Bahishti Zewar (translated as Heavenly Ornaments), written by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullahe Alaihe) is an 8 volume comprehensive handbook of fiqh (jurisprudence), especially for the education of girls and women. It describes the Five Pillars of Islam and also, highlights more obscure principles. For years, it has remained a favorite with the people of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. Among (Hanafi Deobandi) Muslims, it is a popular practice to present this volume to a new bride. The motivation behind this gesture is that the young woman is taking up a new identity and new life as a wife and mother-to-be. She should be well versed in the rites, rituals and tradition of Islam.
