Guwahati, Aug 30: The Assam Legislative Assembly has decided to discontinue the long-standing practice of providing a break on Fridays for Muslim Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to offer Namaz (Friday prayers). This rule, which has been in place since the British colonial era, allowed for a two-hour recess from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM every Friday, reported The Hindustan Times.
Biswajit Phukan, a BJP MLA from Sarupathar Assembly constituency, announced the decision, stating that the break, which had been a fixture since British times, would no longer be observed.
“The Speaker of the Assam Assembly, Biswajit Daimary, held a meeting with the legislators, where the decision was taken unanimously,” Phukan said. He added that this change aligns Assam with the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and other state assemblies in India that do not provide such a break for Namaz.
The Assam Assembly will now commence at 9:30 AM every day, including Fridays, eliminating the earlier provision that allowed for the extended break.
This move also reflects a broader shift in Assam, which recently passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024. The new law mandates the compulsory registration of Muslim marriages and divorces with the government, replacing the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935. The Bill aims to ‘safeguard’ the rights of Muslim women and men and combat child marriages.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed that the legislation will provide ‘greater security’ to Muslim women, ensuring that their rights are protected. He highlighted that similar laws exist in Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir, which have Muslim populations.
From an Islamic perspective, the decision to discontinue the Friday Namaz break is concerning and could be seen as disregarding the religious obligations of Muslim legislators. Friday prayers, or Jumu’ah, hold an important place in Islam, being a mandatory congregation that underscores the unity and spirituality of the Muslim community. Providing a break for this prayer is not just a matter of convenience but recognition of the religious rights of Muslim MLAs. Denying this break could be viewed as undermining the religious freedoms enshrined in the Indian Constitution. In a pluralistic society like India, it is essential to respect and accommodate the diverse religious practices of all communities, ensuring that such shifts do not erode the inclusive fabric of the nation.
