The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 is by far the most important legislation in the closing years of the British rule in India. The Act almost abolished the legal authority of customs among the Muslims of British India and protected the personal laws ruled by Islamic Shariat.

 In 1935, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind passed a resolution disapproving the practice of certain customs contrary to Shariat. A bill was prepared by the 'Jamiat' and was introduced in the Legislature of the North-West Frontier Province and later enacted as the North-West Frontier Province Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937. Later on it was desired by the Jamiat to get a law passed having a countrywide application over the whole Muslim population. A bill was introduced by H.M. Abdullah in the Federal Legislative Assembly in 1935 and enacted in 1937

In the statement of Objective and Reasons for introduction of the Bill, it has been clearly admitted that the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the greatest Muslim religious body has invited the attention of all concerned to the urgent necessity of introducing the measure to this effect.