"If husband brings new wife home, endure..." – Islamic scholar to Muslim women

An Islamic scholar and Director, Nigeria Office of International Institute of Islamic Therapy, Ustaz Sa’eed Abdur-Rauf, has urged Nigerian Muslim women to embrace any new wife their husbands bring into the home.

He made the call on Saturday in Ibadan during the 4th Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by Oyo District of The Criterion, an association of Muslim women in business and the professions, Daily Nigerian reports.

In the lecture entitled ‘Marital Chaos: The Islamic Antidote,’ Abdur-Rauf, said polygamy was a law of God.

“As a Muslim woman, you should know that there is no alternative to it. If your husband brings a new wife, you should be able to endure it. It is not easy, but you must be able to appreciate than endure it,” he said.

Mr Abdur-Rauf, who listed financial problem, polygamy, hurtful utterances and role of the devil as the factors limitating against the growth of the family, said the most important antidote was fear of God.

“In every clime, there must be a leader. We have the father as the master of the house while the wife is meant to be subservient. The husband must treat and utilise his powers with fear of God. We must always be mindful of our hurtful utterances against one another. These utterances sometimes are unpardonable and aggravates the problem of the home-front,” he said.

Mr Abdur-Rauf concluded that the problem of marriages only required an expression of piety and fear of God, adding that there would be peace and comfort when the couple are pious and could identify each other’s rights.