The 21st century barriers to marital union among Muslim health workers: The Islamic panacea

Abstract

Background: Marriage is a desirable value for men and women. Despite the high value attached to marriage, the majority of people in the health workforce and beyond are still not in marital unions. What could be responsible for the multiple pragmatic solutions in bridging the deepening and widening marriage deterrent gap among Muslim healthcare providers? Hence, the current review assessed likely barriers contributing to low marital union among Muslims working in the healthcare industry.

Methods/Result: The authors’ review set out to achieve the following objectives by asking the following questions: What is the Islamic understanding of marriage? What are the barriers to marital union among Muslim healthcare providers in the 21st century? What are the Islamic panacea to these barriers?

Conclusion: The reviewers concluded that the poor marriage rate among Muslims in the health sector in Nigeria can be traced to barriers from economic, social, legal, political, and un-Islamic factors. The review also suggested going back to the basics, which will reshape attitudes, beliefs, and life purpose toward that which makes Muslims the best generation for both this life and the hereafter.