Local Muftis Dealing Approach to Married Women's Issues Embracing Islam Without Their Husbands in The United Kingdom

Abstract

Minority Muslims are Muslim communities residing in non-Muslim countries, including Europe, America, China, and India. Their presence in these nations has brought forth various novel issues concerning religious practices and the Muslim way of life. Among these issues, marriage and family dynamics are significant. Therefore, this article aims to examine the approach of the local mufti in addressing a situation where married women embrace Islam without their husbands in the United K ingdom. Although the prevailing view among the majority of Islamic scholars and in Muslim-majority countries is to dissolve such marriages, the historical context and current reality of minority Muslim communities call for a different approach. Thus, the role of the local mufti, who is esteemed within the local Muslim community, becomes crucial in preserving the integrity of Islam while simultaneously embracing the Muslim community, particularly female converts. This study employs a qualitative methodology, gathering data through interviews with local muftis and Islamic scholars in the UK. The findings reveal that this issue is interpreted differently compared to the situation in Muslim-majority countries. Therefore, the role of the mufti is crucial in issuing fatwas that take into account the context of the Muslim minority community, ensure the well-being of women who have recently converted to Islam in the UK, and balance between Shariah principles and social reality. Fatwa issued need to be carefully drafted to safeguard the maslahah (well-being) of female converts without disregarding the provisions of Shariah.