48 SOCIAL SCIENTIST cause for land alienation among Muslims. A preference to matriarchal residence is also noticed among Muslims by virtue of the peculiar inheritance principle, though Muslim society is basically a patrilineal and patriarchal in form. To hold the property within the known group, Muslims generally practice kin marriage or marriage with a person belonging to the same village or locality. So a kind of local group formation is noticed among Muslims. In fact, the laws of inheritance influence every aspect of social life among Muslims—economy, family structure, marriage pattern and inter-personal relations among the kins. There is a popular saying among the Muslims: Chacha apan, Chachi par Cha-char maea-ka bia kar (Father's brother is closer to a person than the father's brother's wife). So to marry the father's brother's daughter is obligatory. And this is mainly to retain the property within the lineage. SEKH RAHIM MONDAL