A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has cautioned Nigerian Senate over the controversial bill to give equal inheritance to male and female heirs.
The Islamic scholar gave the advice while addressing journalists at his residence in Bauchi on Wednesday.
He said the Senate’s attempt is against the provision of Islam regarding the issue of inheritance between male and female which gave a higher percentage to a male heir over his female counterpart.
He said that the Senate and all other people in authority should tread with caution when dealing with issues that will touch the religious sensibilities of Nigerians.
Sheik Dahiru Bauchi particularly warned that any Muslim member of the Senate who backed the attempt to change a divine law contained in the Qur’an is doing so at his own peril.
According to him any Muslim Senator who supports the bill is going against the laws of Allah and he will have no reason whatsoever to justify his action.
He noted that the attempt to give same share of inheritance to male and female heirs in Nigeria is an infringement on the Islamic rights of Nigerian Muslims which was enshrined in the Qur’an.
"Since there is a law which guarantees the freedom of religion, our Islamic laws must not be tampered with. Giving a double female share to a male heir in an inheritance was prescribed by Allah in the Qur’an.
"Anybody who thought that it is an attempt to short-changed women is only ignorant. Islam is the only religion that awards inheritance to women and guarantees their rights. In other religions and cultures, what is left by a deceased belongs to the eldest male child," he said.
The Islamic scholar said that if the Senate should attempt to temper with any religious law in Nigeria, they should first scrap the constitutional provision which guarantees freedom of religion.
He also called on Muslims to reject any attempt by their elected representatives to tamper with any Islamic law in whatever guise adding that they should sever relationship with them, recall them or reject them at the polls when the time comes.
He advised Muslim Senators not to be involved in anything that goes contrary to the Islamic law especially things that Allah himself decreed in the Qur’an which said such actions can make one to become an apostate.
The Islamic Scholar also advised the federal government to take strong measures to curb the incidences of diversion of relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He lamented that despite their situation; the IDPs are still being short changed by some unscrupulous elements that are saddled with responsibilities to help them.
He congratulated Nigerians on the celebration of the nation’s 56th Independence anniversary while calling on them to be patriotic and pray for the country’s development and peace.
He also congratulated Nigerian Muslims on the celebrations of New Hijri Year 1438 calling on them to be more prayerful and see the New Year as another opportunity provided by Allah to reflect on their good and bad deeds, seek forgiveness and strive to be closer to Allah.
