Zafaryab Jilani, the secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the lawyer who represented the Muslim side in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, passed away on May 17, 2023 at the age of 73. He was suffering from a head injury and multiple health issues. He was a senior advocate in the Supreme Court and a former additional advocate general of Uttar Pradesh. He was also the convener of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC), which was formed in 1986 to protect the rights of Muslims over the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Jilani was a key figure in the legal battle that spanned over four decades, from the lower courts to the apex court. He argued passionately and persistently for the Muslim claim over the Babri Masjid, which was demolished by Hindu kar sevaks on December 6, 1992. He challenged the validity of the acquisition of land by the central government in 1993 and sought restoration of the status quo ante. He also opposed the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010, which divided the disputed land into three parts among Hindus, Muslims, and Nirmohi Akhara. He filed a review petition against the Supreme Court judgment of 2019, which paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple at the site and allotted an alternative five-acre land for a mosque elsewhere in Ayodhya.
Jilani was not only a lawyer but also a leader and a spokesperson for the Muslim community. He was a founding member of the AIMPLB, which was established in 1973 to safeguard Islamic personal laws in India. He was instrumental in drafting and defending the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, which upheld the right of Muslim women to get maintenance from their former husbands only during the iddat period. He also played a vital role in mobilizing public opinion and organizing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which he considered as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Jilani was known for his eloquence, erudition, and courage. He was well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence, constitutional law, and history. He was soft-spoken but never soft in court. He was respectful but never submissive. He was firm but never rigid. He was pragmatic but never compromising. He was always ready to engage in dialogue and debate with his opponents but never gave up on his principles and convictions.
Jilani’s demise is a huge loss for the Muslim community and the legal fraternity. He will be remembered as a champion of justice, a defender of faith, and a voice of reason. He will be missed by his family, friends, and admirers. May Allah grant him peace and paradise.
