Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Religious clerics have been urged to play a more active role in educating their followers on the importance of spacing children, emphasizing that it aligns with both health benefits and religious teachings.
In an exclusive WhatsApp interview with Stallion Times in Sokoto on Friday, Sheikh Bello Mai Nasiha, a renowned Islamic scholar, emphasized that child spacing is not only beneficial to the health of mothers and children but also consistent with the principles of Islam, which value moderation, responsibility, and the preservation of life.
He further noted that many misconceptions surrounding child spacing often stem from ignorance and misinterpretation of religious texts, according to Sheikh Bello Mai Nasiha, a renowned Islamic scholar.
He stressed that clerics have a responsibility to correct such notions and guide their followers with sound knowledge and wisdom.
“Islam encourages the protection of the mother and child. When pregnancies are properly spaced, it reduces health risks, prevents maternal mortality, and ensures the well-being of the family,” a source at one of his sermons explained.
The scholar further noted that family planning enables parents to provide adequately for their children’s education, nutrition, and upbringing, responsibilities deeply rooted in Islamic values.
Bringing children into the world without the means to care for them, he argued, contradicts the principles of justice and compassion in Islam.
Sheikh Mai Nasiha emphasized that religious leaders, as respected voices in society, must use their influence to dispel myths and misconceptions about child spacing.
By doing so, they can help families make informed decisions that enhance their health, economic stability, and spiritual obligations.
He cautioned against viewing child spacing as a Western concept, insisting its essence reflects the wisdom and responsibility long encouraged by Islam.
He urged couples to seek both medical advice and religious guidance when making decisions about birth spacing.
The cleric also called on fellow scholars and Imams across Sokoto and beyond to include discussions on child spacing in their sermons and teaching sessions to ensure the message reaches grassroots communities in both rural and urban areas.
Additionally, he appealed to government agencies and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with religious leaders in awareness campaigns, noting that such partnerships can bridge the gap between medical science and religious understanding.
“With proper guidance from clerics, more families will appreciate the benefits of child spacing not only in safeguarding health but also in fulfilling their religious and social responsibilities,” Sheikh Mai Nasiha concluded.
The intervention of prominent scholars like him is seen as vital to breaking cultural and religious barriers that have slowed the acceptance of child spacing initiatives in Northern Nigeria.
