Interfaith Marriage among Male Muslims: Factors and Effects (A Case of Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State of Nigeria)

Abstract

In spite of the difference of opinion on the legality of a male Muslim marrying a Christian woman, some male Muslims enter into marriage with Christian women. This practice has been proven to have some negative effects on the couples, their children and in the Muslim ummah. Although there is existing literature on interfaith marriage between Moslems and Christians, most treat the topic from women’s perspective; very few researchers have covered interfaith marriage from men’s perspective, which is the focus of this study. Specifically, this study investigates the main causes and effects of male Muslims going into marriage with Christian women with the goal of suggesting ways of curbing the practice. This study employs quantitative survey research design, using questionnaire as research instrument. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was adopted and administered, using snowball sampling technique, among 106 Muslims sampled from families which are involved in interfaith marriage in Abeokuta metropolis of Ogun State. The data collected from the participants were statistically analysed with the use of SPSS version 24.