e law t6at 6a8 been laid down; even in urban citie8 a8 forward and open minded a8 Mumbai.  Na8reen Fa
34 Na8reen Fa in ?oya @a88an and Ritu Menon (ed8;  In a  Minorit"/ 0ssa"s on Muslim Women India  (5Aford Bniver8ity Cre88 &$$0 35 "88embly or at6erin of member8 of a particular community

 Modern Case Stud"

Obecti!es of the Stud" Fa8 rea8on to conduct t6i8 8tudy wa8 to a8certain at w6at po8ition eAactly women 8tand w6en it come8 to owner86ip of property and in6eritance. 2n 'eepin wit6 t6i8 aim; 6er 8tud y al8o loo'ed at w6at women con8ider t6eir eAclu8ive ri6t and w6at t6eir eneral awarene88 of t6eir ri6t8 related to property. @er re8earc6 ue8tion8 included  o

Source8 from w6ic6 women acuire property

o

Structure8 t6at enable women to acce88 property

o

Structure8 t6at ob8truct women>8 acce88 to property

o

To w6at eAtent do ri6t8 iven in MCL allow women acce88 to propertyP and

o

@ow t6e ue8tion of cu8tom; t6e S6ariat; or t6e civil law enter t6e di8cour8e concernin property

6a7albho'8s 6indin%s

Fa8 8tudie8 loo'ed at variou8 a8pect8 of women>8 property ri6t8. S6e loo'ed at Marriae Ac6ane8  9owry and Mehr ; Croperty 5wner86ip and in6eritance from t6e  per8pective of married women; 8inle women; divorced; 8eparated; and widowed women and even a mot6er>8 ri6t8. @er findin8 6ave been eAplained briefly below.  &owr" and Mehr  7omen almo8t univer8ally felt t6at t6e dowry t6ey received wa8 ri6tfully t6eir8. 9owry mainly con8i8ted of jewellery and in 8ome ca8e8; 8ome 6o u8e6old product8. T6e women felt t6at  jewellery wa8 ri6tfully t6eir8 and it wa8 t6e only property over w6ic6 t6eir ri6t wa8 ac'nowleded and t6ey 6ad a 8ay in it8 u8e and po88ible alienation. Sometime8; jewellery wa8 divided before t6e deat6 of t6e mot6er; but t6at wa8 entirely 6er c6oice. T6i8 point i8 illu8trated  by two eAample8 of women from t6e 8ample  Fatima and Nau86een. Fatima; at t6e time of t6e

 Modern Case Stud" 8tudy wa8 a 8inle woman; in 6er fortie8 and inclined to 8ocial 8ervice. S6e pawned t6e jewellery t6at wa8 6er 86are and inve8ted t6e money in 6er cou8in>8 bu8ine88 from w6ic6 86e et8 a mont6ly return w6ic6 86e u8ed to manae 6er eApen8e8. T6i8 86e could do becau8e 86e wa8 8inle and made a con8ciou8 deci8ion to not et married. For Nau86een; 6er jewellery wa8 w6at 86e could fall bac' on after 86e wa8 widowed after % year8 of marriae and did not 6ave any income till 86e could 8tart earnin 6er8elf. 76ile dowry i8 ta'en very 8eriou8ly by t6e c ommunity at lare; Mehr  on t6e ot6er 6and i8 not. 2t i8 con8idered to be a to'en amount iven becau8e t6e law demand8 it. Mehr  can eit6er be iven at t6e time of marriae; or can be deferred for a later date; w6ic6 u8ually if t6ere i8 a divorce. @owever; t6e amount of Mehr  iven i8 8o minu8cule t6at it i8 incon8euential. Sometime8; it i8 con8idered a deterrent for divorce; and at ot6er time8 t6e bride8 w6o receive t6eir Mehr  are eApected to ive it away a8 c6arity. So in practice; few women 6ave t6e ri6t to Mehr  de8pite t6e  provi8ion8 in MCL.  Propert" Ownership and Inheritance  Notwit68tandin any Iuranic provi8ion8; often; t6e inalienable ri6t of women to in6erit i8 ue8tioned. "ccordin to S6ariat Law; a woman in6erit8 6alf t6e 86are of a man. T6e ba8i8 of t6i8 i8 t6e provi8ion of dowry and Me6r. @owever; from t6e 8ample; it i8 8een t6at few women actually et t6e Me6r due to t6em. ven t6en; t6ey are not iven t6eir ri6tful 86are. 2t i8 a88umed t6at women will docilely accept w6atever t6ey are iven. 2f t6ey are vulnerable in 8ome way(8eparated; widowed; divorced; t6eir 86are in t6eir fat6er>8 property i8 morally ju8tified; but if t6ey are married or Gwell 8ettledH t6eir claim to property i8 8een a8 an encroac6ment on t6e 8uperior ri6t of t6e brot6er8. "n important ob8ervation made wa8 t6at married women rarely ain acce88 to t6eir 86are in t6eir fat6er>8 property. Lawyer8 affirmed t6i8 8ayin t6at after t6e deat6 of t6e fat6er; t6e divi8ion of  property i8 delayed 8o t6at t6e dau6ter i8 not iven muc6 or anyt6in at all; and 86e 6er8elf i8 6e8itant to ta'e up t6e matter a8 86e doe8 not want to 8poil relation8 wit6 6er family. "ny i88ue8 rai8ed are 6ardly wit6out controver8y. " common arument by t6e men i8 t6at t6e women 6ave  been iven t6eir 86are at t6e time of marriae. Lawyer8 add to t6i8 8ayin 8ince it i8 ea8y to defer  actual divi8ion of property and often; 8i8ter8 feel t6ey are deprivin t6eir brot6er>8 ri6t to

 Modern Case Stud"  property by a8'in for t6eir 86are. Sometime8; women are iven property but not accordin to S6ariatP rat6er muc6 le88. 0 of t6e women in t6e 8urvey 8ample eAplained t6at t6i8 wa8 t6e 8ituation in t6eir ca8e. 76en women are 8inle; brot6er8 feel more obliated to ive t6em t6eir 86are of t6eir fat6er>8  property; probably out of uilt. !ut in ca8e8 of married women; t6ere i8 le88 uilt and a reater c6ance of ettin 6ardly any or no property at all. 76ile 8ome women accept t6eir fate and t6e 86are t6ey 6ave been iven t6ere a few w6o refu8e to accept t6i8 treatment and ta'e up t6e cau8e aain8t t6eir brot6er8. 5ne 8uc6 ca8e i8 @amida>8; w6erein; after 6er fat6er>8 deat6; 6er brot6er8 refu8ed to ive 6er; 6er 8i8ter and 8tep mot6er any 86are in t6e property. @amida decided to ta'e t6e ca8e to court; and demanded 6er 86are accordin to S6ariat Law. T6e :ourt decided t6at it wa8 a ca8e fit for t6e court receiver. T6i8 induced t6e brot6er8 to aree for an out of court 8ettlement. @owever; w6ile @amida did et a 86are in t6e property; it wa8 only one-t6ird of w6at 86e wa8 entitled to. "lt6ou6 8ati8fied t6at t6ey 6ad a victory; albeit 8mall; 6er relation86ip wit6 6er brot6er8 wa8 completely bro'en. T6ere are al8o women; li'e Me6wi86&0 and Saba&1 w6o ive up t6eir 86are a8 a con8ideration for care and 'indne88 6er family 86ow8 after t6eir divorce or t6e deat6 of t6eir 6u8band. T6ere are al8o ca8e8 w6ere t6e in-law8 6ave c6eated a widow of 6er ri6tful 86are in 6er late 6u8band>8 property&. "lt6ou6 t6i8 8urvey wa8 conducted on a very 8mall but diver8e 8ample; it 86ow8 u8 t6at t6e  picture of fairne88 and euality painted by t6e 28lamic law8 are not entirely accurate; not for t6e fault of t6e law8 t6em8elve8; but in t6eir practice b y Mu8lim familie8 in 2ndia.

37 cf &%; , 38 ibid; ,+ 36 Nabila>8 ca8e; ibid; ,+

Conclusion

Conclusion

2t i8 very evident t6at alt6ou6 28lamic law i8 prore88ive w6en it come8 to in6eritance ri6t8 of women; t6e practice indicate8 ot6erwi8e. 7omen in eneral prefer not to tal' about property related matter8; eit6er becau8e t6ey are unaware and lac' confidence; or becau8e t6ey are afraid to rai8e 8uc6 topic8. T6e difficulty faced by Fa
 (iblio%raph"

)iblio%ra*h'

tatutes

S6ariat "ct; #,% Cases

#.  'li 's%har ! Collector of (ulandshahr  #,#/ %, "ll 0* &.  'minabi ! 'basaheb "2R #,%#/ !om &11 %. )hulam Hassan ! Saa "2R #,+*/ 34K &1 *.  Mohammad *ia+ullah ! ,afi- "2R #,%,/ 5ud6 &#% 0.  Muhammad .amil ! Imtia$ #atima #,$+/ %1 2" &#$  Treatises

#. 9r. "rc6ana :6aturvedi; Muslim Women and Law (:ommonwealt6 &$$* &. ?oya @a88an and Ritu Menon (ed8; In a Minorit"/ 0ssa"s on Muslim Women India (5Aford Bniver8ity Cre88 &$$0 %. Coonam Crad6an SaAena; #amil" Law Lectures #amil" Law II (&nd edn LeAi8 NeAi8 !utterwort68 7ad6wa Napur &$$+ *. Neera !6ari6o'e; =Ri6t8 of @indu and Mu8lim 7omen> (Serial8 Cublication &$$+ ,nline ources

#. 2ndian Kanoon 7eb8ite 6ttpEJJwww.indian'anoon.orJ acce88ed February &0; &$#0 &. 7e8tlaw 2ndia 6ttpEJJloin.we8tlawindia.comJmafJwlinJappJtocectory 8tnewtrue48ttype8tdtemplate48pinwbnuj8-# acce88ed February &0 ;&$#0 %. 38tor 6ttpEJJwww.j8tor.orJ acce88ed February &1; &$#0 *. Manupatra 7eb8ite 6ttpEJJwww.manupatra.comJ acce88ed February &1; &$#0 7* Merriam 7eb8ter 5nline 9ictionary 6ttpEJJwww.merriam-web8ter.comJ  acce88ed February &0; &$#0.