Discussing the issue during a meeting in Delhi on Sunday, the AIMPLB working committee emphasised that the “Holy Prophet had mentioned that amongst all possible deeds the most abhorred is divorce in the sight of Allah, hence it is desirable to continue the marriage by applying all permissible measures to safeguard it…”.

“However, if married life becomes difficult to maintain, then divorce was prescribed as a solution to mankind,” said the board in a statement, adding “This judgment will create further problems to these women who have successfully come out of their painful relationship.”

The board asserted that it doesn’t augur well “with human reasoning that the man is held responsible to maintain his ex-wives when the marriage itself is non-existent”.

The board authorised its president Hazrat Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani “to initiate all possible measures (legal, constitutional and democratic) to ensure that this decision by the Supreme Court is rolled back”.

“The board has also decided to speak to the central government and the Opposition on this matter,” AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas told The Indian Express.

Apart from the alimony issue, the AIMPLB adopted five more resolutions, including one against the UCC. On UCC, Ilyas said, “The (AIMPLB) legal team has drafted a petition and it will be filed in Uttarakhand HC later this month.”

According to the board statement, the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections were an “indication” that people have expressed their “deep resentment towards the agenda based on hatred and malice”. Discussing the issue, the board said: “The government continues to fail in its obligations to provide security to the deprived and the marginalised Muslims and lower castes citizens of India… if the rule of law continues to be toyed with…the country will face anarchy.” Ilyas said there is a concern also because no one from the Opposition has raised the issue or met the family of the victims.

In another resolution, the board stressed on the implementation of the Places of Worship Act. The statement said: “It is a matter of great concern as to how the lower courts are entertaining the new disputes related to Gyanvapi Masjid and Shahi Eidgah of Mathura”.

The board observed that the “Supreme Court while pronouncing its Babri judgment had clearly stated that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 has now closed all such doors”. “Unfortunately it… is now not allowing Muslim side to even appeal in Mathura and Kashi cases. The board expects that the Supreme Court will put an end to all new disputes,” it said.

In a resolution on the Palestine issue, the board reminded that “India has always had a principle stand and stood by Palestinians right” and demanded the government “cease all military aid to Israel and joint military exercise”.

The board also demanded the Centre and state government vacate “illegally encroached” Waqf properties.