The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has applauded the position of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar rejecting the proposed Equal Inheritance Bill before the National Assembly.
The Sultan who is also the President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs(NSCIA) had rejected the bill on the premise that it negates the principles of Islam.
Adding its voice to the debate on the Bill which proposes, among others, equal inheritance for men andwomen, FOMWAN stated that as the umbrella body of Muslim women in Nigeria, itis satisfied with the response of the Muslim leaders on the matter.
In a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday and signed by its National Ameerah, Hajia Amina Omoti and Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Umaimah Momoh, the organization explained that the women and girls have right to inheritance in Islam.
However it added that equal inheritance has no place in Islamic laws as enshrined in the holy Quran.
“The share of a woman or girls is not necessarily equal to that of their female counterparts who arealso partaking in the inheritance. There are situations that a woman takes more share than a man. See Quran 4:11-12”, the statement said.
On the issue of subjecting widows to inhuman, humiliating and degrading treatment, FOMWAN emphasized that Islam had given the women and indeed widows fundamental rights not to be humiliated or discriminated against.