Islamic Stance on Splitting Financial Responsibilities among Yoruba Couples in Nigeria

Abstract

Responsiveness of family units is crucial for the well-being of both families and societies, necessitating the equal participation of both genders to avert societal menace. Thus, Islam assigns gender roles within a marital relationship. The parties involved in marriage have individual and joint rights and obligations. In spite of essential leadership given to men by Islam in their households, their wives are equally given indispensable influence. Women, in the code of the Qur’an and Hadīth, have the complementary duties to men in marital affairs. However, as financing plays a crucial role in creating a prosperous family, some couples in Nigeria, most especially Yoruba Muslims have a misconception of the stance of Islam on splitting financial responsibility, particularly, when the wife earns more or works along her husband. This paper therefore investigates the position of Islam on financial responsibility among Yoruba couples in Nigeria. The methodologies adopted for this paper are historical and descriptive in nature. This paper reveals that the misconception on financial responsibility leads many couples to divorce, quarrels, and inactivity in family matters, subsequently hindering the success of their offspring and development of society. The paper concludes that couples should continue being financially supportive of each other because the two have prominent roles to play in the family. The paper recommends that Yoruba Muslim couples should carefully study the rulings of the Qur’an and Hadīth on marriage, particularly the aspect dealing with splitting financial responsibility.