Muslim women focused Islamic nongovernmental organisation, Bountiis Charity Initiative has advised women to explore legal options available to them on marital disputes.
One of the speakers at the just concluded Bountiis Widows, Divorcees and Matured Singles, WDS forum, Ms Monsurat Olabisi Bello, State Counsel, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Directorate of Public Prosecution gave the advice.
According to her, Islamic marriage (Nikkah) is one of the marriage system recognised by the Nigerian constitution making legal service accessible to Muslim women experiencing distress marriage.
She explained that widows, divorcees or Muslim women in an abusive marriage can write letter to the Office of Public Defenders, OPD, by stating details of the situation at hand, a lawyer in the ministry will be assigned to stand in for such a person as OPD is out to safeguard the fundamental human rights and freedom of the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
“All four types of marriages are recognised in Nigeria. Your Nikkah certificates from the Islamic organisations that conducted the Nikkah are your legal documents to make case, she said.”
For widows to access their husband’s inheritance, Bello urged Muslims to always gave a will and shared in accordance with Islam.
She explained that widows can get letter of administration from High Court by filing a form, taking the filled form to her husband’s banks to fill in his account balance while court will then issue a letter of administration for implementation to access their husband’s money.
She suggested a trust fund for children’s education as an important part of marriage as it will help in solving the problem of school fees payments after death of the husband.
Bello urged Muslim brothers to marry young widows, divorcees and Singles as a way of supporting taking them out of the traumatic experience.
On the other hand, another speaker at the event, Ms Bashirat Bello, Holistic Medical Practitioner, Founder of Murabiyah Holistics, has advise women to leave abusive marriages. She said, “you have no business to be in a marriage that’s abusive emotionally, physically, verbally, psychologically and financially. Do not suffer in silent, If your marriage is not helping you to achieve your pristine religious goals, uprightness, piety, high Iman and is continuously abusive, it is better to Take-a-Bow.”
Speaking on taking care of widows and divorcees, Aisha Adams, Founder Siddiqah Foundation, urged participants to always seek for Allah’s forgiveness and see whatever happened as a test from Allah.
She urged them to be calm, patient and seek for Allah’s favour always. She also appealed to family and friends of WDS women to support them with gifts, money, foods, clothes even if they do not ask as well as match-make them with new suitors among reliable and God fearing brothers.
She said, “Brothers should marry divorcees and widows too. They are victims of circumstance and not to be blamed. Provide extra support by showing love and care. Give scholarships for their children’s education .” She called on more Islamic organisation to take up the issue of widows, orphans and divorcees.
Widows, Divorcees and Single Mothers, WDS Forum is one of the Bountiis series of Women in Trauma programmes to provide support for these categories of Muslim women in the society. The event echoed the cry of WDS on various issues affecting them which the society is silent about. With WDS forum 2021, Bountiis assures of her continuous support to uplift Muslim women from traumatic situation by connecting them to networking and empowerment opportunities.
The WDS forum is a further demonstration of Bountiis commitment towards addressing issues pertinent to Muslim women. Part of Bountiis goals for WDS forum is to create a platform for interaction between experts, Muslim widows, divorcees and matured singles to come together, share ideas and knowledge on common interests.
Organisations like Muslim Women for Development and Sustainability(AMW4DS), Al-Muminaat (The believing Women Organisation), Duty to Orphans and Widows Foundation (WIDOF), Muslim Mercy Aid and Relief Foundation (MMARIF), Siddiqah Foundation, Al-Hurriyah Foundation, and other organisations that have dedicated programs for widows and divorcees were also at the Bountiis WDS forum to admonish participants.
