Islam Forbids Violence Against Women – Stakeholders

Islamic scholars and women rights advocates have declared that violence against women has no place in Islam.

They insisted that the religion does not support the denial of food, education, healthcare or economic opportunities to women.

The stakeholders spoke yesterday in Abuja at the national public presentation of the second edition of the WRAPA Khutbah Collection.

The publication was produced by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative in partnership with the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue(CICID),Bayero University, Kano.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the director of CICID, Taufiq Hussaini, said violence against women, like violence against humanity in general, was completely prohibited in Islam.

He said, “There is nothing in Islam that supports the denial of food, education, healthcare or economic opportunities to women. Such practices are often the result of misrepresentation, cultural influences and, in some cases, male chauvinism within communities and societies.”

Hussaini explained that harmful practices occurring in some Muslim communities were often wrongly attributed to Islam despite lacking any basis in Islamic teachings.

Addressing debates surrounding women’s rights in Islam, he said the issue of striking a wife was frequently misunderstood.

According to him, Islamic teachings prescribe a process that begins with admonition, dialogue and reconciliation efforts before any further step is contemplated.

“The objective is not violence, fighting or physical harm. Islam does not endorse drawing blood, inflicting injuries or abusing women or any other human being,” he said.

The professor added that classical Islamic scholars had interpreted the action as symbolic and non-harmful, stressing that it was never intended to cause pain or injury.

He also noted that Islamic history contains numerous examples of women actively participating in business and economic activities.

On the significance of the publication, Hussaini said the book was developed from extensive research findings and designed to provide guided Friday sermons for Imams.

“Imams occupy a position of trust within their communities and possess the capacity to communicate effectively with worshippers.

“For this reason, the research findings were translated into khutbahs that Imams can safely and appropriately deliver during Friday prayers,” he said.

The secretary general of WRAPA, Saudatu Mahdi, said the project was conceived to advance women’s rights in Islam across Nigeria.

She explained that the initiative initially focused on the seven North-West states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina due to the prevalence of challenges affecting women in the region.

Mahdi said the project had evolved over 12 years, covering issues such as child custody, divorce, women’s consent in marriage, economic empowerment and access to justice.

“Our initial intention was to focus on areas with large Muslim populations where there was evidence of specific challenges affecting women.

“We sought to identify the nature of the problems and map out priority areas for intervention,” she said.

Also speaking, the secretary general of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam and Imam of the National Mosque, Khalid Abubakar Ali, described the publication as an important tool for social reorientation.

“This is a very important book. It is a collection of Friday sermons that seeks to address family issues, societal challenges and other matters that affect daily life,” he said.

Ali said the messages contained in the book would help improve relationships within families and communities, particularly between husbands and wives as well as parents and children.

“The narrative it promotes will go a long way in changing attitudes and behaviours.

“The benefits of this book are not limited to Northern Nigeria alone. Muslims live across the country and the lessons contained in the book will help improve the character and conduct of citizens nationwide,” he added.