FAMILY LAWS IN HINDUISM AND ISLAM: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

چکیده

Family laws play a fundamental role in shaping social structure, moral values, and individual responsibilities within a society. Hinduism and Islam, as two major world religions, provide comprehensive frameworks for regulating family life through their respective religious texts and traditions. This study presents a comparative analysis of family laws in Hinduism and Islamic family law, focusing on key areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, guardianship, and the status of women. The research examines Hindu family laws as derived from classical texts like the Manusmriti and later legal developments, alongside Islamic family laws based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and juristic interpretations. Through comparative evaluation, the study highlights both similarities and differences in principles, objectives, and legal mechanisms, particularly regarding social justice, family stability, and individual rights. The research concludes that while both systems aim to preserve family cohesion and moral order, Islamic family law demonstrates a more systematic legal structure with explicit emphasis on justice, rights, and responsibilities for all family members. This comparative study contributes to a deeper understanding of religious family laws and promotes interfaith legal and social dialogue.