Five conditions that must be met before marriage is considered valid – Sheikh Shafi’i

+ How Islam determines paternity without DNA

+ Common complaints of wives against their husbands

A prominent Islamic scholar in Nigeria has explained how some Muslims in the country ignorantly confer ‘bastard’ status on their children.

The Spiritual Guide of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) in Nigeria, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, disclosed this at the 26th National Islamic Training Programme of The Muslim Congress (TMC) at Vanguards Academy, Odosengolu, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Sheikh Shafi’i who spoke on “Understanding the Rights of Spouses – Focus on the rights of the Wife” said, five marital conditions must be met before the marriage is considered valid.

The Islamic scholar without using the Deoxyribonucneic Acid (DNA) parameter showed how Islamic jurisprudence provides a template for determining paternity of a child.

“No matter the number of years in marriage, Muslims should validate it by following these five conditions as sanctioned by the Qur’an and the traditions of Prophet Muahammad,” Sheikh Shafi’i clarified.

“If these are not fulfilled, the affected men, women and children will loose privileges and duties as sanctioned by Islam.”

“It is criminal in Islam for women to have intimate relationships without fulfilling the prescribed conditions as outlined in the Shariah.”

“It is unfortunate that some so-called Islamic clerics were involved in ‘spiritual’ services in order to have carnal knowledge of married women.”

“It is unacceptable to get pregnant before marriage. Muslims should not encourage this and they should even be isolated.”

“I am also aware of some so-called Muslims hypnotising women for illicit activities and some young Islamic scholars taking advantage of their female students who crave for knowledge.”

“Marrying a woman with the intention of divorcing her is conditional, controversial and some who issued Fatwa (Islamic Rulings) to support it and their adherents are fraudulent and self-serving.”

Common Complaints of Wives Against Their Husbands

The Mufti of The Muslim Congress (TMC) highlighted common complaints many wives give against their husbands.

Sheikh Shafi’i said his decades experience of marriage counselling and marital dispute resolutions indicated that some men battered their wives.

According to him, wives who suffered persistent physical assault from their husbands are entitled to independently initiate divorce.

“Your wives are neither animals nor punching bags, and any man who beats his wife degrades himself.

“Many wives complain that their husbands insist that they must jointly bear financial obligations on shared percentages, this is irresponsibility and shame on the part of the husband.”

“The husband should be wholly responsible for the financial needs of the family, this is what Islam legislates.”

“Prophet Muhammad wants only financially independent youths to get married and mandated those who are incapacitated not to get married but to continue to fast.”

“It is becoming a common practice for husbands to starve their wives of intimacy and they must note that Prophet Muhammad said that couples could be pronounced divorced if the husband refuses to have carnal knowledge of his wife for four consecutive months without cogent reasons. This can be seen in Qur’an 2: 226-227. Although Umar’s posited that a four days denial is enough.”

“Except for anal sex, it is highly encouraged for men to explore different sex positions with their partners and keep it alive as doing such is a direct instruction from Allah as commanded in the Qur’an.”

“Many women do complain that their husbands are not romantic, and they dress seductively to arouse them without appreciative gestures.”
“It is wrong for you to put on your best clothes only at special occasions and not to do that to entice your wives.”

“Husbands must also cultivate the habit of buying gifts and other consumables for their wives.”

Sheikh Shafii urged husbands to provide food, shelter, clothes and medical needs for their wives as a matter of necessity.

“Husbands should desist from unnecessary suspicion about their wives, and unfriendly attitudes towards their family.

He urged organisations working to support the cause of widows not to limit it to material, financial and moral supports.

“Widows are endangered species and it is essential for them to get remarried as this goes beyond sex but also for them to have a sense of belonging.”

“It has been medically established that there is no disease associated with having sex at menopause and is accepted to have intimacy with your wives when they reach menopause.”

As the Islamic scholar reeled out the principles and minimum acceptable standards in marriage, the thousands of Muslim faithfuls went into ecstasy with multitude of them seeking clarifications.

Source: Opera News