The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 is another milestone in the Legislative history of Muslim Personal Law. This Act may be said to be another attempt by the ulama to utilise the legislature to 'rectify' the prevailing situation in regard to the Muslim women to dissolve their marriages.

 

In the absence of any other alternative for release from a difficult marriage, many Muslim women felt compelled by their circumstances to renounce their faith. This was causing great trouble to the ulama that the Muslim women were apostatizing from Islam.  They decided to take action to rectify the situation. To this end, Jamiat strived to have a law enacted empowering Muslim judges to dissolve a Muslim marriage on the application of woman in those circumstances in which it was causing hardship to her.

Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi introduced a bill in the Federal Legislative Assembly in 1936.'' which was adopted  in 1939. The Bill was prepared by the leading ulama of the Jamiat which was based on Al-Hilat Al-Najiza (a lawful devise) - A book written by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (RH).

The main feature of the bill was that for the purpose of dissolving the marriage at the instance of Muslim women, it accepted that the principles of Maliki Law be applicable to all Muslims.