Include ‘medical history’ column in nikah namas: Council of Islamic Ideology

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday proposed the inclusion of an optional column in the nikah nama (marriage certificate), in which information on fatal and/or contagious diseases and whether both partners have seen the other’s blood-screen results, may be recorded.

The meeting also recommended that there was nothing unIslamic about referring to members of the Christian community as ‘masihi’ instead of ‘esai’. The CII had earlier also been briefed on the issue by representatives of the Ministry for Minority Affairs.

On a question by the Zakat and Ushr Ministry on whether zakat funds could be invested in the National Investment Trust and Investment Corporation of Pakistan, the CII declared that zakat funds belonged to the poor and destitute, and could not be invested as per Islamic rules.

According to a press release, the council stressed that the Zakat and Ushr Ministry should immediately arrange for the distribution of surplus zakat funds among the deserving people.

The CII’s 175th meeting was headed by Chairman Dr Muhammad Khalid Masud.

In its two-day meeting, the CII discussed nine items and formulated opinions and recommendations. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg7_3