THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF MUSLIM WOMEN: A REFLECTION ON NIGERIA

Abstract

There has been low level of participation of Muslim women in politics in Nigeria as the largest proportion of women are perceived as members of supporters’ club, clapping club and team of cheers in contrast to their male counterpart. This problem is not peculiar to Nigeria but pervasive, covering both Muslim and non-Muslim women alike. Peculiarities of Muslim women however, occupied a special spectrum across the nations due to various interpretations given to the Qur’an and Sunnah in matters concerning women. In the recent time, there has been a global cry for a greater participation of women in politics and decision making to reflect the democratic level of the nations across the globe, particularly as democracy is a vital tool for
the attainment of sustainable development. This paper therefore argues that, although the primary role of women in Islam is that of being a mother and dutiful wives to their husbands, Islam as a religion, does not limit their roles to domestic and family matters. It permits them as members of the society to participate in other societal activities including politics, in so far as such would not affect their primary roles in life. The paper will at the end conclude that Muslim women have the capacity to contribute to the development of the society and therefore deserve more roles than what is currently obtained in the society.