The Chief Imam of the National Mosque in Abuja, Professor Shehu Galadanchi has advised couples in ideal marriages to learn to tolerate each other as a way of prolonging the lifespan of such marriages.
He stressed that marriage institution is the most important among the human race and that like any other institution, it is bedeviled by challenges, which sometimes leads to divorce, adding that it is important to reduce the rate of divorce.
The Chief Imam, who spoke today, Monday, during a Ramadan Lecture session held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Professor Galadanci insisted that the best way to attain marital peace is through mutual tolerance.
According to him, tolerance is key to any successful marriage even as he asked couples to understand their marital rights and obligations thereby reducing the rate of divorce in the society.
The lecture session, with theme: Ideal Marriage Institution: Foundation Of An Ideal Society, was convened by the Chief Imam of the State House, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Abubakar Sulaiman with the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.
The guest speaker at the event and Deputy Secretary General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Professor Salisu Shehu, called for the institution of marital counseling in Muslim societies.
He noted that rampant cases of divorce can be attributed to the lack of understanding of rights and responsibilities between spouses, leading to unfounded and unrealistic expectations. He identified challenges in marriage as abdication of responsibilities, poverty and repulsive behavior.
Also a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Dr. Aminu Bello, observed that 15 to 20 percent of marriages dissolve within the first three years and blamed misunderstanding of the purpose of marriage among couples. He also identified misconduct and external interference among the culprits and advocated for fear of Allah among the newlyweds.
Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, attended the lecture and delivered a goodwill message as well as Government officials, Wives of Governors, traditional rulers and Islamic scholars.
