T h e D h a k a U n i v e r s i t y S t u d i e s , P a r t - F V o l.

I X ( I ) : 6 3 - 8 6 , J u n e 1 9 9 8

M A IN T E N A N C E T O M U S LIM W IV E S :
THE LEGAL C O N N O T A T IO N S ^

Dr. Taslima Monsoor

D e fin itio n o f M a in te n a n c e o r N a fa q a

M a in te n a n c e is th e la w f u l r ig h t o f th e w ife to b e p r o v id e d a t th e
h u s b a n d 's e x p e n s e w ith f o o d , c lo th in g , a c c o m m o d a tio n a n d
c u s to m a r ily e x te n d s to o th e r n e c e s s a r ie s o f life .' I t is in c u m b e n t
o n a h u s b a n d to m a in ta in h is le g a lly w e d e d w ife . T h e a u th o ris a tio n
o f th e w ife to m a in te n a n c e d e r iv e s f ro m th e in ju n c tio n s o f th e
H o ly Q u ra n , P r o p h e t's T r a d itio n a n d C o n s e n s u s o f th e ju r is ts . In
th e H o ly Q u ra n th e h u s b a n d is o rd a in e d to m a in ta in th e w ife . T h e
Q u r a n ic ru lin g s ta te s :
M e n a r e p r o te c t o r s a n d m a in ta in e r s o f w o m e n B e c a u s e G o d

h a s g iv e n th e m m o r e s tr e n g th th e n th e o th e r , A n d b e c a u s e

th e y su p p o r t th e m fr o m t h e ir m e a n s .^

O n c e it is d u e th e m a in te n a n c e o f th e w ife is d e e m e d a d e b t o n th e
h u s b a n d f ro m th e d a te o f w ith h o ld in g it. O n ly o n p a y m e n t, s u c h
d e b t is s e ttle d u n d e r th e s h a r i a .

T h e P ro p h e t p r e a c h e d in h is la st s e rm o n :

S h ow p ie ty to w o m e n , y o u h a v e ta k e n th e m in t r u s t o f G o d

a n d h a v e h a d th e m m a d e la w fu l fo r y o u to e n jo y b y th e w o r d

o f G o d , a n d it is y o u r d u t y t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e m a n d c lo t h e

a c c o r d in g to d e c e n t c u s to m .

•k T h is is a m o d if ie d v e r s io n o f a p a r t o f th e P h .d T h e s is o f t h e a u th o r , t it le d

" F r o m P a tia r c h y to g e n d e r e q u it y : F a m ily L a w a n d it s im p a c t o f w o m e n in

B a n g la d e s h " fr o m U n iv e r s it y o f L o n d o n m 1994.

1. N a s i r , J. J a m a l : T h e s t a t u s o f w o m e n u n d e r I s l a m i c L a w . L o n d o n 1 9 9 2 , p .5 9 ;

H o d k in s o n , K ie th : M u s lim F a m ily L a w . L o n d o n 1 984, p. 147.

2. T h e Q u ran . L V : 3 4 .
64 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

M a in te n a n c e o f a w ife d u r in g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rria g e is a
le g a l o b lig a tio n o f th e h u s b a n d in Islam .^ B u t th e s h a r i a p r o v is io n
o f m a in te n a n c e o f th e w ife f ro m h e r h u s b a n d is c o n d itio n a l. T h e
m a in te n a n c e is o n ly d u e to th e w ife , i f sh e is u n d e r a v a lid m a rria g e
c o n tra c t, i f s h e a llo w s h e r h u s b a n d fre e a c c e s s o r t a m k e e n to
h e r s e lf at a ll la w fu l tim e s a n d i f s h e o b e y s h is la w fu l c o m m a n d s
in th e d u r a tio n o f th e m arriage.'* W h e n th e w ife is w o r k in g a g a in s t
th e h u s b a n d 's w is h e s s h e b e c o m e s a r e b e llio u s o r d is o b e d ie n t o r
n a s h u z a a n d is n o t e n title d to m a in te n a n c e f r o m h e r h u s b a n d . A
w ife is n a s h u z a a s h e ld in th e c a s e o f A h m e d A li v S a b h a K h a tu n
B ibi.5 i f w ith o u t a v a lid e x c u s e s h e d is o b e y s h is r e a s o n a b le o rd e rs ,
r e fu s e s to c o h a b it in th e h o u s e h e h a s c h o s e n , g o e s o n h ajj w ith o u t
h is c o n s e n t u n le s s it is o b lig a to r y fo r h e r to g o , ta k e s e m p lo y m e n t
o u ts id e th e h o u s e w ith o u t h is c o n s e n t, o r is im p r is o n e d so as to b e
in a c c e s s ib le to h im . H o w e v e r, s h e w ill n o t b e a d is o b e d ie n t w ife
i f h e r a c ts are in re p ly f o r h e r h u s b a n d 's in a b ility to a c c o m m o d a te
h e r in a c c o rd a n c e to la w o r f a ilu re to p a y p r o m p t d o w e r w h e n
d e m a n d e d o r w h e n h e h as b ro k e n th e s tip u la tio n s in th e k a b i n n a m a
o r h a s a c te d w ith cruelty.*^

Is la m ic la w g ra n ts a M u s lim w ife rig h t to m a in te n a n c e f ro m h e r

h u s b a n d n o t o n ly d u rin g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rr ia g e b u t a lso
r e a s o n a b ly a f te r d is s o lu ti o n o f th e m a r r i a g e .’ T h e r e is n o
c o n tro v e r s y th a t th e h u s b a n d is b o u n d to m a in ta in th e w ife d u rin g
th e th re e m o n th s o f i c f d a t p e rio d , b u t th e re is a c o n s id e r a b le
c o n tro v e r s y w h e th e r th e m a in te n a n c e e x te n d s b e y o n d th e i d d a t
p e rio d (se e f o r d e ta ils b e lo w ). It h a s b e e n s p e c if ic a lly p ro v id e d in
th e H o ly Q u ra n th a t th e d iv o r c e d w o m e n s h a ll w a it f o r re m a r r ia g e
fo r th re e m o n th ly p e r io d s a n d th e w o m a n in i d d a t liv e in th e s a m e

3. Th e Q u ran , i i : 2 9 .

4. S e e fo r d e t a ils , N a s ir ( 1 9 9 2 ) L o n d o n ,p . 6 0 - 6 5 .

5. PLD 1952, D acca 385.

6. S e e fo r d e ta ils H o d k in o n ( 1 9 8 4 ) L o n d o n , p. 147,

7. T he Q u ra n , 2 : 2 2 8 a n d 2 : 2 4 1 .
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 65

Style a s y o u liv e , a c c o r d in g to y o u r m e a n s . It is a ls o p r o v id e d th a t
f o r d iv o r c e d w o m e n m a in te n a n c e s h o u ld b e p r o v id e d o n a
r e a s o n a b le scale.*

In c a s e s o n m a in te n a n c e , th e c o u r ts d id n o t p re v io u s ly p r o v id e d
fo r p a s t m a in te n a n c e u n le s s s tip u la te d in th e k a b i n n a m a , n o r
w o u ld a llo w p o s t- id d a t p e rio d m a in te n a n c e to d iv o rc e d M u s lim
w iv e s . In B a n g la d e s h , w o m e n h a d to re ly o n o th e r te c h n iq u e s to
s e c u re s o m e p o s t- d iv o r c e m a in te n a n c e . O n e w r ite r s u g g e s te d a
h o p e f u l tr e n d to w a rd s a d o p tio n a n d e n f o r c e m e n t o f c la u s e s in th e
m a rr ia g e c o n tra c t o r k a b i n n a m a w h ic h w o u ld c le a rly a n d in
u n a m b ig u o u s te rm s p r o v id e fo r m a in te n a n c e , a s th is o ffe rs
p r o te c tio n a g a in s t a rb itra ry a n d c a p r ic io u s s u b ju g a tio n .’

T h e B a n g la d e s h i J u d g e o f th e h ig h e s t le v e l o f ju d ic ia r y h a v e o n ly
v e r y r e c e n tly m a d e c e le b r a te d j u d g m e n t p r o v id in g fo r p a s t
m a in te n a n c e fo r M u s lim w o m e n in J a m ila K h a tu n V s. R u s to m
A li‘° b u t h o w fa r th e d e c is io n is b e in g im p le m e n te d in re a lity are
y e t to b e a n a ly s e d . H o w e v e r, th e ju d g m e n t p r o v id in g f o r p o s t
d iv o r c e m a in te n a n c e in H e f z u r R a h m a n vs. S h a m s u n N a h a r
B e g u m " h a s b e e n r e c e n tly o v e r tu r n e d b y th e A p p e lla te D iv is io n
o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f B a n g la d e s h .

In th is p a p e r w e a re firs t o f a ll c o n c e r n e d w ith th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
th e la w o f m a in te n a n c e d u r in g th e B r itis h I n d ia n , P a k is ta n i p e rio d
a n d fin a lly th e s itu a tio n o f th e la w in B a n g la d e s h . W e a re m o re
c o n c e r n e d w ith th e le g a l c o n n o ta tio n s o f th e la w th a n th e s o c ia l
im p lic a tio n s . H o w e v e r a n e m p e ric a l s tu d y o f u rb a n a n d v illa g e
w o m e n w ill p r e d ic a te th e s a m e p ic tu r e o f d e p r iv a tio n o f

8. T h e Q u r a n , 2 :2 2 ? , a n d 2 : 2 4 \ .

9. M a lik , S h a h b d e e n : 'S a g a o f d iv o r c e d w om en : O n c e a g a in S h a h Banu,

m a in te n a n c e a n d th e s c o p e fo r m a r r ia g e c o n tr a c ts ' In 4 2 D LR (1 9 9 0 ),

J o u r n a l, p p .3 5 - 4 0 , a t p .3 9 .

10. 16 B L D (A D ) (1 9 9 6 ) 61

11. 4 7 D L R (1 9 9 5 ) 5 4.

12. 51 D L R (A D ) (1 9 9 5 ) 172
66 D r. T a s lim a M o n s o o r

m a in te n a n c e . T h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f th e la w o f m a in te n a n c e is
h ig h lig h te d b y th e c a s e s tu d ie s n o t o n ly f ro m th e h ig h e s t tie r o f th e
ju d i c ia r y b u t a ls o f r o m th e lo w e s t to p r o je c t th e a ttitu d e o f th e
ju d g e s to w a r d s w o m e n in B a n g la d e s h .

T h e L a w o f M a in t e n a n c e u n d e r B r it is h I n d ia

T h e r e is n o p r o v is io n in th e H a n a f i C o d e o f M u s lim la w e n a b lin g
m a rr ie d M u s lim w o m e n to o b ta in a d e c re e f ro m th e c o u rts
d is s o lv in g h e r m a rr ia g e in c a s e th e h u s b a n d n e g le c ts to m a in ta in
h er, m a k e s h e r life m is e ra b le b y d e s e rtin g o r p e rs is te n tly m a ltre a tin g
h e r o r c e r ta in o th e r c ir c u m s ta n c e s . T h e a b s e n c e o f s u c h a p ro v is io n
h a s e n ta ile d u n s p e a k a b le m is e r y to in n u m e r a b le M u s lim w o m e n
in B r itis h In d ia . T h e H a n a fi ju r i s t s , h o w e v e r, h a v e c le a r ly la id
d o w n th a t in c a s e s in w h ic h th e a p p lic a tio n o f H a n a fi L a w c a u s e s
h a r d s h ip , it is p e r m is s ib le to a p p ly th e p r o v is io n s o f th e M a lik i,
S h a fi o r H a n b a li L a w . T h is d e v ic e to s e le c t a n d c o m b in e v a rio u s
e le m e n ts o f d if f e r e n t s c h o o ls o f la w is k n o w n as t a k h a y y u r o r an
e c le c tic c h o ic e b e tw e e n p a r a lle l ru le s o f th e v a rio u s s c h o o ls o f
Is la m ic L a w .’’ T h is s e le c tiv e p r o c e s s o f o v e r c o m in g d iv e rg e n c e s
w a s h a rd ly fo llo w e d . E v e n th o u g h th e c o u r ts in B r itis h I n d ia w e re
g iv e n p o w e r s b e fo re 1 9 3 9 to a p p ly th e la w o f o n e o f th e s c h o o ls
o f M u s lim la w in a c a s e in w h ic h th e p a rtie s w e re f o llo w e r s o f
d iffe re n t s c h o o ls , o n g ro u n d s o f ju s tic e , e q u ity a n d g o o d c o n s c ie n c e ,
th e c o u r ts w e re re lu c ta n t to a p p ly th e m o re lib e ra l ru le s o f M a lik i
la w to p a r tie s fo llo w in g o th e r schools.'"* A c tin g o n th is p r in c ip le
o n 1 7 th M a r c h 1 9 3 9 th e D is s o lu tio n o f M u s lim M a r r ia g e s A c t,
1 9 3 9 (A c t V III o f 1 9 3 9 ) c a m e in to b e in g .

T h e n e w A c t w a s an a tte m p t to r e in s ta te lib e ra l M u s lim p r o v is io n s

13. L a y is h , A h a r o n : 'S h a r ia h , C u s t o m a n d S t a t u t e L a w in a N o n - M u s l i m S ta te '.

I n C u o m o , I .E . ( e d . ) : L a w in M u lt i- C u lt u r a l S o c i e t i e s . J e r u s a l e m 1985,

p . 1 0 2 ; C o u ls o n , N . J . : A H is to r y o f I s la m ic L a w , E d in b u r g h 1 9 6 4 , p. 185.

14. H u s s a in , Syed J a ffe r ; 'L e g a l M o d e r n is m in I s la m : P o ly g a m y and

R e p u d ia t io n '. In J o u r n a l o f th e I n d ia n L a w In s titu te . V o l .7 , 1 9 6 5 , p p .3 8 4 -

3 9 8 , a t p .3 9 6 .
M a i n t e n a n c e to M u s lin n W i v e s 67

w h ic h w e re n o t c o n tra ry to M u s lim la w . U n d e r s e c . 2 (ii) o f th e A c t

a w if e is e n title d to th e d is s o lu tio n o f h e r m a rria g e w h e n h e r
h u s b a n d h a s fa ile d to p r o v id e fo r h e r m a in te n a n c e f o r a p e r io d o f
tw o y e a rs . T h e e n title m e n t o f th e w ife to m a in te n a n c e d e p e n d s o n
th e p r in c ip le s o f M u s lim la w . H o w e v e r , th e re a re p ro v is io n s o f
th e A c t w h ic h e f f e c t s u b s ta n tiv e c h a n g e s a n d in s o m e w a y s , as
c la im e d b y s o m e s c h o la rs , c o n tra v e n e th e p rin c ip le s o f M u s lim
la w . T a h ir M a h m o o d h a s e x p lic itly d e s c r ib e d th e c irc u m s ta n c e s
in w h ic h th e h u s b a n d m ig h t h a v e w ith h e ld m a i n t e n a n c e . I n
p a r tic u la r , i f th e w ife is n a s h u z a ( d is o b e d ie n t) o r r e f r a c to r y , u n d e r
M u s lim la w s h e is n o t e n title d to m a in te n a n c e a n d so h e r m a rria g e
c a n n o t b e d is s o lv e d o n th e g r o u n d o f th e h u s b a n d 's fa ilu re to
p r o v id e m a in te n a n c e fo r a p e r io d o f tw o y e a r s .''’ F u r th e r o n , it h a s
b e e n h e ld b y th e c o u r ts th a t a w ife w h o r e fu s e s to r e tu r n to h e r
h u s b a n d w ith o u t s u ffic ie n t c a u s e is n o t e n title d to m a in te n a n c e .”
T h e r u lin g s o f th e c o u r ts a re m u tu a lly c o n tra d ic to r y a s th e y a re
b a s e d o n th e " fa u lt" th e o ry a n d c o n tra r ily th e m o d e m " b re a k d o w n '
th e o ry .'* T h e v ie w th a t ju d ic ia l d is s o lu tio n o r f a s k h c a n b e g ra n te d
ir r e s p e c tiv e o f th e w ife 's fa u lty c o n d u c t h a s b e e n c r itic is e d b y
s o m e s c h o la r s a s it is n o t in c o n s o n a n c e w ith th e p r in c ip le o f
N u s h u z a u n d e r Is la m ic law.''^

A s w e s a w u n d e r th e H a n a f i la w in a b ility to m a in ta in w a s n o t b y
i t s e lf c o n s id e r e d as a g ro u n d fo r d iv o r c e ,“ w h e re a s u n d e r th e A c t

15. M a h m o o d , T a h k : T h e M u s lim la w o f In d ia . I s t e d . A lla h a b a d 1 9 8 0 , p p .9 7 -

1 0 1 , 2 n d ed . 1 9 8 2 , 3rd ed . 1 9 8 7 .

16. R a h m a n , T a n z il- u r : A c o d e o f M u s lim p e r s o n a l la w V o l.I , K a r a c h i 1 9 7 8 ,

p .2 8 8 .

17. M a jid a K h a to o n v P a g h a lo M o h a m m a d P L D 1963 D h ak a 5 8 3 ; S a rd a r

M u h a m m a d v N a s im a B ib i P L D 1 9 6 6 L a h o r e 7.

18. M a h m o o d (1 9 8 0 ), p. 101,

19. F y z e e , A s a f A .A : O u tlin e s o f M u h a m m a d a n I ^ w . 4 t h e d . N e w D e l h i 1 9 7 4 ,

p. 172.

20. A s n u i t B i b i v S a m iu d d in , 7 9 I C 1 9 2 5 C a l 9 9 1 a ls o M a n c h a n d a , S .C : T h e la w
a n d p r a c t i c e o f d iv o r c e . A l l a h a b a d . 4 t h e d . 1 9 7 3 ., p . 7 2 7 .
68 D r. T a s lim a M o n s o o r

f a ilu r e to m a in ta in , e v e n o n a c c o u n t o f p o v e rty , ill-h e a ltli o r

im p ris o n m e n t, is a g o o d g ro u n d f o r th e d is s o lu tio n o f th e m a rria g e .

T h e la w o f M a in t e n a n c e in P a k is t a n i p e r io d

T h e s ta tu to ry la w r e g a r d in g th e is s u e is f o u n d u n d e r s e c tio n 9 o f
th e M u s lim F a m ily L a w s O r d in a n c e o f 1 9 6 1 (th is O r d in a n c e w ill
b e r e g a r d e d in th e p a p e r as M F L O ) . T h e A rb itra tio n C o u n c il w a s
a ls o g iv e n p o w e rs b y th e M F L O in^the a re a s o f f a m ily la w ,i.e . a
w ife 's c la im o f m a in te n a n c e . It s ta te d u n d e r s e c tio n 9 (1 ) o f th e
M F L O th a t if a n y h u s b a n d fa ils to m a in ta in h is w if e a d e q u a te ly ,
th e w ife m a y a p p ly to th e A r b itr a tio n C o u n c il, w h o s h a ll s p e c ify
th e a m o u n t w h ic h s h a ll b e p a id a s m a in te n a n c e b y th e h u s b a n d .
A p p e a l m a y b e m a d e to th e S u b - d iv is io n a l O ff ic e r u n d e r s e c tio n
9 (2 ) o f M F L O w ith in 3 0 d a y s (u n d e r s e c tio n 16 o f th e M u s lim
F a m ily L a w R u le s , 1 9 6 1 ) a n d h is d e c is io n w ill b e r e g a r d e d as
final.^'

T h e A rb itra tio n C o u n c il c o u ld is s u e a c e r tif ic a te s p e c if y in g th e

a m o u n t w h ic h th e h u s b a n d h a s to p a y as m a in te n a n c e . T h e re are
n o s p e c ifie d ru le s b y w h ic h th e q u a n tu m o f m a in te n a n c e c o u ld b e
d e te rm in e d . T h e a m o u n t o f m a in te n a n c e to b e p a id is to b e
d e te r m in e d b y th e A rb itra tio n C o u n c il. If n o t p a id in d u e tim e , it
c o u ld b e re c o v e re d u n d e r s e c tio n 9 (3 ) o f th e M u s lim F a m ily L a w s
O rd in a n c e as a rre a rs o f la n d r e v e n u e . T h u s , s e c tio n 9 o f th e M F L O
p ro v id e s th a t th e C h a irm a n o f th e A r b itr a tio n C o u n c il m a y is s u e
a c e r tif ic a te s p e c ify in g th e a m o u n t w h ic h s h o u ld b e p a id as
m a in te n a n c e b y th e h u s b a n d , o n ly i f th e h u s b a n d fa ils to m a in ta in
h is w ife " a d e q u a te ly " . In S a r d a r M u h a m m e d v M s t. N a s im a
B ib i,’- it w a s h e ld th a t th e w o r d " a d e q u a te ly " in c lu d e s c a s e s o f
to ta l n e g le c t o r re fu s a l. T h e ju d g e s s e e m to h a v e e x te n d e d th e
p r o v is io n s o f th e O r d in a n c e a s th e y g a v e th e A rb itra tio n C o u n c il

21. I n B a n g la d e s h th e r ig h t o f th e S u b d i v i s i o n a l O f f i c e r f o r r e v i s i o n h a s b e e n

ta k e n o v e r b y th e A s s is t a n t J u d g e 's C o u r t, p r o je c tin g th e e n c r o a c h m e n t o f

th e j u d i c ia r y in th e l o c a l a d m i n is t r a t iv e s p h e r e .

22. 1967 I9 D L R (W P )5 0 .
 M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 69

p o w e r to g r a n t a llo w a n c e s fo r a p e rio d p r io r to th e tim e o f m a k in g

o f a p p lic a tio n .^ ’

In G u l N e w a z K h a n v M a h e r u n n e s s a B eg u m ,^ “ T h e H ig h C o u r t o f
D h a k a r u le d th a t s in c e w illfu l n o n 'p a y m e n t o f m a in te n a n c e
c o n s titu te s a g ro u n d fo r d iv o r c e , w illfu l n o n - p a y m e n t o f d o w e r
d u e o n d e m a n d e n title s a w ife to s e e k a ju d i c ia l d e c r e e o f d iv o rc e .

O v e r a ll, w a s c a n s e e th a t th e c o u r ts in P a k is ta n w e re im p le m e n tin g
th e p ro v is io n s o f th e M F L O a n d in s o m e c a s e s e x te n d in g th e
m e a n in g o f c e r ta in p ro v is io n s . H o w e v e r, th e e f f e c ts o f th is
le g is la tio n o n th e s o c ie ty as a w h o le s e e m to h a v e b e e n m in im a l,
as th e c o n c e r n to p r o te c t w o m e n w a s n o t so s tro n g . T h e re q u ire m e n t
o f w o m e n in S o u th A s ia to h a v e f r e e d o m f r o m e c o n o m ic
d e p r iv a tio n a n d v io le n c e w e re n o t fo c u s e d o n in th e ju d ic ia l
d e c is io n s . A lth o u g h s o m e e m p h a s is w a s g iv e n in th e M F L O o n
g iv in g m a in te n a n c e a n d d o w e r fo r w iv e s , th e c o u r ts w e re o n ly
a le r te d w h e n th e re w a s to ta l n e g le c t a n d re fu s a l. M o r e o v e r it h as
b e e n a r g u e d th a t th e le g is la tio n c o u ld o n ly a ffe c t th e e lite s o f th e
s o c i e t y T h u s , th e p a tria r c h a l d o m in a tio n o f P a k is ta n i f a m ily la w
c o n tin u e d d e s p ite s o m e w e ll-s o u n d in g le g is la tio n a n d c a s e s w h ic h
p a id lip - s e r v ic e to p r o te c tin g th e n e e d s o f w o m e n . T h e la w as a
w h o le w o u ld n o t c o m e to th e r e s c u e o f m o s t w o m e n w h o fo u n d
th e m s e lv e s c o n f r o n te d w ith v io le n c e a n d e c o n o m ic d e p riv a tio n .

In s u m m in g u p it c a n b e c r itic a lly c o m m e n te d th a t th e M u s lim

F a m ily L a w s O r d in a n c e o f 1961 fe ll s h o r t o f th e n e e d s a n d
e x p e c ta tio n s o f w o m e n 's o rg a n is a tio n s a n d o th e r s o c ia l re f o r m e rs
w h o a s p ire d fo r th e b e tte r le g al p ro te c tio n o f w o m e n . T h e O rd in a n c e

23. Id.

24, 3 PLD 1 9 6 5 D a cca 2 7 4 -2 7 6 .

2 ,5 . Sec fo r d e t a i l s C a r r o ll, L u c y : 'T h e r e c e p t i o n o f th e M u s lim fa m ily la w s

O r d in a n c e , 1 9 6 1 , in a B a n g la d e s h i v illa g e '. In C o n tr ib u tio n s to In d ia n

s o c i o lo g y . V o l . 1 2 , N o . 2 , 1 9 7 8 , p p .2 7 9 - 2 8 6 ; P e a r l, D a v i d : 'T h e im p a c t o f th e
M u s lim F a m ily L aw s O r d in a n c e in Q u e tta (B a lu c h is ta n ) 1 9 6 6 -6 8 '. In

J o u r n a l o f th e I n d ia n L a w I n s titu te . V o l . 1 3 , O c l - D c c . 1 9 7 1 , p p . 5 6 1 - 5 6 9 .
70 D r. T a s lim a M o n s o o r

d id ig n o r e s o m e o f th e im p o r ta n t is s u e s c r u c ia l to w o m e n , s u c h as
Ichul d iv o rc e , c u s to d y o f c h ild r e n a n d p a s t m a in te n a n c e fo r
w o m e n , as h a d b e e n r e c o m m e n d e d b y th e A ll P a k is ta n W o m e n 's
A ssociation.^ *

T h e O r d in a n c e w a s w ith in th e a m b it o f m o d e m v e rs io n s o f
Is la m ic n o rm s . B u t th e A rb itra tio n C o u n c ils c o u ld n o t e n s u r e fu ll
j u s ti c e to th e a g g r ie v e d w o m e n in P a k is ta n . M a tte rs r e f e r r e d to an
A r b itr a tio n C o u n c il w o u ld u s u a lly b e d e c id e d in a c c o r d a n c e w ith
s o c ia l n o rm s p r e v a ilin g in th e s o c ie ty .-’ In th e p a tria r c h a l s e ttin g
o f P a k is ta n , th is f o rm o f lo c a l d is p u te s e ttle m e n t c o u ld n o t
e f f e c tiv e ly re s c u e M u s lim w o m e n f r o m e c o n o m ic d e p r iv a tio n
a n d v io le n c e .

T h e la w o f M a in t e n a n c e in B a n g la d e s h

T h e la w o f m a in te n a n c e in B a n g la d e s h is a c o m b in a tio n o f
c o d ifie d la w , lo c a l tra d itio n s a n d th e tr a d itio n a l M u s lim la w . T h e
q u a n tu m o f m a in te n a n c e is r e g u la te d u n d e r th e s c h o o ls o f M u s lim
la w b y c o n s id e r in g d if f e r e n t c irc u m s ta n c e s . T h e H a n a fi la w
d e te r m in e s th e a m o u n t o f m a in te n a n c e b y r e fe rrin g to th e s o c ia l
p o s itio n o f b o th h u s b a n d a n d w ife , w h e r e a s th e S h a fi la w o n ly
c o n s id e r s th e p o s itio n o f th e h u s b a n d a n d th e S h ia la w fo c u s e s o n
th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f th e wife.^* B a n g la d e s h m a in ly fo llo w s H a n a fi
la w b u t th e c a s e s d o n o t re v e a l th a t th e c o u rts a re ta k in g in to
c o n s id e r a tio n th e s o c ia l p o s itio n o f b o th h u s b a n d a n d w ife w h ile
a s c e r ta in in g th e a m o u n t o f m a in te n a n c e .

T h e r e w e re tw o ty p e s o f d e v ic e a v a ila b le f o r re d re s s in th e c a s e s
o f m a in te n a n c e . F irs t, a p e rs o n c o u ld h a v e in s titu te d a c r im in a l

26. R e c o m m e n d a tio n o f F a m ily L a w s O r d in a n c e I 9 6 I . A ll P a k is t a n W o m e n 's

A s s o c ia tio n (A P W A ), L a h o r e 1 9 6 1 .

2 7 .F o r d e t a i ls s e e P e a r l, ( 1 9 7 1 ) , p p . 5 6 1 - 5 6 9 , a t p . 5 6 1 ; C a r r o ll ( 1 9 7 8 ) , p p .2 7 9 -

286.

28. T y a b j i, F a iz B a d r u d d in : M u s lim L a w . B o m b a y 1 9 6 8 , p p . 2 6 5 -2 6 6 ; A li,

A m e e r S y e d : M o h a m m e d a n la w . V o l .I I , C a lc u t t a 1 9 1 7 , p , 4 6 2 ; A n d e r s o n ,

N o r m a n : L a w r e f o r m in t h e M u s l i m w o r l d . L o n d o n 1 9 7 6 , pp. 1 3 2 -1 3 3 ,
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 71

s u it in a c r im in a l c o u r t u n d e r s e c tio n 4 8 8 o f th e C rim in a l P r o c e d u r e
C o d e , 1898. S e c o n d ly , a c iv il s u it m ig h t b e in s titu te d in th e c iv il
c o u rts . In M e h e r N e g a r v M o jib u r R ah m an ^" th e H ig h C o u r t
D iv is io n o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t h e ld th a t it s e e m s f ro m th e d e c is io n
o f A b d u l K h a le q u e v S e lin a B e g u m ,’®th a t th e ju r is d ic tio n o f th e
M a g is tr a te s to e n te r ta in a p p lic a tio n u n d e r s e c tio n 4 8 8 C r P C h a v e
b e e n o u s te d a n d m a in te n a n c e is a F a m ily C o u r t m a tte r n o w . B u t
c o n s id e r in g th e le g a l p r o v is io n s , fa c ts a n d c irc u m s ta n c e s th e
C o u r t f u r th e r h e ld th a t th e F a m ily C o u r ts O r d in a n c e , 1985 h a v e
n o t ta k e n a w a y th e p o w e r o f th e M a g is tr a te s to o r d e r fo r
m a in te n a n c e u /s 4 8 8 C rP C . T h u s , in B a n g la e s h , b o th th e M a g is tra te
C o u r ts a n d th e F a m ily C o u rts h a d c o n c u r r e n t ju r is d ic tio n in
p a s s in g o r d e r f o r m a in te n a n c e o f w ife a n d c h ild r e n u n till th e
ju d g e m e n t p a s s e d in th e c a s e o f P o c h o n R ik s s i D a s v K h u k h u R a n i
D a s i a n d o th e rs.^ ' In th is c a s e it w a s h e ld th a t th e crin tiin al c o u rts
c a n n o t e n te r ta in m a in te n a n c e c a s e s a n y lo n g e r a n d th a t b y th e
F a m ily C o u r ts O r d in a n c e , 1 985 c r im in a l c o u r ts ju r is d ic tio n h a s
b e e n o u s te d . A lth o u g h th is a rtic le is c irc u m s c r ib e d to le g a l
c o n n o ta tio n s a n d d o e s n o t s p e c if ic a lly d e a l w ith th e s o c ia l
im p lic a tio n s . I t is u n d is p u te d th a t n e g lig ib le p o rtio n o f d is p u te s
a c tu a lly c o m e s u p to th e c o u r ts f o r th e r e a s o n s o f s o c ia l s tig m a s
a n d c o n v e n tio n s a tta c h e d to it in th is p a tria r c h a l s o c ie ty .

T h e c o u r ts a re in s titu tio n s w h ic h c o u ld e n f o r c e n e w ly c re a te d
s ta tu to ry r ig h ts in to p a rt a n d p a rc e l o f th is s o c ie ty . A n e x a m in a tio n
o f th e m a in te n a n c e c a s e s r e p o r te d a fte r 1971 illu s tra te s th is p o in t.

In f o r m e r E a s t P a k is ta n th e S u b d iv is io n a l O f f ic e r o r th e lo c a l
a d m in is tra tiv e s p h e re h a d th e r ig h t o f re v is io n . T h e o n ly p ro c e d u ra l
d e v e lo p m e n t th a t h a s b e e n m a d e in B a n g la d e s h r e la tin g to th e la w
o f m a in te n a n c e is th a t r e v is io n a g a in s t th e A rb itra tio n C o u n c il is
d o n e b y th e A s s is ta n t J u d g e 's C o u rts ,i.e . th e lo w e s t tie r o f th e

29. 4 7 D L R (1 9 9 5 ), 18.

30. 4 2 D L R (1 9 9 0 ), 4 5 0 .

31. 5 0 D L R (1 9 9 8 ), 4 7 .
72 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

ju d ic ia r y u n d e r th e M u s lim F a m ily L a w s (A m e n d m e n t) O rd in a n c e
o f 1985 ( O r d in a n c e x iv o f 1 9 85). T h is p o r tr a y s th a t la w is tu r n in g
to w a rd s ju d i c ia r y th a n th e e x e c u tiv e fo r it's im p le m e n ta tio n .

T h is b r ie f d is c u s s io n s h o w s th a t th e is s u e o f m a in te n a n c e is an
a m a lg a m o f s u b s ta n tiv e M u s lim la w a n d s ta tu to r y le g is la tio n . T h e
q u e ry a n a ly s in g th e c a s e la w in B a n g la d e s h w ill p r o je c t w h e th e r
th e c o u r ts a r e g iv in g m o re p r e f e r e n c e to th e tr a d itio n a l M u s lim
la w th a n th e s ta tu to r y le g is la tio n .

A p p lic a tio n o f th e le g is la t io n r e la t in g t o m a in t e n a n c e b y th e
c o u r t s in B a n g la d e s h

T h is p a rt o f th e p a p e r w ill fo c u s o n th e a p p lic a tio n o f th is

le g is la tio n a s r e f le c te d th r o u g h c a s e - la w . F ir s t o f a ll, w e a re
c o n c e n tr a tin g o n th e u n r e p o r te d d e c is io n s o f th e F a m ily C o u r ts
th e n w e w ill d e a l w ith th e d e c is io n s o f th e h ig h e r tie r o f th e
ju d ic ia r y to o b s e r v e th e a ttitu d e o f th e ju d g e s to w a rd s g r a n tin g
m a in te n a n c e to w o m e n . F in a lly w e w ill f o c u s o n th e p r o b le m s
fa c e d b y w o m e n w h e n th e y w a n t to e n f o r c e th e la w .

E le v e n u n r e p o r te d ju d g m e n ts o n r e a lis a tio n o f m a in te n a n c e in th e
F a m ily C o u r ts o f th e c a p ita l c ity o f D h a k a w e re g a th e re d . T h e
c a s e s a re u s u a lly b r o u g h t f o r th e r e a lis a tio n o f d o w e r a n d
m a in te n a n c e to g e th e r. B e c a u s e th e r if t b e tw e e n th e p a r tie s h a d
a lre a d y s ta rte d , a m a in te n a n c e c la im is th e o n ly w e a p o n w o m e n
h a v e to r e s to r e th e ir p o s itio n o r a t b e s t to h a v e s o m e r e lie f f r o m
e c o n o m ic c o n s tr a in ts . T h e c a s e s o n th e is s u e o f m a in te n a n c e as a
f u n d a m e n ta l r ig h t o f M u s lim w o m e n a p p e a r s th a t th e F a m ily
C o u rts a re s h o w in g th a t th e y a re s tric tly a p p ly in g th e tra d itio n a l
M u s lim la w , in f a c t th e y a re n o t.

O th e r ju d g e m e n ts are re v o lv in g in a s im ila r tre n d w h e re th e

d o c trin e s o f tra d itio n a l M u s lim la w is f o r c e f u lly a p p lie d e v e n
w h e n it is n o t a p p lic a b le . A s f o r e x a m p le th e d o c trin e o f n a s h u z a
o r d is o b e d ie n c e is a p p lie d to w iv e s a n d it is re g a r d e d as th e ir f a u lt
if th e y le a v e th e ir m a trim o n ia l h o m e e v e n w h e n th e ir h u s b a n d s
liv e a b ro a d a n d th e m o th e r-in -la w ill-tre a ts th e m . B u t in a c c o rd a n c e
lo th e S h a ria la w i f th e re is s u f f ic ie n t c a u s e f o r th e w ife to r e f u s e
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 73

to liv e w ith th e h u s b a n d sh e is e n title d to m a in te n a n c e . A c c o r d in g

to M a h o m e d U lla h Ib n S. J u n g :
M a i n t e n a n c e is d u e t o th e w i f e e v e n w h e n s h e is in h e r f a t h e r s

r e s i d e n c e , u n l e s s s h e r e f u s e s t o l i v e in h e r h u s b a n d s h o u s e .

In M o n a w a r a B e g u m v M d . H a n n a n H a w la d a r,^ ’ th e F a m ily C o u rt
o f th e v illa g e M a d h u r c h a r in th e D o h a r u p a z ila o f th e D h a k a
d is tr ic t d id n o t a llo w th e w ife m a in te n a n c e o n th e g r o u n d th a t sh e
w a s n o t p r e s e n t in h e r in -la w 's h o u s e w h ile h e r h u s b a n d w a s
w o r k in g a b ro a d . T h is m e a n s th a t th e ju d g e s a re c o n c e r n e d f o r th e
p r e s e n c e o f th e w ife in th e m a tr im o n ia l h o m e , n o t o n ly f o r th e
p e r f o r m a n c e o f th e m a rita l o b lig a tio n s . T h is is f u r th e r e v id e n c e
th a t ju d ic ia l a ttitu d e s a re in f lu e n c e d b y s te r e o ty p e d c o n c e rn s
a b o u t c o n tro llin g w o m e n 's m o v e m e n t. In th e a b o v e c a s e , w h a t
w a s th e w ife e x p e c te d to d o in th e in -la w 's h o u s e ? T h e p a rtie s w e re
m a rr ie d u n d e r a r e g is te r e d o n 1 8 .2 .8 3 w ith a d o w e r o f
3 0 ,0 0 0 ta k a a n d th e d e le g a tio n o f th e rig h t o f d iv o r c e to th e w ife .
T h e p la in tif f p le a d e d th a t th e h u s h a n d le ft th e c o u n tr y in 1 987 fo r
a j o b in th e M id d le - E a s t a n d s h e w a s tre a te d c r u e lly b y h e r m o th e r-
in la w a n d w a s c o m p e lle d to le a v e th e m a tr im o n ia l h o m e . It h a d
b e e n h e ld in a v e ry o ld c a s e ’"* th a t th e w ife is n o t e n title d o f
m a in te n a n c e in s u c h a s itu a tio n , a s q u a rre ls a n d d is a g r e e m e n t
w ith h e r m o th e r - in - la w d id n o t c o n s titu te a le g a l re a s o n f o r h e r to
le a v e h e r h u s b a n d 's h o u s e . T h is s itu a tio n c o u ld b e ta c k le d if th e
r ig h t o f s e p a r a te r e s id e n c e a n d m a in te n a n c e fo r s u c h ill- tr e a tm e n t
o r d if f e r e n c e s h a d b e e n s tip u la te d in th e k a b i n n a m a , a s in a m u c h
o ld e r c a s e .’5T h e c o u r t m a y h a v e b a s e d th e j u d g m e n t o n th e fo r m e r
c a s e , a lth o u g h th e re is n o r e f e r e n c e to a n y c a s e la w . O n th e o th e r
h a n d , th e c o u r t w a s re ly in g o n th e w ro n g o r f a u lt o f th e p la in tif f

32. J u n g , M a h o m e d U lla h Ib n S ..'D is s e r t a t io n o n T h e M u s lim L a w O f M a r r ia g e -

C o m p ile d fr o m t h e o r ig ia l A r a b ic A u t h o r it ie s , A lla h a b a d 1 9 2 6 , p .4 1 .

33. F a m ily S u it N o . 15 o f 1 9 8 9 (u n r e p o r te d ),

34. M o h a m m a d A ll A k h a r v F a tim a B e g u m . A I R 1 9 2 9 L a h o r e 660.

35. S a b e d K h a n v B i l a t u n n i s s a B ib i , A I R 1 9 1 9 C a lc u tta 8 2 5 .
74 D r , T a s lim a M o n s o o r

a n d n o t th e d e f e n d a n t's s ta y in g a b ro a d . T h is m ig h t its e lf b e th e
e f f e c t o f th e p a tria r c h a l n o tio n s in f lu e n c in g th e a ttitu d e o f th e
ju d g e . T h e c o u r t a s c e r ta in e d th a t th e w ife h a d le ft h e r h u s b a n d ’s
re s id e n c e w ith o u t h is p e r m is s io n , a s sh e c o u ld n o t p ro d u c e a n y
le tte r s h o w in g th a t h e r h u s b a n d h a d g iv e n a p p ro v a l f o r h e r to le a v e
th e re s id e n c e . T h u s , a b s e n c e o f d o c u m e n ts in s u c h s itu a tio n s
c o u ld d e p r iv e th e w ife o f h e r r ig h t s . T h e c o u r t d e c id e d th a t s h e w a s
n o t e n title d to m a in te n a n c e d u r in g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rria g e .
P e rh a p s th e tr a d itio n a l c o n c e p t o f d is o b e d ie n c e o r n a s h u z a h w a s
a b a s is o f th is ju d g m e n t a ls o , a lth o u g h it w a s n o t e x p lic itly
m e n tio n e d in th e ju d g e m e n t. T h e c o u r t h e ld th a t as th e w ife h a d
d iv o r c e d h e r h u s b a n d b y th e p o w e r o f d e le g a te d r ig h t o f t a l a q - e -
t a f w e e d , s h e w a s o n ly e n title d to m a in te n a n c e f o r th e i d d a t p e r i o d
( 1 ,2 0 0 ta k a fo r th r e e m o n th s , i.e . 4 0 0 ta k a p e r m o n th ). T h e la w o f
t a l a q a n d t a l a q - e - t a f w e e d is s a m e a n d in b o th th e w iv e s are
e n title d to m a in te n a n c e w ith in m a rr ia g e a n d in i d d a t .

T h e c o u rts a re in te r p r e tin g th e fa c t th a t w h e n a p la in tif f is n o t

liv in g w ith h e r h u s b a n d it ta n ta m o u n ts to r e f u s a l to p e r f o r m
m a rita l o b lig a tio n s . In A m b ia K h a to o n v M d . Y a s in Bepari,^'^ th e
fa c ts o f th e c a s e w e re th a t th e p la in tif f a n d th e d e f e n d a n t w e re
m a rr ie d o n 7 .7 .8 7 a n d th e ir m a rria g e w a s r e g is te r e d u n d e r a
r e g is te r e d k a b i n n a m a w h ic h a ls o m e n tio n e d d o w e r o f 5 0 ,0 0 0 ta k a
a n d s tip u la te d th a t th e w ife w a s e n title d to m a in te n a n c e in a
re s p e c ta b le m a n n e r. T h e F a m ily C o u rt a s c e rta in e d th a t th e m a rria g e
s u b s is te d a n d r e je c te d th e c la im o f th e d e f e n d a n t th a t h e h a d p a id
m a in te n a n c e . T h e c o u r t d e c id e d th a t, a s it w a s s tip u la te d in th e
re g is te r e d k a b i n n a m a , th e p la in ti f f w a s a ls o e n title d to p a s t
m a in te n a n c e w h e n s h e w a s c o h a b itin g w ith th e d e f e n d a n t; i.e.
fro m 7 .7 .8 7 to 6 .4 .8 8 . H o w e v e r, th e c o u rt d id n o t a llo w m a in te n a n c e
f o r th e tim e w h e n th e p la in tif f w a s n o t liv in g w ith th e d e fe n d a n t.

In M st. H a f e z a B ib i v M d . S h a fiq u l A la m ,” th e p la in tif f a n d

36. F a m ily S u it N o . 9 8 o f 1 9 9 0 (u n r e p o f te d ).

37. F a m ily S u it N o . 2 8 o f 1 9 9 2 (u n r e p o r te d ).
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 75

d e f e n d a n t w e re m a rr ie d u n d e r a r e g is te r e d k a b i n n a m a o n 9 .7 .8 6
w ith th e d o w e r m o n e y fix e d a t 5 0 ,0 0 1 ta k a . T h e d e f e n d a n t g a v e
ta la q to th e p la in ti f f o n 1 8 .1 1 .9 1 . T h e c o u r t d id n o t g r a n t
m a in te n a n c e to th e w ife d u r in g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rria g e , as
s h e w a s n o t o b e d ie n t to h e r h u s b a n d . O n e o f th e m a in c r ite r ia o f
h e r d is o b e d ie n c e w a s th a t s h e w a s s ta y in g a w a y fro m h e r h u s b a n d .
H o w e v e r, th e c o u r t a llo w e d m a in te n a n c e f o r th e i d d a t p e rio d .

In M st. R a z ia A k h te r v A b u l K a la m A z a d ,-*a s u it fo r th e r e a lis a tio n

o f d o w e r a n d m a in te n a n c e , th e p a rtie s w e re m a rrie d u n d e r I s la m ic
s h a r i a o n 1 1 .6 .8 7 a n d a s o n h a d b e e n b o rn f ro m th e w e d lo c k . T h e
c o u r t a s c e r ta in e d th a t th e d e f e n d a n t g a v e t a l a q o n 5 .1 .8 9 w h e n th e
p la in tif f w a s n o t r e s id in g in th e d e f e n d a n t's h o u s e . T h e s o n w a s
b o m o n 2 .6 .8 9 . T h e c o u r t g ra n te d th e w o m a n m a in te n a n c e f o r th e
i d d a t p e r i o d , i.e . u n til th e s o n w a s b o rn fiv e m o n th s a f te r th e t a l a q .
T h is e x te n s io n o f th e p e rio d o f m a in te n a n c e is in lin e w ith
tr a d itio n a l Is la m ic la w a n d th e s ta tu to ry e n a c tm e n t. I s la m ic la w
p r o v id e s f o r th is e x te n s io n o f i d d a t p e r io d o f m a in te n a n c e to
a s c e rta in th e la g itim a c y o f th e c h ild . U n d e r s e c tio n 7 (5 ) o f th e
M u s lim F a m ily L a w s O rd in a n c e o f 1 9 6 1 , i f th e w ife is p r e g n a n t
a t th e tim e o f t a l a q , it is n o t e f f e c tiv e u n le s s th e p re g n a n c y e n d s .
T h u s , th e ju d g m e n t o n ly g a v e e x te n d e d m a in te n a n c e to th e
w o m a n till th e b a b y w a s b o rn b u t d o e s n o t a llo w m a in te n a n c e
w ith in th e m a rr ia g e w h e n s h e w a s n o t re s id in g in th e d e fe n d a n ts
h o u se .

S o m e tim e s th e F a m ily C o u rts d o n o t r e c o g n is e th e fa lse a lle g a tio n s

o f th e h u s b a n d th a t th e w ife d o e s n o t h a v e a n y m o ra l c h a r a c te r a n d
w a s m a rr ie d b e fo re b u t s tra n g e ly a llo w th e m a in te n a n c e o f th e
i d d a t p e rio d . In M s t. S h a h id a B e g u m v M d . M a h b u b H o s s a in ,”
th e p la in tif f p r a y e d f o r th e r e a lis a tio n o f m a in te n a n c e o n ly f o r th e
i d d a t p e rio d . T h e fa c ts o f th e c a s e s ta te th a t th e p a rtie s w e re
m a rrie d o n 3 .2 .9 0 a n d th e k a b i n n a m a w a s re g is te re d . A fte r

38. F a m ily S u it N o . 1 9 3 o f 1 9 8 9 (u n r e p o r te d ).

39. F a m ily S u it N o . 1 1 2 o f 1 9 9 1 (u n r e p o r te d ).
76 D r. T a s lim a M o n s o o r

le a d in g a c o n ju g a l life f o r e ig h t m o n th s , th e d e f e n d a n t g a v e th e
p la in ti f f t a l a q o n 2 1 .1 0 .9 0 . T h e d e f e n d a n t a lle g e d th a t th e p la in tif f
h a d m a r r ie d h im w h ile h e r m a rr ia g e w a s a lre a d y s u b s is tin g w ith
a n o th e r m a n a n d s h e d id n o t h a v e a g o o d m o ra l c h a r a c te r . T h e
c o u r t r e je c te d th e s e d e f e n c e s a s th e d e f e n d a n t c o u ld n o t p r o v e a n y
o f th e m s u f f ic ie n tly . T h e c o u r t h e ld th a t a s th e d e f e n d a n t h a d
g iv e n t a l a q to th e p la in tiff, s h e w a s e n title d to m a in te n a n c e f o r th e
p e rio d o f i d d a t .

T h e r e is a s tro n g s e n tim e n t o f fe m a le s e c lu s io n o f l o j j a a n d
s h a r a m w o r k in g w ith in w o m e n o f B a n g la d e s h , so th a t th e y d o n o t
lik e th e ir p r iv a te a ffa irs to b e o p e n e d in p u b lic . B u t th e s e e m o tio n s
m ig h t h a v e c h a n g e d th e ir a ttitu d e in th e le g a l b a ttle . I n M st.
M e h e r u n n a h a r v R a h m a n K hondakar,-'*’th e F a m ily C o u r t s q u a r e ly
a p p lie d th e c la s s ic a l M u s lim la w th a t w h e n th e m a rr ia g e is n o t
c o n s u m m a te d , th e w ife is n o t e n title d to a n y m a in te n a n ce ."'' T h e
f a c ts o f th e c a s e w e re th a t th e p a r tie s w e re m a rr ie d u n d e r th e
I s la m ic s h a r i a o n 7 .3 .8 5 b u t a f te r a f e w m o n th s , in S e p te m b e r
1 9 8 5 , s h e w a s s e n t b a c k to h e r f a th e r's h o u s e a n d o n 2 5 .5 .8 7 th e
m a rr ia g e w a s d is s o lv e d b y t a l a q . T h e c o u r t r e je c te d th e a lle g a tio n
o f th e d e f e n d a n t th a t th e w ife h a d v e n e ra l d is e a s e b u t d e c id e d th a t
t a l a q w a s e ffe c tiv e ly g iv e n . T h e c o u rt a sc e rta in e d th a t th e d e fe n d a n t
h a d f a ile d to p r o v id e m a in te n a n c e to th e p la in tif f b u t d id n o t a llo w
m a in te n a n c e to th e w ife as sh e h e r s e lf h a d s ta te d th a t th e re w a s n o
c o n s u m m a t i o n o f th e m a g g i a g e . A l t h o u g h th e f a c t s a n d
c irc u m s ta n c e s s h o w e d th e o p p o s ite , th e c o u r t ru le d th a t a d m itte d
f a c ts n e e d n o t b e p ro v e d . I t w a s e v id e n t th a t th e p la in tif f (w ife )
lie d in th e c o u r t a b o u t n o t h a v in g in te c o u r s e w ith h e r h u s b a n d . B u t
w h y d id s h e lie ? W a s th e fo rc e o f fe m a le s e c lu s io n { l o j j a o r
s h a r a m ) e v e n s tro n g e r th a n h e r c la im f o r m a in te n a n c e ? H o w e v e r,
s u c h a ttitu d e s o f w o m e n a re n e v e r c o n s id e r e d in a c o u r t o f la w .

I t is im p o r ta n t to p o in t o u t th a t it c a n n o t b e g a th e r e d f r o m th e

40. F a m il y S u it N o . 2 4 o f 1 9 8 7 ( u n r e p o r t e d ) .

41. S e e A l l , A m e e r S y e d : M o h a m m e d a n la w . V o l . II , C a lc u t t a 1 9 1 7 , p .4 6 3 ,
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 77

ju d g m e n ts w h e th e r th e c o u rts a re fo llo w in g th e tr a d itio n a l d o c trin e

o f ta k in g in to c o n s id e r a tio n th e s o c ia l p o s itio n o f th e p a r tie s fo r
a s c e r ta in in g th e q u a n tu m o f m a in te n a n c e . It c o u ld n o t a ls o b e
a s s e s s e d w h a t p r in c ip le th e y a re f o llo w in g to a s c e r ta in th e p r e c is e
a m o u n t o f m a in te n a n c e . In th e k a b i n n a m a , m a in te n a n c e is u s u a lly
re g a r d e d as to b e g iv e n in a r e s p e c ta b le m a n n e r ( b h o d r o c h i t o
h a r e ) . B u t it is n o t e x p r e s s e d h o w m u c h m a in te n a n c e c a n b e
re g a r d e d a s r e s p e c ta b le .

In s o m e c a s e s , w h e r e th e h u s b a n d is r e s id in g a b ro a d , th e F a m ily
C o u rts a re g r a n tin g a h ig h e r s c a le o f m a in te n a n c e . In M a r g u b a te r
R o u f V A .T .M . Z a h u r u l H a q K han,''^ a s u it f o r th e re a lis a tio n o f
d o w e r a n d m a in te n a n c e , th e fa c ts o f th e c a s e d is c lo s e th a t th e
p a r tie s w e re m a rr ie d o n 2 0 . 10 .8 8 a n d th e m a rria g e w a s re g is te re d .
In th e k a b i n n a m a th e d o w e r w a s fix e d to th e e x te n t o f 3 0 0 ,0 0 0
ta k a , w h ic h m ig h t b e f o r s h o w o f s ta tu s o r s e c u rity f o r th e w ife .
T h e p la in tif f p le a d e d th a t th e d e f e n d a n t le ft f o r a b r o a d a n d d id n o t
p r o v id e a n y m a in te n a n c e f o r h e r. T h e d e f e n d a n t a lle g e d th a t th e
p la in tif f w a s h a v in g a n a f f a ir w ith a n o th e r m a n a n d w a s u n w illin g
to le a d a c o n ju g a l life w ith h im . T h e re a s o n s b e h in d th is m ig h t b e
th e m ig r a tio n d ile m m a s a ris in g w h e n h u s b a n d s w o r k a b ro a d , as
w e ll as th e s o c ia l d is a p p r o v a l o f th e w ife liv in g w ith o u t h e r
h u s b a n d . T h e h u s b a n d g a v e t a l a q to th e w ife o n 2 5 .2 .9 0 . T h e c o u r t
d e c id e d th a t, a s t a l a q h a d b e e n g iv e n e f f e c tiv e ly , in a c c o r d a n c e
w ith th e M u s lim F a m ily L a w s O r d in a n c e 1961, n o m a rria g e
s u b s is te d a n d th e w ife w a s e n title d to m a in te n a n c e d u r in g th e
i d d a t p e rio d . T h e c o u r t r e a s o n e d th a t th e w ife w a s n o t e n title d to
a n y m a in te n a n c e d u r in g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rr ia g e a s s h e w a s
n o t w illin g to h a v e c o n ju g a l r e la tio n s w ith th e h u s b a n d . B u t it is
in te r e s tin g to n o te th a t th e c o u r t a s c e r ta in e d 4 0 ,0 0 0 ta k a as th e
m a in te n a n c e o f th e w ife fo r th re e m o n th s ,i.e . 1 3 ,0 0 0 ta k a p e r
m o n th , w h e r e a s in s im ila r c a s e s o n ly 6 0 0 to 1,000 ta k a p e r m o n th
w e re g iv e n . It m a y b e a s s u m e d th a t th e c o u r t w a s h e re ta k in g in to

42. F a m il y S u i t N o . 1 o f 1 9 9 2 a n d F a m il y S u it N o . 3 o f 1 9 9 2 ( a n a l o g o u s h e a r in g )

(u n r e p o r te d ).
78 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

a c c o u n t th e fin a n c ia l a b ility o f th e h u s b a n d , w h o w a s w o r k in g
a b r o a d . A lte rn a tiv e ly , it w a s c o m p e n s a tin g th e w ife f o r th e fa c t
th a t m a tr im o n ia l c o h a b ita tio n c e a s e d n o t d u e to h e r fa u lt, b u t th e
h u s b a n d 's a b s e n c e f o r b e in g a b ro a d . H o w e v e r , in N a s im a B ilk is
V M d . A b d u s Samad,"*' th e m a in te n a n c e f o r th e i d d a t p e r io d w a s
a s c e r ta in e d as 2 ,5 0 0 ta k a p e r m o n th w h e n th e h u s b a n d w a s n o t
w o r k in g a b ro a d . It c a n n o t b e g a th e r e d f r o m th e ju d g m e n t w h y th e
c o u r t a w a r d e d s u c h a n h ig h a m o u n t. T h e fa c ts o f th e c a s e a re th a t
th e p a r tie s w e re m a r r ie d o n 2 3 .3 .9 0 b y a re g is te r e d k a b i n n a m a .
T h e p la in tif f, a lle g in g h e r h u s b a n d 's c r u e l b e h a v io u r , w a s liv in g
in h e r f a th e r's h o u s e f ro m 1 9 .7 .9 0 . T h e d e f e n d a n t p e r s u a d e d th e
p la in tif f to s ta y w ith h im a n d th e p la in tif f s ta y e d fo r s e v e n d a y s
a n d th e n c a m e b a c k to h e r f a th e r's h o u s e a g a in o n 17.3.9 1 w ith th e
s a m e a lle g a tio n . T h e p la in ti f f d iv o r c e d th e d e f e n d a n t o n th e b a s is
o f h e r d e le g a te d p o w e r o f d iv o rc e o n 2 .6 .9 1 a n d r e g is te r e d th e
t a l a q n a m a . T h e F a m ily C o u r t d e c id e d o n th e e v id e n c e o f a le tte r
o f th e p la in ti f f s f a th e r th a t th e re la tio n s h ip o f th e p a r tie s w a s n o t
h a r m o n io u s a n d so th e p la in tif f w a s n o t e n title d to m a in te n a n c e
d u r in g th e s u b s is te n c e o f th e m a rr ia g e n o t e v e n fo r th e s e v e n d a y s
w h e n sh e w a s s ta y in g w ith th e d e f e n d a n t. B u t th e F a m ily C o u r t
d e c id e d th a t th e p la in tif f w a s e n title d to m a in te n a n c e f o r th e i d d a t
p e rio d .

T h e r e a re s o m e u n r e p o r te d c a s e s in th e F a m ily C o u r ts o f D h a k a
w h ic h p o rtra y s a p o s itiv e p ic tu re w h e r e th e c o u r ts n o t o n ly
a llo w e d m a in te n a n c e in th e s u b s is te n c e o f m a rria g e b u t a ls o in
i d d a t . In M st. R o k s a n a B e g u m v M d . A b u l Khair,'*'* th e b a s ic fa c ts
o f th e c a s e w e re th a t th e p la in tif f a n d d e f e n d a n t w e r e m a rrie d
u n d e r Is la m ic s h a r i a o n 1 0 .2 .8 8 w ith th e d o w e r m o n e y m e n tio n e d
a s 5 0 ,0 0 0 ta k a in th e k a b i n n a m a . T h e d e f e n d a n t c la im e d th a t h e
h a d g iv e n t a l a q to th e w ife b u t h e c o u ld n o t p r o v e it in th e c o u rt.
T h e c o u rt th e re fo re h e ld th a t th e t a l a q w a s n o t e ffe c tiv e . T h e c o u rt

43. F a m ily S u it N o . 1 2 o f 1 9 9 2 (u n r e p o r te d ).

44. F a m ily S u it N o . 9 6 o f 1 9 9 1 (u n r e p o r te c l).

M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 79

d e c id e d th a t th e d e f e n d a n t m u s t p a y w ith in th irty d a y s o f th e
ju d g e m e n t m a in te n a n c e o f 1 ,0 0 0 ta k a p e r m o n th to th e p la in tif f f o r
th e tim e w h e n th e p ro c e e d in g s w e r e c o n d u c te d , i.e . f r o m th e d a te
o f in s titu tin g th e s u it to th e d a te o f j u d g e m e n t (M a y 1991 to M a rc h
1 9 9 3 ). T h e c o u r t a ls o d ire c te d th e h u s b a n d to p a y th e m o n th ly
m a in te n a n c e to th e w ife w ith in th e f ir s t 10 d a y s o f th e m o n th .

In M st. A n g a ri B e g u m v M d . Iq b a l Rashid,'*^ th e p a rtie s w e re

m a rr ie d o n 6 .1 1 .8 9 , f ix in g th e d o w e r m o n e y a t 2 0 ,0 0 0 ta k a . T h e
c o u r t f o u n d th a t th e m a rria g e s u b s is te d a n d g ra n te d th e w ife
m a in te n a n c e n o t o n ly f o r th e tim e w h e n th e p r o c e e d in g w a s g o in g
o n (th e s u it w a s in s titu te d o n 6 .4 .9 1 a n d e n d e d o n 5 .1 .9 2 ) b u t lo n g
b e f o r e th a t ( f r o m 1 .8 .9 0 to 5 .1 .9 2 ) a n d a ls o o r d e r e d th e d e f e n d a n t
to p a y f u r th e r m a in te n a n c e to th e p la in tif f w ith in th e f irs t w e e k o f
e a c h m o n th . T h e c o u r t fix e d th e m o n th ly a m o u n t o f m a in te n a n c e
a t ta k a 8 0 0 .

In M st. F a tim a B e g u m v M o h a m m e d G o la m Hossain,'*'^ th e c o u r t

h e ld th a t th e w ife w a s e n title d n o t o n ly to m a in te n a n c e f o r th e
p r e s e n t tim e b u t a ls o p a s t m a in te n a n c e fo r th e la s t s e v e n m o n th s ,
as th e re w a s a n a g r e e m e n t to p a y m a in te n a n c e in th e n e g o tia tio n
o r s h a l i s h in th e ,C o m m is s io n e r's o ffic e . T h is s h o w s th a t th e c o u rts
a re a lso c o n s id e r in g o th e r c o n tra c ts th a n th e k a h i n n a m a to a s c e rta in
th e m a in te n a n c e a n d , in p a rtic u la r, th a t th e y a re w illin g to b u ild
n e g o tia te d s e ttle m e n ts in to th e ir d e c is io n s .

T h e r e p o r te d c a s e s o f m a in te n a n c e o f th e h ig h e r le v e l o f ju d ic ia r y
d o e s n o t g e n e r a lly p r o je c t a m o d e rn is t tr e n d o f th e la w . A lth o u g h ,
th e la te s t d e c is io n s o f th e h ig h e s t tie r o f th e ju d ic ia r y h a s s u d d e n ly
m a d e a s u b s ta n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t in th e la w o f m a in te n a n c e .

In a f a irly r e c e n t r e p o r te d c a s e o n m a in te n a n c e , th e H ig h C o u rt
s h o w s it s e lf to b e s ta tic a n d d o e s n o t d e v ia te f r o m th e tr a d itio n a l
c o n c e p t o f p r o v id in g p a s t m a in te n a n c e u n le s s th e c la im is b a s e d

45. F a m ily S u it N o . 5 2 o f 1 9 9 1 (u n r e p o r te d ).

46. F a m ily S u it N o . 61 o f 1 9 9 1 (u n r e p o r te d ).
80 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

o n s p e c ific a g r e e m e n t o r a d e c r e e o f a c o u rt. In R u s to m A li v
J a m ila K h a tu n ," th e H ig h C o u r t D iv is io n o f th e S u p re m e C o u r t
d id n o t g r a n t th e p a s t m a in te n a n c e a llo w e d b y .the lo w e r C o u r t as
th e w ife w a s n o t s ta y in g w ith h e r h u s b a n d . T h u s th e h u s b a n d , w ith
h is s e x u a l rig h ts o v e r th e w ife , c o n tro ls r e s id e n c e in h is m a rita l
h o m e . W h e re th e w ife re fu s e s to c o h a b it, sh e b e c o m e s a d is o b e d ie n t
w ife a o r n a s h u z a , w h ic h w a s in th is c a s e r e g a r d e d as a p r im a fa c ie
c a u s e f o r n o t a llo w in g m a in te n a n c e .“*M u s lim la w o n ly a llo w s th e
w ife m a in te n a n c e i f s h e is s ta y in g in h e r fa th e r's h o u s e , w h e n th e
h u s b a n d d id n o t r e q u e s t h e r to c o m e to h is h o u s e , o r it w o u ld
in v o lv e d a n g e r o r ris k o f h e r lif e o r h e a lth to re m o v e h e r f r o m h e r
f a th e r's house.'"' T h e c o u r t d id n o t c o s id e r th e c o n d itio n s w h ic h
c o m p e lle d th e w ife in R u S to m A li v J a m ila K hatu n,5“ to s ta y
s e p a ra te . T h is c o n v e y s an im p r e s s io n o f u n s y m p a th e tic a ttitu d e
to w a rd s w o m e n a n d a ls o e x h ib its a s tro n g d e s ire to c o n tro l
w o m e n ’s m o v e m e n t. T h e c o u r t o n ly a llo w e d m a in te n a n c e f r o m
th e d a te o f in s titu tio n o f th e s u it till th re e m o n th s a f te r th e d e c re e
f o r d is s o lu tio n o f m a rria g e ,!.e . d u r in g th e p e rio d o f h e r i d d a t .

In H o s n e A ra B e g u m v M d . R e z a u l K a rim ,^ ‘ th e H ig h C o u r t
D iv is io n o f th e S u p re m e C o u r t o r d e r e d th e h u s b a n d to p a y
m a in te n a n c e e v e n w h e n th e w ife le ft th e h u s b a n d ’s re s id e n c e . T h e
w if e w a s liv in g a w a y f r o m th e m a tr im o n ia l h o m e o n th e g ro u n d
o f c ru e lty . P e r h a p s , th e e v id e n c e o f c ru e lty o f th e h u s b a n d m a d e
th e c o u r t c o n s id e r a te to w a rd s th e w ife . H o w e v e r , in S ira ju l I s la m
v s. H e la n a B e g u m a n d others^- th e H ig h C o u r t D iv is io n o f th e
S u p r e m e C o u r t d e c id e d th a t th e C o u r t h a s th e ju r is d ic tio n to p a s s

47. 4 3 D L R (1 9 9 1 )H C D 3 0 1 .

48. F o r th e la w o n th is s e e M a h m o o d ( 1 9 8 2 ) , p p .7 6 - 7 9 ; T y a b ji ( 1 9 6 8 ) , p p .2 6 3 -

267.

49. A li (1 9 1 7 ), p. 4 6 1 .

50. 4 3 D L R ( 1 9 9 1 ) ,H C D 3 0 1 .

51. 4 3 D L R (1 9 9 1 ) 5 4 3 .

52. 4 8 D L R (1 9 9 1 ) 4 8.
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 81

d e c r e e f o r p a s t m a in te n a n c e in an a p p r o p r ia te c a s e a n d th e
d e c is io n o f R u s ta m A li v. J a m ila Khatun^-’ w a s h e ld n o t to b e
a p p lic a b le .

T h e la te s t p o s itio n o f S u n n i L a w in th e S u b c o n tin e n t r e g a r d in g
p a s t m a in te n a n c e o f M u s lim w ife is h e ld b y th e a p p e lla te D iv is io n
o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t in J a m ila K h a tu n v s. R u s to m A li’**is th a t th e
w ife is e n title d to p a s t m a in te n a n c e e v e n in th e a b s e n c e o f a n y
s p e c ific a g re e m e n t.

In S o u th A s ia th e ju r i s t s h a d a ls o a rg u e d th a t th e h u s b a n d s h o u ld
p r o v id e m a in te n a n c e d u r in g s u b s is te n c e o f m a rr ia g e a n d d u rin g
th e i d d a t p e r i o d . T h i s w a s , p e r h a p s , b e c a u s e in I s la m a f te r
d is s o lu tio n o f m a rr ia g e th e p a r tie s a re e n title d to r e m a r r ia g e a n d
th e w o m a n r e tu r n s to h e r n a ta l fa m ily It is j u s t n o t f a ir to b u r d e n
a m a n w ith th e o b lig a tio n o f m a in te n a n c e w h e n h e is n o m o r e h e r
h u s b a n d as m a rr ia g e is a re lig io u s a n d s o c ia l c o n tr a c t u n d e r
I s la m ic la w . M o r e o v e r , a c c o r d in g to I s la m ic la w , th e d e fe rre d
d o w e r is s e e n a s th e s a f e g u a r d f o r d iv o r c e d w o m e n . N e v e r th e le s s ,
w o m e n in B a n g la d e s h a re u s u a lly d e p r iv e d o f th e ir d e fe rre d
d o w e r. B u t w h a t h a p p e n s to th o s e w o m e n w h o s e n a ta l f a m ily c a n
n o t p r o v id e f o r th e m ? T h e r e is n o s ta te w e lf a r e s y s te m in S o u th
A s ia n c o u n trie s as in th e W e s t. I s la m ic la w s ta te s th a t if th e n a tu ra l
f a m ily c a n n o t m a in ta in th e d iv o r c e e h e r m a in te n a n c e w ill b e a
c h a r g e o n c o lle c tiv e r e s o u r c e s o f th e M u s lim C o m m u n ity as a
w h o le . I f th e re is a B a i t u l M a i o r a c o m m u n ity fu n d th e d iv o r c e e
c o u ld b e p r o v id e d f ro m it o r s a v in g s o u t o f w«<2/'p r o p e r ty c a n a lso
b e u s e d f o r s u c h purpose.^ ''

53. 4 3 D L R (1 9 9 1 ) 3 1 0 .

54. 16 B L D (A D ) (1 9 9 6 ) 61

55. F yzee (1 9 7 4 ), p. 186; D iw a n , P ara s : M u s lim Law in m o d e m I n d ia .

A lla h a b a d 198 5 , p. 130.

56. M a h m o o d , T a h i r ; P e r s o n a l l a w s in c r i s i s . N e w D e l h i 1 9 8 6 , p . 8 7 .

57. S h a b b i r , M o h d . : M u s l i m P e r s o n a l L a w a n d J u d i c i a r y ’. A l l a h a b a d , 1 9 8 8 , p .

288.
82 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

In I n d ia it h a s b e e n a r g u e d th a t m a in te n a n c e a f te r d iv o r c e is a n
o b lig a tio n o f th e e x - h u s b a n d o n th e b a s is o f th e a r g u m e n t p ro v id e d
in th e o r ig in a l so u rc es.'* T h e a p p e lla n t s tre s s e d th a t th e a m o u n t
w h ic h w a s s ta te d to b e g iv e n a f te r d iv o r c e is th e d e f e r r e d d o w e r.
C o n c lu s iv e ly M a t a is a g if t to b e g iv e n to d iv o r c e e o r a t th e tim e
o f d e p a r tu r e to c o n s o le h e r o r to c o n c ilia te h e r g r ie f a t th e c r itic a l
a n d d e lic a te m o m e n t. B u t th is a r g u m e n t d id n o t s a tis fy th e c o u rt
a n d th e y d e c id e d th a t d iv o r c e e s h o u ld b e p r o v id e d f o r m a in te n a n c e
till r e m a r r ia g e o r d e a th . T h is d e c is io n b y th e a p e x o f th e J u d ic ia ry
in I n d ia e x p lo d e d th e M u s lim c o m m u n ity in to a g r e a t c o n tro v e r s y
a n d d e b a te . M a jo r ity o f th e M u s lim c o m m u n ity w a s o f th e o p in io n
th a t th e lin e o f r e a s o n in g a d o p te d b y th e S u p r e m e c o u r t w a s
c o n tra r y to th e s h a r i a . It w a s o p in e d th a t it is n e ith e r d e s ir a b le n o r
r e a s o n a b le to b e n d th e p e r s o n a l la w s b e y o n d th e ir lim it to u n s e ttle
th e w e ll-e s ta b lis h e d ru le s o f M u s lim p e rs o n a l law .-'’ T h is a g ita tio n
in th e M u s lim c irc le le d to th e p a s s in g o f th e M u s lim W o m e n
( P ro te c tio n o f R ig h ts o n D iv o r c e ) A c t, 1986.'^"

F r o m th e w o m e n 's v ie w p o in t it is s e e n th a t th e w ife w h o h a s s p e n d
h e r w h o le Hfe a n d la b o u r f o r h e r h u s b a n d 's h o u s e h o ld , w h ic h w a s
n o t re w a rd e d , s h o u ld n o t j u s t b e tu rn e d o u t o f h e r h o u s e w ith o u t
a n y s u b s is te n c e . In B a n g la d e s h th e s e p r o b le m s a re n o t a r tic u la te d
y e t. T h e H ig h C o u r t D iv is io n o f th e S u p re m e C o u r t h a d ta k e n
s te p s to p r o v id e f o r p o s t- d iv o r c e m a in te n a n c e . I n H e f z u r R a h m a n
v s. S h a m s u n N a h a r Begum*"' it w a s h e ld th a t a p e r s o n a f te r
d iv o r c in g h is w ife is b o u n d to m a in ta in h e r o n a re a s o n a b le s c a le

58. In th e c e le b r a te d c a s e o f S h a h B a n o (M o h d . A h m e d K h a n A I R 1985 SC

9 4 5 ) in I n d ia th e c o u r t a l l o w e d p o s t d i v o r c e m a i n t e n a n c e . S e e f o r d e t a i ls ,

N a seem , M oh am m ad F arogh : T he Sh ah B a n o c a s e : X -ra y e d . K a r a c h i

1 9 8 8 ; A li, A s g h a r ( e d . ) . T h e S h a h B a n o c o n tr o v e r s y . B o m b a y 1989.

59. S h a b b ir ,( 1 9 8 8 ) ,p .2 8 5 .

60. F o r th e c u r r e n t d e v e lo p m e n t u n d e r th e W o m e n ( P r o te c tio n o f R ig h ts
o n D i v o r c e ) A c t o f 1 9 8 6 s e e M e n s k i , W .F .: ' M a i n t e n a n c e f o r d i v o r c e d
M u s l i m w i v e s ' . I n K e r a la L a w T im e s . J o u r n a l 1 9 9 4 ( 1 ) , p p . 4 5 - 5 2 .

61. 4 7 D L R (1 9 9 5 ) 54.
M a in t e n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 83

b e y o n d th e p e rio d o f i d d a t fo r a n in d e fin ite p e r io d till s h e lo s e s th e

s ta tu s o f a d iv o r c e e b y r e m a r r y in g a n o th e r p e rs o n . T h e v e rs e in th e
H o ly Q u r a n (2 :2 4 1 ) tra n s la te d b y A b d u lla h Y u s u f A li w a s re lie d
on :
F o r d iv o r c e d w o m e n m a in te n a n c e (s h o u ld b e p r o v id e d ) o n

a r e a s o n a b le s c a le . T h is is a d u ty o n th e r ig h t e o u s .^

T h e H ig h C o u rt D iv is io n c o n s id e r e d o n ly th e lite ra l m e a n in g o f
th e f irs t p a r t o f th e v e rs e . T h e tr a n s lite r a tio n r u n s a s ; " W a l i l -
m o o t a l l a k a t e m a t a a o o n b il - m a a r o o f H o w e v e r , th e A p p e la te
d iv is io n o f th e S u p r e m e C o u r t h e ld th a t th e le a r n e d j u d g e s o f th e
H ig h C o u rt D iv is io n d id n o t g iv e a n y a tte n tio n to th e re a l tra n s la tio n
o f th e tw o a ra b ic w o rd s " M a t a a ” a n d " N a f a q a " a n d w ro n g ly h e ld
th a t a d iv o rc e d w o m a n is e n title d to m a in te n a n c e till sh e rem arries.*^
M a t a a h a s b e e n tra n s la te d as c o n s o la tu r y g if t o r c o m p e n s a tio n o r
in d e m n ity . It is b a s ic a lly d if f e r e n t f r o m r e g u la r m a in te n a n c e o f
th e d iv o r c e e .“

T r a d itio n a l M u s lim ju r is tic o p in io n is to th e e f f e c t th a t th e

in ju n c tio n o f th e Q u r a n d o e s n o t g o b e y o n d th e id d a t p e rio d .
A c c o r d in g to H e d a y a tra n s la te d b y C h a r le s H a m ilto n ^
W h e r e a m a n d iv o r c e s h is w if e , h e r s u b s is t e n c e a n d lo d g in g

a r e in c u m b e n t u p o n h im d u r in g th e te r m o f h e r e d it, w h e th e r

th e d iv o r c e b e o f r e v e r s ib le o r ir r e v e r s ib le k in d .

N e il B E B a illie in h is b o o k a lso im ita te d th e v ie w f r o m th e H e d a y a

a n d s ta te d th a t a m o o u t u d d a h o r w o m e n w h o a re d iv o r c e d o n
a c c o u n t o f re p u d ia tio n fo r a n y c a u s e o th e r th a n h e r o w n , is e n title d
to m a in te n a n c e a n d lo d g in g d u r in g h e r I d d u t.^ '' T h is h a s b e e n

62. A li, A b d u lla Y u s u f : T h e H o ly Q u ra n , D e lh i 1 9 7 9 .

63. I b id .

64. 51 D L R (A D ) (1 9 9 9 ) 172.

65. I b id , 1 7 3 .

66. B o o k iv , c h a p te r x v , s e c t io n 3 , p. 1 4 5

67. T h e D ig e s t o f M o o h u m m u d a n la w , L o n d o n 1 8 6 5 , p .4 5 0 .
84 D r. T a s I im a M o n s o o r

r e c e n tly u p h e ld b y th e A p p e lla te D iv is io n o f th e S u p r e m e C o u rt
o f B a n g la d e s h in H e f z u r R a h m a n v s. S h a m s u m N a h a r B egum .*’*
T h e Q u ra n ic v e rs e 6 5 :6 w h ic h is c o n s id e r e d in th is r e g a r d d ire c ts
th e h u s b a n d 's to p a y m a in te n a n c e to th e ir d iv o r c e d w iv e s d u rin g
i d d a t , it s a y s :

" L e t t h e w o m e n l i v e ( I n id d a t ) in t h e s a m e s t y l e a s y e l i v e ,

A c c o r d in g to y o u r m e a n s : A n n o y th e m n o t, s o a s to r e s t r ic t

th e m . A n d if th e y c a r r y ( l i f e in th e ir w o m b s ) , th e n s p e n d

(y o u r s u b s is te n c e ) o n th e m u n til th e y d e liv e r th e ir b u r d e n :

a n d i f th e y s u c k le y o u r ( o f fs p r in g ) g iv e th e m th e ir r e c o m p e n s e

: a n d ta k e m u t u a l c o u n s e l t o g e t h e r ; a c c o r d in g to w h a t is j u s t

a n d r e a s o n a b le . A n d i f y e fin d y o u r s e lv e s in d if f ic u l t i e s , le t

a n o th e r w o m e n s u c k le (t h e c h ild ) o n th e (f a th e r 's ) b e h a l f

C o n s e q u e n tly , th e A p p e lla te D iv is io n r u le d th a t th e ju d g e m e n t o f
th e H ig h C o u r t D iv is io n is b a s e d o n n o s o u n d r e a s o n in g s a n d it is
a g a in s t th e p rin c ip le s s e t u p b y M u s lim ju r i s t s o f th e la s t fo u rte e n
h u n d r e d y e a rs . T h e ju d g e m e n t w a s p e r h a p s a r e f le c tio n fro m
e a r lie r d e c is io n s . In A g a M a h o m e d J a f f e r B in d a m e n v s K o o ls o o m
B e e b e e a n d o th e rs a s e a r ly as in 1 8 7 0 it w a s h e ld b y th e P riv y
C o u n c il th a t it w o u ld b e w ro n g f o r th e c o u r t o n a p o in t o f th is k in d
to a tte m p t to p u t th e ir o w n c o n s tr u c tio n o n th e K o r a n in o p p o s itio n
to th e e x p re s s ru lin g o f c o m m e n ta to r s o f s u c h g r e a t a n tiq u ity an d
h ig h authority.™

In th e a b o v e case^‘ it w a s a ls o h e ld b y c h i e f ju s tic e A T M A fz a l th a t
th e Q u ra n ic v e rs e s c a n n o t b e u n d e r s to o d in to ta l is o la tio n a n d n o t
o n ly o n its lite ra l c o n s tr u c tio n b u t w ith th e h e lp o f th e p ro p h e t's
( p e a c e b e u p o n h im ) te a c h in g s a n d p r a c tic e s a n d s u b s e q u e n tly b y
th e e n u n c ia tio n s o f I s la m ic ju r is ts a n d s c h o la rs . J u s tic e M u s ta f a
K a m a l in h is d e c is io n s ta te d th a t i f m a t a a m e a n s m a in te n a n c e it
w ill n m c o u n te r to a y a t s 2 3 3 ,2 3 6 a n d 2 3 7 o f S u r a A l - B a q a r a h a n d

68. 51 D L R (A D )(1 9 9 9 ) 172.

69. A li (1 9 7 9 ), p. 1 5 6 5 .

70. 2 5 I L R (1 8 7 0 )C a l9 .

71. H e fz u r R a h m a n v s . S h a tm u n N a lm r B e g u m 5 \ D L R ( A D ) ( 1 9 9 9 ) 1 7 3 .
M a in te n a n c e to M u s lim W iv e s 85

A y a t s 6 d i n d 1 o f S u r a A l - T a l a q . I f m a t a a d o e s n o t m e a n m a in te n a n c e
it m e a n s c o n s o la tu r y g if t o r c o m p e n s a tio n o r in d e m n ity w h ic h
s h o u ld b e p r o v id e d to th e d iv o r c e d w o m e n in a c c o r d a n c e to th e
H o ly Q u ra n .

T h e r e a re p r o b le m s w h ic h c o n tin u a lly c ro p u p in all m a in te n a n c e

c a s e s . F ir s tly , th e re is th e q u e s tio n o f d e te r m in in g th e a m o u n t o f
m a in te n a n c e , i.e. h o w d o th e la w a n d th e F a m ily C o u r t a rriv e a t an
j u s t a n d a d e q u a te s u m ? It h a s b e e n s h o w n in th e d is c u s s io n o f th e
c a s e s th a t th e re is n o f irm p o lic y , a lth o u g h s o m e tim e s th e h u s b a n d 's
in c o m e is ta k e n in to c o n s id e r a tio n . S e c o n d ly , th e p r o b le m is m o re
a c u te , a s h u s b a n d s e v a d e to p a y m a in te n a n c e in th e m a jo r ity o f th e
c a s e s . T h e o n ly s a n c tio n le ft to th e w if e is to e x e c u te th e d e c r e e ,
w h ic h is a ls o n o t d if f ic u lt f o r th e h u s b a n d to e s c a p e a s th e la w is
h a rd ly im p le m e n te d . M o r e o v e r , m e n in th e p a tria r c h a l s o c ie ty o f
B a n g la d e s h h a v e th e a d v a n ta g e to u s e s o c ia l h a r a s s m e n t, fa m ily
s la n d e r a n d , in th e e x tre m e , p h y s ic a l th r e a t so a s n o t to im p le m e n t
th e la w . T h is is a n o th e r e le m e n t o f th e p a tria r c h a l a r b itr a r in e s s
w h ic h is th e r e s u lt o f m a le a u th o rity in s o c ie ty . H o w e v e r, it is tru e
th a t th e e n f o r c e m e n t o f M a in te n a n c e d e c re e is v e ry d if f ic u lt
w h e r e th e h u s b a n d is u n w illin g to p a y , b u t th e s ta tu to r y p ro v is io n s
a re th e re . T h e n e e d o f th e h o u r is e n f o r c e m e n t o f th e la w .

T h e e x e c u tio n o f F a m ily C o u r t d e c r e e s in a c c o r d a n c e to th e
F a m ily C o u r ts O r d in a n c e , o f 1 985 is d e a lt in s e c tio n 3 w h ic h
s ta te s th a t i f th e d e c re e is th e p a y m e n t o f m o n e y a n d th e d e c re ta l
a m o u n t is n o t p a id w ith in th e tim e s p e c if ie d b y th e c o u r t, th e
F a m ily C o u r t w ill a c t as th e C iv il C o u rt. B u t i f it is f o r th e o r d e r
f o r p a y m e n t o f fin e th e F a m ily C o u r t w ill a c t a s th e C rim in a l C o u r t
a n d m a y is s u e a w a rra n t, p a s s a n o r d e r f o r im p r is o n m e n t i f th e
d e c r e ta l a m o u n t is n o t p a id . T h e e x e c u tio n o f m a in te n a n c e d e c re e s
is s im ila r to th e th e d e c re e o f th e p a y m e n t o f m o n e y . It is s u g g e s te d
h e re th a t w h e r e th e d e c r e e is th e p a y m e n t o f m o n e y th e F a m ily
C o u r ts p o w e r s h o u ld b e as th e C r im in a l C o u rt. T h is w ill e n s u re
th a t th e h u s b a n d s p a y m a in te n a n c e . I t is a ls o r e c o m m e n d e d th a t
th e s a n c tio n s o f th e F a m ily C o u r ts c o u ld b e s tr e n g th e n e d b y
p r o v id in g th e m w ith a c rim in a l c o u r t's p o w e r to a tta c h th e p ro p e rty
86 D r . T a s lim a M o n s o o r

o f th e h u s b a n d s to p a y m a in te n a n c e to th e w ife .

T h e re a l d if f ic u lty in a v a ilin g th e le g a l re m e d y f o r o b ta in in g
m a in te n a n c e is th e tim e f a c to r in v o lv e d in g e ttin g a d e c r e e f o r
m a in te n a n c e . I t h a s b e e n r ig h tly p o in te d o u t b y a n a u th o r th a t
m a in te n a n c e f o r th e w ife is a n im m e d ia te n e e d a n d th e d e la y s in
litig a tio n o fte n d e f e a t th e p u r p o s e .’^ It is s u g g e s te d th a t r e f o r m s
s h o u ld b e m a d e in th e F a m ily C o u rts O rd in a n c e , 1985 fo r p ro v id in g
in te r im o r d e r s n o t o n ly f o r p r e v e n tin g p e rs o n s fro m f r u s tr a tin g th e
s u it a s p ro v id e d u n d e r s e c tio n 16 A o f th e O rd in a n c e . B u t p ro v id in g
f o r a n in te r im o r d e r p e n d in g f in a l d is p o s a l o f th e s u it, fo r a d e p o s it
in th e F a m ily C o u r t e v e ry m o n th , a n a m o u n t te n ta tiv e ly d e te rm in e d
b y s u c h c o u r t f o r p a y m e n t a s m a in te n a n c e o f w ife a n d c h ild r e n .
T h e p o w e r s o f th e F a m ily C o u r ts s h o u ld b e e n h a n c e d in th is
r e g a rd . B y th is m e th o d f o r a n in te r im m a in te n a n c e o r d e r it w ill
g iv e r e li e f to th e d e s e r te d a n d p o o r w iv e s w h o d o e s n o t h a v e a n y
o th e r m e a n s o f liv e lih o o d .

T h e p r e s e n t p a p e r h a s s h o w n in v a rio u s w a y s th a t w iv e s in
B a n g la d e s h a re d e n ie d o f th e ir Is la m ic r ig h t o f m a in te n a n c e . I t is
s u g g e s te d th a t r e f o r m s s h o u ld b e m a d e in th e F a m ily C o u rts
O r d in a n c e , 1985 to m a k e th is s ta tu to ry r ig h t m o r e e f f e c tiv e ly
e n fo rc e d .

72. P a t e l , R a s h i d a : W o m e n a n d l a w in P a k i s t a n . K a r a c h i , 1 9 7 9 , p . 6 7 .