Faith group says misuse of Qur’anic texts fuels gender-based violence, urges scholars and communities to correct harmful narratives.

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Nasrul-Lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) has cautioned against the growing misuse of Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions to justify the abuse and discrimination of women and girls, describing the trend as dangerous, misleading, and completely un-Islamic.

The organisation issued the warning on Wednesday as part of activities marking the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. According to NASFAT, many acts wrongly carried out in the name of Islam are rooted in harmful cultural beliefs, ignorance, and extremism—not in the teachings of the faith.

In a statement shared with The PUNCH, NASFAT stressed that Islam upholds justice, dignity, and compassion for all, noting that no verse of the Qur’an or hadith supports the oppression of women.

The Society highlighted several widespread misconceptions used to excuse abusive behaviour, including the claim that Eve was responsible for Adam’s fall, the false belief that killing non-Muslims guarantees “72 virgins,” and the misinterpretation of verses on polygyny and marital disputes. It also condemned the distortion of texts on inheritance, the hadith on women’s “deficiency,” and narratives from the story of Prophet Yūsuf, saying such interpretations reinforce patriarchal norms rather than Islamic principles.

NSFAT emphasised that Prophet Muḥammad (Pbuh) honoured women and embodied fairness and compassion—values that contradict any form of gender-based violence. “Abuse does not come from Islam. It comes from cultural attitudes, ignorance, and the deliberate twisting of religious texts,” the group said.

To combat harmful interpretations, NASFAT urged scholars, religious institutions, families, and community leaders to promote accurate Islamic teachings on women’s rights. It further advised against using unverified narrations in sermons, called for context-based explanations of sensitive texts, and encouraged integrating GBV education into mosque programmes.

The Society also stressed the need to raise boys and girls with equal respect and to openly condemn and report domestic violence as a criminal act. It urged Muslims worldwide to uphold justice and protect women from all forms of harm.