Gudia returns to first husband, keeps child

The controversy surrounding Gudia, her two husbands, and unborn child came to a surprising end on Tuesday – in the studios of the Zee TV network!

The pregnant Gudia will no longer have to make a tough choice between her first 'legal' husband and her unborn child. She can keep both.

In an event that is probably a first for Indian television, the first husband, soldier Mohammed Arif, agreed to accept his wife with the unborn baby after Gudia decided that was how she wanted it.

The couple swore that they would look after the unborn child from her second husband Taufeeq. Taufeeq had earlier told another television channel that he would respect Gudia's decision.

The decision received the approval of the ulema who were present in the audience.

Among those who attended the 'TV trial' was noted Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin, who said the woman's decision was right according to the Shariat.

Local panchayats have reportedly approved the arrangement; details, however, are awaited.

Earlier, some community leaders had condemned Gudia's second marriage saying it was not legal under Islamic law. Conservative sections of the community also raged against her, saying Islam does not give women the right to divorce.

"According to the Shariat, women cannot give talaaq [divorce] to their husbands," said Meerut's nayab sheher qazi Zainur Rashedin. Since religion does not give sanction to Gudia's second marriage, he argued, it is void.

"Gudia, like all Muslim women, does not have the right to divorce," Rashedin said. "She can only petition the Shariat court for 'khula'." He observed that the complications arose because of a lack of religious education among members of the community. The second marriage was a result of this ignorance, he pointed out.

The problem arose when Arif went missing in September 1999, after the Kargil war, while sweeping mines on the Line of Control, and was declared a deserter. It was more than four years later that it was discovered that he was being held captive in Pakistan and a campaign was mounted to free him and bring him back. Arif and Gudiya had been married for just 10 days when Arif was recalled to duty on account of the conflict.