Wives of 'missing' men in Kashmir can remarry, rule scholars

The ‘ulemas' (scholars) reached a consensus in the light of Islamic teachings that any half-widow who intends to remarry can do so if their spouse remains untraced for four years, he told PTI.

“We discussed the issue threadbare in the light of Islamic teachings in accordance with different schools of thought and reached a conclusion that any half-widow who intends to remarry can do so after their husband remained untraced for four years,” Shamas, who was among the scholars at the meet, said.

The ulemas also resolved that the issue of property in respect of such women should be resolved according to Islamic law, Shamas said.

The decision assumes significance as there had been no consensus among the local Islamic scholars over the re-marriage and property rights of the “half widows”, a term used for women whose husbands have gone missing and it is not known whether they are alive or not.