A fresh controversy has emerged around the recent wedding of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and journalist Nidhi Razdan. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi, the national president of All India Muslim Jamaat, has issued a formal fatwa from Bareilly terming the interfaith union illegitimate according to Islamic principles. The cleric stated that the marriage does not conform to the established tenets of Sharia.
The Religious Arguments Behind The Fatwa
Elaborating on the religious reasoning behind the ruling, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi asserted that Islamic jurisprudence sets strict prerequisites for a valid matrimonial union. Presenting the core rule, he stated, "For marriage in Islam, it is mandatory for both the boy and the girl to be Muslim." According to him, if either partner does not adhere to the Islamic faith, the marriage cannot be recognized as permissible.
The cleric noted that while Omar Abdullah is a Muslim, Nidhi Razdan is a non-Muslim woman. He contended that for the union to be sanctioned under Islamic tenets, Razdan should have recited the Kalma and embraced Islam before the wedding took place. Because no such religious conversion occurred prior to the ceremony, the cleric termed the marriage completely illegitimate in the eyes of Islam.
Couple Confirmed Marriage On Social Media
The public announcement of the wedding came directly from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday. The 56-year-old political leader posted photographs on the social media platform X, tagging Nidhi Razdan and sharing, "A new journey began yesterday." The 49-year-old journalist Nidhi Razdan also confirmed the union on her X handle.
The private ceremony was attended by close family members and intimate circles from both sides. This union marks the second marriage for both individuals, as each had previously separated from and formally divorced their respective partners.
Previous Marriage Concluded After Prolonged Legal Proceedings
The conclusion of Omar Abdullah's earlier marriage involved an extensive legal process spanning several years. The matrimonial dispute between him and his former spouse Payal Abdullah reached finality when the Supreme Court officially dissolved the marriage in July. The decision followed a mutual settlement between the two parties, leading to a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent.
