WOMEN’S RIGHTS: WRAPA TAKES TO THE MOSQUE

The Hausa say “Kowa da kiwon da ya karbe shi”, literally meaning “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Obviously, there are just so many issues to discuss this week, top among them the increase in fuel price (not ‘subsidy removal’ as it is touted to be). And when you have zero electricity and, for […]

The Hausa say “Kowa da kiwon da ya karbe shi”, literally meaning “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Obviously, there are just so many issues to discuss this week, top among them the increase in fuel price (not ‘subsidy removal’ as it is touted to be). And when you have zero electricity and, for some of us in Kano, water challenges, the problems are just too many. But sadly, when we ALL of us concentrate on topical, but necessarily painful, issues, other important matters which don’t usually attract attention tend to fall off the radar of discourse.
One such important matter not usually discussed as ‘topical’ is the tiresome issue of the rights of women – our mothers, sisters, daughters and, yes, wives. Some activities in that area usually tend to be ignored by the mainstream media, and even mainstream commentators because, as an ‘everyday’ issue, we always wring our hands in despair and intone “Allah Ya gyara” (or “Well, Allah will solve it”). No He won’t – for He has said “Innal Laha la yughayyuru bi qawmin hatta yughayyiru ma bi amfusihim!” (“Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves” or, in plain language, Allah changes not a people until the people strive for a change in and by themselves).
That’s why, despite the pain and topicality of this fuel price increase, this Column today donates the page to Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA, www.wrapanigeria.org), an NGO founded in 1999 by former First Lady Justice Fati Lami Abubakar (now Chief Judge of Niger State), in its new drive of using the mosques to advocate for the rights of Muslim women in this part of the country. My one-time student and now journalistic colleague Lamara Garba Azare <[email protected]>, who is voluntarily assisting WRAPA on this campaign, writes on this novel approach:
WRAPA, according to its Secretary General Saudatu Mahdi, is undertaking this pilot project of using the mosques under its Islamic Family Law programme with the assistance and endorsement of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI). The project is aimed at creating awareness among the populace on the need to protect the rights of women. Imams of Friday mosques all over seven selected Muslim states (Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Jigawa) would use their Khutbas, or Sermons, to take the message to the millions of men (the culprits and usual suspects) who attend the mosques every Friday – per chance they will hear!
In many cultures and societies, women were (and still are) subjected to all sorts of maltreatments. During the pre-Islamic Jahiliyya period among the Arabs, women suffered the highest forms of brutality but, with the coming of Islam, those discriminations were banned, criminalised and punished, even though ab initio the society itself knew they were wrong. Unfortunately, while today we mouth that we are Muslims, some of our attitudes towards women leave a lot to be desired. In some cases, many among us are no better than those Arabs before the coming of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, upon whom be peace.
WRAPA is worried that Muslim society appears to be gradually sliding back to the ancient times where men saw it fit to deny women their due rights. Despite the level of so-called civilisation today, it seems Jahiliyya tendencies are on the uptake. Assault on minors, ‘wife-cide’ (murder of wives), wife-battery, economic subjugation and all sorts of maltreatments are now becoming increasingly common practices in our society, if reports on our media are anything to go by, and they are. Add to that, divorce with ignominy on the side of the menfolk is very rampant in this society.
This pilot of the organisation’s Islamic Family Law programme is a concerted effort towards addressing these lingering problems facing women and children in this society, particularly as they affect the violations of women’s fundamental rights. WRAPA Secretary Saudatu says a model Khutba (Sermon) has been developed which would be frequently delivered by the Imams during the Friday prayers. The Sermons would centre on the rights of women, the position of woman in Islam, as well as the importance of woman in society. Other areas to be covered include the obligations and responsibilities of men in marriages, as the matter of upkeep and child custody after separation, among other issues.
The pilot commenced Friday May 6, with a Sermon on the topic by renowned Islamic scholar Shaikh Dr. Yahaya Tanko, an academic of Bayero University, Kano and Imam of Umar bn Khattab Mosque on Zaria Road, Kano. In his Khutba to kick start this campaign, the Imam made a passionate appeal for people to always treat women with respect and dignity, describing the ugly trend of maltreatment of women as a very dangerous development, which he said if allowed unchecked would have the tendency of destroying our society.
The Shaikh added that the right and liberty of women are guaranteed by the Almighty, and must not be trampled upon. He expressed utter dismay at the manner in which flagrant violation of the rights of women has shamelessly become a fashion nowadays, adding that a woman is a precious gift to humanity whose value is immeasurable in terms of her contribution to the development of a society.
Quoting profusely from verses of the Holy Qur’an and the sayings of Prophet, upon whom be peace, to buttress his point, the Imam warned that the earlier our people stopped violating the rights of women the better for sustainable growth and development of this society; if not, the difficulties we are facing as a society would just continue to multiply, as half of us (our women) are held back by our negative attitudes.
The Imam admonished people to have the fear of Allah, saying the rate at which cases of assault of especially minors and other dehumanising treatments against women are being recorded in our communities would not augur well for the future of our society. He appreciated the efforts of some groups and individuals towards rescuing the society from this imminent collapse, and urged government, especially the justice system, to urgently do all that is possible to do Allah’s bidding.
The Shaikh stated that in Islam, the rules of all relationships – social, economic, even military – are clearly laid down, and the Prophet (upon whom be peace) spoke at length on the rights of women in his Last Sermon more than 1400 years ago:
“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you.  Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under a trust from God and with His permission.  If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness.  Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.  And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.”
These WRAPA Sermons would take the rounds in these selected states over a length of time. Despite the fact that many people have almost lost hope in our being salvaged by sermons and admonitions, WRAPA’s initiative is in line with Allah’s injunction of “Fazakkir, fa innaz zikra tanfa’ul mu’minin” (“And remind, for a reminder benefits the believers”).
It is hoped that other NGOs and CSOs working in the gender area would undertake similar and complementary projects to complement this effort – for example, more robust representation of women in our courts of law by such as FIDA, the international women lawyers’ organisation. And may the rights of women in this society be uplifted, amin!