In Islam, polygamy (a man having multiple wives) is permitted, but not encouraged. A man could marry as much as four wives, but under the condition that the man can treat all wives fairly and provide for them justly.
But Nigeria’s economy is demanding more from households. Unfortunately, they have a financial level that may not have improved in the last two years.
As a result of the worsening economic hardship ravaging the country, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, has advised men who are not financially buoyant to stick to one wife in order to raise responsible families.
The monarch lamented how polygamy is tearing families apart because the heads of the families have failed in their responsibilities.
Compounding Societal Problems
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 30th edition of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) annual Ramadan lecture, the emir said just because Islam gives men the right to have more than one wife does not mean every man is capable of catering for his dependants.
“In the palace, there are 192 families living within and among them, you would see a man with over 50 children; how can he cater for them?” he said.
Furthermore, he called for a curriculum review in the Islamiyya system of education to include the Islamic rights of girls.
According to him, this will change the narrative and build better societies.
In aedition, he accused judges of compounding societal problems, citing an example of a young woman who was sentenced to two years in prison for not paying a debt of 6,000 Naira.
“The day I went to the prison, I had only 200,000 Naira on me but I was able to secure the release of eight people,” he said.
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However, he noted that the palace continues to use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in matrimonial issues, inheritance and land disputes, adding that, “These issues are the bane of many families.”
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