The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) has delivered a landmark ruling against the practice of denying women their inheritance, declaring it un-Islamic.
In its ruling, the court also ordered criminal proceedings against individuals who withhold women’s rightful inheritance based on outdated customs and traditions.
A four-member bench, led by Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman, made the announcement while hearing a petition filed by Fawzia Jalal Shah. The court was informed that cultural practices, such as chadar and parchi, are still followed in areas like Bannu, where women are often deprived of their inheritance rights. The court stressed that such practices, under the guise of local customs, have no basis in Islam and must be abolished.
While the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government acknowledged that these customs exist in some regions, it clarified that they are neither widespread nor legally recognized. The court strongly condemned these practices, reminding that prior to Islam, women were denied inheritance during the era of ignorance, but Islam established their rightful share in property and assets.
The court’s ruling directs that legal action be taken against those who continue to deny women their inheritance.
