Awareness of Right to Maintenance of Wife in Islamic Law: A Study of Kaduna North Local Government, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Islamic law imposes an obligation on the husband to maintain his wife. The obligation arises as soon as the valid marriage contract is completed. This article seeks to examine the provisions of Islamic law on the rights of wife to maintenance as well as the extent of awareness of duty of maintenance of wife applicable in Kaduna North Local Government, Kaduna State. Maintenance to the wife also means the fulfillment of the wifes need in her life. This consists of food, cloth, shelter and other necessaries. These are the wifes rights on her husband. Even if the wife is wealthy. The analysis shows that few of the respondents are aware of the rights to maintenance of wife in Islamic law in Kaduna North Local Government, Kaduna State. It also shows that few read the Quran in order to know the rights to maintenance of wives under Islamic law. The paper therefore strongly suggests that Islamic preachers have a greater role to play in creating awareness on the right of maintenance of wife in Islamic law in Kaduna North Local Government. The people should read the provision of the glorious Quran on maintenance of wife and follow the interpretations of those verses as provided by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).