Confusion and rumours over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) have led to a sudden rise in nikah applications in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal. Many Muslim families rushed to Qazi offices after hearing that marriages between certain relatives, including cousins, could be banned once the UCC comes into force in the state.
According to officials, the number of nikah applications, which was earlier around 30-40 a day, has increased sharply. Some reports put the number at more than 200 applications daily, while Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board chairman Dr Sanwar Patel said it had reached around 300.
Families advance wedding plans
The fear created by incomplete information has led many families to change their wedding plans. Some marriages had been fixed for months, while others were scheduled six months later or had been planned even earlier.
Dr Sanwar Patel said families were now approaching Qazi offices to complete the nikah process immediately instead of waiting for the planned wedding date.
“Due to apprehensions about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, the number of nikah applications received daily in Bhopal has increased from 30-40 to around 300,” Patel said.
According to him, marriages between certain relatives, including cousins, have traditionally been followed by some families in the Muslim community. After the UCC was passed in Madhya Pradesh, a rumour spread that such marriages would be completely prohibited once the law is implemented. This created panic among families whose weddings were already fixed.
Qazi offices see a sudden increase in nikah applications
Mufti Ali Qadar, Naib Shahar Qazi of Bhopal, also said the increase in applications began after the rumour started circulating.
“A message spread that marriages within blood relations would not be allowed. However, the Waqf Board chairman and the Shahar Qazi clarified that this information is incorrect,” he said.
According to Qadar, Qazi offices earlier received around 30-40 marriage applications every day. After the rumour spread, the number increased to around 200-250.
He said many families had already made major arrangements for upcoming weddings and did not want to take any risk because of the uncertainty.
Concerns over wedding expenses and commitments
For several families, the issue was not only about the marriage itself. Some had booked marriage halls, arranged caterers and made other preparations well in advance. There was a fear that if the UCC stopped such marriages after it came into force, their wedding plans could be affected and the money already spent could go to waste.
Mufti Ali Qadar said some families were also worried about possible problems even if the law was later changed or withdrawn. This uncertainty pushed many people to apply for nikah earlier than planned.
Waqf Board explains Section 4(4)
The Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board has now tried to clear the confusion by explaining the provision related to such marriages.
According to the Board, Section 4(4) of the UCC includes an exception for marriages governed by religious customs, practices or traditions. The Board has said that if both the bride and groom are Muslims and their established customs or practices allow marriage within certain degrees of relationship, that practice can continue.
Dr Patel also said that there was an issue with the earlier wording in the Hindi version. According to him, the wording was initially presented in a way that suggested the custom did not allow such a marriage. It was later corrected to state that the applicable custom or practice does permit the marriage.
He said the clause should not be read separately or understood as a complete ban on cousin marriages among Muslims.
Officials ask people not to believe rumours
The Waqf Board and Qazi offices are now trying to reassure families that the rumour about a blanket ban on cousin marriages among Muslims is incorrect.
Officials have advised people not to make important decisions based on messages, rumours or incomplete information. They have asked families to check the actual provisions of the law and understand the exception under Section 4(4) before changing wedding plans.
The sudden rush for nikah applications in Bhopal shows how quickly rumours about a major legal change can affect personal and family decisions. According to the Waqf Board chairman and the Qazi, the panic was mainly caused by fear and confusion, not by any immediate change in the rules governing such marriages.
