Amid rising economic hardship in Nigeria, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, has advised Muslim men to limit themselves to one wife if they lack the financial means to support multiple households.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 30th edition of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) annual Ramadan lecture, the monarch emphasized that while Islam permits polygamy, not every man is capable of catering for a large family.
“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?” the emir asked.
He lamented that many polygamous families are struggling due to the inability of men to meet their responsibilities, leading to broken homes and societal challenges.
The emir also called for a review of the Islamiyya school curriculum to include teachings on the Islamic rights of girls, arguing that this would help change the narrative and foster a better society.
He further criticized the judicial system for contributing to social issues, citing a case where a young woman was sentenced to two years in prison over a debt of just N6,000.
“The day I went to the prison, I had only N200,000 on me, but I was able to secure the release of eight people,” he revealed.
To address these issues, he noted that the palace actively employs Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in handling matrimonial conflicts, inheritance disputes, and land disagreements, which he identified as key challenges affecting many families.
Also speaking at the event, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, urged Islamic scholars (Ulama) to encourage men to take responsibility for their households.
“There is a need for our Ulama to emphasize the importance of men fulfilling their God-given responsibilities because it has been discovered that many women are now carrying the burden of the home,” she stated.