Shariah and Human Rights Perspectives on Interfaith Marriage : Challenges Impeding Its Practice in Nigeria

Abstract

Within the context of Nigeria, this paper investigates those principles of Shariah that regulate marriage, particularly interfaith union. This is with the goal of explicating certain limitations placed by Islam on the ability of Muslim women to marry non-Muslims. In particular, it is considered whether these limitations prejudice the right to freedom of religion guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution. Ultimately, the paper establishes that marriage in Nigeria is usually solemnised in a manner reflective of the country’s diversity. This investigation is motivated by the recent controversy surrounding the right of Nigerian Muslim women to enter into interfaith relationships. The paper uses a library-based, doctrinal research method to argue that there are several challenges associated with interfaith marriage in Nigeria, all resulting from the multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic makeup of the country. It is concluded that, though interfaith marriages exist in Nigeria, parties entering into such marriages must agree on some salient issues in order to sustain conjugal bliss.