Overview: Covers Muslim Personal Law under Indian law (Shariat Act). Includes marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, and related institutions.

Objectives: Understand principles of Muslim family law as applied in India, including various schools (Sunni/Shia), and key statutes (Muslim Personal Law [Shariat] Application Act, 1937; Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939; Muslim Women [Protection on Divorce] Act, 1986; Family Courts Act, 1984).

Outcomes: Students will outline essential conditions of a valid Muslim marriage (nikah), the concept of mahr (dower), distinguish types of talaq (especially post-Shah Bano law), know the provisions of maintenance, wills under Muslim law, and the concept of pre-emption (shufa).*

Syllabus (Topics) – CCSU:

1. Introduction to Muslim Law: Nature (divine law of Islam); sources (Quran, Hadith, Ijma, Qiyas, etc.).
2. Applicability: Who is a Muslim law subject in India (Muslim Personal Law Shariat Act).
3. Marriage (Nikah): Essentials (offer-acceptance, witnesses, guardianship by wali), capacity (puberty), mahr (mandatory gift, types: prompt/deferred).
4. Dissolution: Talaq (by husband – triple talaq invalid per Supreme Court); Talaq-e-Tafweez (delegated). Judicial divorce mechanisms: Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939 grounds for a wife (impotence, insanity, cruelty, etc.).
5. Maintenance: Mahr enforcement, Maintenance (MWP) Act, 1986 (post-divorce maintenance to women; follow-ups to Shah Bano). Separate maintenance under CrPC (s.125-128).
6. Wills: Testamentary capacity and restrictions (e.g. up to one-third of property by will).
7. Gifts and Waqf: (i) Muslim gift (hiba) essentials. (ii) Waqf (pious endowment) – concept, dissolution of wakf.
8. Pre-emption (Shufa): Rights of sharecroppers.
9. Guardianship/Guardianship: Mention MFGA 1961 if relevant, but syllabus may not detail it.

Recommended Texts: Listed in syllabus:

• Aqeel Ahmad, Mohammadan Law.
• Ali Ameer, Principles of Mohammadan Law.
• Fyzee, Outlines of Mohammedan Law.
• Tahir Mahmood, Muslim Law of India.
• Mulla, Principles of Mohammedan Law.
• Rashid Khalid, Muslim Law.
• Wilson, Mohammadan Law.

Statutes/Cases: Key Acts are mentioned in the syllabus tail. Landmark cases: Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985) – maintenance for divorced Muslim woman (led to MWP Act). Shayara Bano v. UOI (2017) – triple talaq unconstitutional. Fazlun Nissa v. State of U.P. (2015) – divorce by irrevocable divorce deed.