A CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION OF SOME SALIENT TERMSIN ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW IN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53704/b6pqnr86Keywords:
Polygamy, Al-kafa’ah, Shari’ah, Fiqh, FatwahAbstract
One of the essential issues to consider at the commencement of a legal research is conceptual clarification of key terms used in the work. It is therefore important in every legal research work to clarify the key words and examine their conceptual meaning. This is to enable the readers understand what the writer has in mind and clearly perceive the intents and purposes of the research work. Conceptual analysis essentially involves the definition of the concepts used by the researcher in the course of writing his work. Since words are capable of having more than one meaning ascribed to them aside their natural meaning, it is apposite for the researcher to properly contextualize the words used in the work so as to aid comprehension and to enable readers understand the mind of the researcher and the message he is trying to pass across. In a topic related to Islamic family law, in general and the rights of spouse under it in Nigeria, there are several words that need this clarification. The aim of this article is to do so. It therefore examined some important words link for easy understanding of the rights of spouses as enshrined in Islamic family law in Nigeria. Priori / doctrinal research method was used. Thus, primary and secondary sources of Islamic law were used. Provisions of the Qur’an and Sunnah were cited. Explanations, from text books authored by Muslim scholars and legal sages were incorporated. Information retrieved from internet websites were equally utilized. It was found that words like right, spouse, polygamy, al-kafa’ah, shari’ah, fiqh and fatwah are all terms usable in a write up on the rights of spouses under Islamic family law in Nigeria. Some of these words were misconceived by many people. It therefore constituted an obstacle for understanding the rights of spouses under Islamic family law in Nigeria. It was therefore recommended that muslim scholars should embark on awareness programs to enlighten people on this issue.
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