Two women in Jaipur became the state’s first female Qazis on Monday. Afroz Begum and Jahan Aara will now be able to solemnise nikaah, and rule over matters according to Islamic law. The two also said they will focus on women’s issues. Begum and Aara completed their training from Mumbai-based Darul Uloom-i-Nisawa. Though they received support from their local community, several male clerics have disapproved of their becoming Qazis.

Rajasthan’s chief Qazi, Khalid Usmani said that according to the Quran, a woman could not be a man’s judge and thus, women could not be Qazis. He also said there was no evidence to support that women can become Qazis and that even Prophet Muhammad’s daughter never became one. The Indian Express reported that Aara said women could not become Imams (those who lead prayers) but they can become Qazis.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid was also among the Muslim men who did not support the women. Rashid said it was not “Islamically possible” for women to solemnise Muslim marriage, nikaah.