maulavis upset:
UP ulema chastise Sania's 'forward' behaviour
Adding to Sania Mirza's pre-marital blues come scathing chastisement from ulema, including Darul Uloom Deoband. The "objectionably forward behaviour'' displayed by the India's ace tennis player has obviously not gone down well with the Islamic seminary --their advise to Saina and her would-be groom is to behave in a restrained manner and not to flout guidelines set by the Holy Book till they are actually declared husband and wife.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mufti Ashraf Farooqui from the Fatwa department of Deoband, roundly lambasted the couple for their "unacceptable behaviour''. The kind of proximity shared publicly by Sania Mirza and Shoaib before their marriage is un-Islamic and therefore "haram'', the mufti ruled. "It is against the tenets of religion and also culture which has always put high premium on restraint.'' Islam, the mufti ruled, unequivocally prohibits free mixing between opposite sex. The kind of intimacy Saina has developed -- they are living under the same roof -- is highly objectionable. "Nikah ke pahle tanhai mein milna, batein karna, ghoomna-phirna, Islam mein haram hai (Islam bans meeting in isolation, going around and talking before marriage),'' he said. The couple, therefore, need to rectify their behaviour, he said. The unbridled show of intimacy has upset not only the maulavis, but also the members of All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board. Shaista Amber, the president of the body, termed the free-for-all-shows staged by the couple, particularly the "bepurda and behijab Saina'' totally against the spirits of Shariat. Islamic rules apply to everyone, from a rickshaw-puller to a celebrity, and they are definitely guilty of flouting all that is scared in Islam, she said. Bride and groom, as per Islamic practices, must stay separately and if living under the same roof, they must occupy different wings or rooms, said Naib Imam of Lucknow Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahali. Going by the reports, this is not being followed in Mirza household. Shoaib must move out and find himself another residence, he said. The maulana also expressed displeasure at the obvious disregard shown to Islamic tenets by the celebrity couple. Their `nikah' could be valid but the behaviour leading up to is totally un-Islamic, he said.
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Sania Mirza to wed Shoaib Malik today
In yet another surprising twist to the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik affair, the Indian tennis star has decided to marry the Pakistani cricketer today instead of the previously decided date of April 15.
Quazi Azmatullah Jaffri of Dar-Ul-Qazzat confirmed that the nikah will be performed after evening prayers in Hyderabad today.
The couple had earlier announced that they would tie the knot on April 15 but as it turns out that date has been set for their reception ceremony to be attended by about about 500 guests at the Taj Krishna hotel.
Ever since they announced their wedding, the couple had been hounded by the media over Malik's first marriage. Another Hyderabad girl Ayesha Siddiqui had alleged that Malik married her over the phone before dumping her without a divorce due to her weight problems.
Shoaib initially denied the allegations and claimed that Siddiqui duped him into a phone marriage by sending photographs of a different woman. The all-rounder, however, finally agreed to divorce her after being pressurised by community leaders.
Siddiqui had also filed an FIR against Shoaib alleging fraud and criminal intimidation which led to the cricketer'spassport being confiscated by the police.
The FIRs have been withdrawn after Malik agreed to divorce Ayesha and Shaoib is likely to get back his passport before the reception if he applies to the court today.
"As far as police are concerned, the case is closed. Malik has to apply to the court and get back his passport," Narasimha Reddy additional commissioner of police told PTI.
He said some administrative procedures have to be followed.

"We received requisition from Siddiquis. Now they can settle the matter in Lok Adalat," Reddy said.