Five women -- a qazi and four witnesses -- will solemnise the union of Naesh Hasan and her fiance. Hasan is founder member of the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a social organisation.

Although there has been no precedent of women conducting a nikah (an Islamic marriage ceremony) in recent Muslim history, women are known to have attained the position of qazi and mufti in times of the Prophet.

Dr Sayeda Hamid, a member of the Union Planning Commission and an expert of Islamic studies, will fly in from New Delhi to perform the wedding. Dr Sabra Habib of Lucknow University will officiate as witness.

"The response from our families and local religious leaders has been positive," said Hasan. "We speak of progress but leave all the important jobs to menfolk. Religious duties have nearly solely been a male premise, not only in Islam but also in other religions."

For Hamid, too, it will be a first.

The nikah of Hasan and her fiance will take place according to the tenets of Islam, some scholars supporting the cause said.

Kalbe Jawwad, noted Shia scholar and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, has endorsed the idea of the wedding. "There is nothing wrong if a woman conducts a nikah if she has the same knowledge as her male counterpart," Jawwad said.

The detractors? Riyaz Ahmed, an Islamic scholar and President of the Idgah Committee in Farrukhabad, who raised questions on the legal aspect of such a nikah.