‎Scholars, WRAPA Advocate Women Rights, Decry Rising Divorce Rates

‎Scholars, religious leaders and gender advocates on Thursday called for stronger protection of women’s rights and improved family values, while expressing concern over the rising rate of divorce in Nigeria. ‎ ‎The call was made in Abuja during the public presentation and launch of the revised Khutbah collection by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection […]

‎Scholars, religious leaders and gender advocates on Thursday called for stronger protection of women’s rights and improved family values, while expressing concern over the rising rate of divorce in Nigeria.
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‎The call was made in Abuja during the public presentation and launch of the revised Khutbah collection by the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), organised in partnership with the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue.
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‎A Khutbah is an Islamic sermon, particularly the formal sermon delivered during Friday congregational prayers. It is often used by Islamic scholars and clerics to provide religious guidance, address moral and social issues, and educate worshippers on matters affecting society.
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‎Speaking at the event, the Secretary General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam and Imam of the National Mosque Abuja, Prof. Abubakar Khalid, described the publication as an important tool for addressing societal and family-related challenges.
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‎According to him, the sermons contained in the collection are designed to reshape attitudes and behaviours within Muslim homes and communities.
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‎“It is a very important book with sermons to be preached on Fridays which seek to address family, societal and issues that affect lives, and certainly the narrative is very important. It will go a long way to change the attitudes and behaviours of husbands to their wives, daughters and improve their general relationships within the society,” he said.
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‎Khalid added that the lessons contained in the book extend beyond clerics to the wider Muslim community.
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‎“The book does not affect only the imams although they take the lead teaching people, but it is for the whole Muslim community. They must key into the embedded lessons in the book so that we improve the morality of the society,” he stated.
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‎Also speaking, Dr. Ahmed Gidadawa, the Dangaladima Wazirin Sokoto and representative of the Sultanate Council, said the revised Khutbah collection promotes peace and family stability.
‎He expressed concern over what he described as the alarming rate of divorce in society.
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‎“The book is beneficial because it emphasises peace. Peace is supposed to start in the family and that is what the book is talking about. It encourages against cheating,” he said.
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‎“The rate of divorce now is alarming because sometimes the divorce is without reasons,” he added.
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‎In his remarks, Prof. Taufiq Hussaini, Professor of Islamic Modern Development at Bayero University Kano and Director of the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue, said the publication was developed to counter what he termed the misrepresentation of Islamic teachings regarding women.
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“We have understood that there’s a mismanagement, misrepresentation and mischievous interpretation of some verses and Hadiths of the Quran with regards to women, particularly when it comes to beating and shouldering responsibilities,” he said.
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‎According to Hussaini, the Friday sermons would help correct misconceptions because imams command trust and confidence among worshippers.
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‎“The outcome of the research documented in the book will be preached by imams on Fridays because they have the trust and confidence from the congregants to accept and believe whatever they say,” he noted.
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‎He stressed that Islam does not condone violence or maltreatment against women.
‎“Islam does not support violence against women or any forms of maltreatment. Such actions are usually borne out of interweaving religion with culture,” he added.
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‎The Secretary General of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, said the organisation remained committed to promoting women’s rights and access to justice across the country.
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‎“Our mission is to ensure the actualisation of the rights of women in public and private spaces — neighbourhoods and markets. We want a Nigeria where every woman is able to access justice and understand her rights, ask for them and seek redress where such rights are violated,” she said.