Rasheed Abubakar/Abeokuta
The Deputy Governor, Ogun State; Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Grand Imam, Egbaland, Imam Sa’ad Bamigbade; Grand Imam, Ijebuland, Imam Miftau Ayanbadejo; Grand Imam, Remoland, Imam AbdulQadri Junaid; and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) family led by its chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan and other dignitaries from within and outside the State on Sunday, December 18, graced the aqdu-n-nikaah of Rabia’ah Osuolale Akintunde and Abdul-Qayyum Adebayo Lawal.
The holy solemnization, chaired by the Secretary-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, and JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, OON, ably represented by Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abd Hameed, Rector Federal Poly, Ayede, Oyo State, was held at the Baytus-Salaam Mosque, inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Other leading lights of Islam in Nigeria who graced the nuptial include MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo; Chairman OGCIA, Imam Abdul Rasheed Mayale-Eke; Grand Caliph, Tijaniyyat of Southwest Nigeria, Imam Salisu Adenekan; Grand Imam of Yewaland, Imam Sikiru Babalola; and Imam Isqil Lawal, the Wakilu-Muslimin of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta.
The bride’s father, Alhaji Kamal’deen Akintunde is the Secretary-General of the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) and Balogun Adinni of Itesin Muslim Community while the mother, Alhaja Basirat is the current Southwest Commissioner of NAHCON, an apex hajj regulatory body in Nigeria.
Muslim New Islamtainment (event) also learnt that the groom’s father, Alhaji Mikhail Lawal is the Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Science of Technology, Ogun State and Balogun Adinni of Ake Muslim Community.
Marriage is half of faith – Chairman
Engr. Abdul Hameed, who represented the JAMB Registrar, described nikaah as a form of worship, which he said goes beyond observing salat, fasting during month of Ramadan and going for hajj.
The chairman of the occasion said worship cuts across all aspects of life and the Prophet (SAW) was quoted as saying (in Arabic) when a man has married a responsible woman, he has perfected 50% of his religion. Therefore, let him fear Allah in the remaining 50%.
“The remaining 50% is what the lecturer of today’s nikaah has told both the husband as well as the wife, that they should be dutiful, responsible, and fear Allah (SWT). They should base their marriage upon sound foundation and what is that foundation; piety, the fear of Allah SWT.
Respect the leadership of your husband – Prof Muslih
While speaking on the responsibilities of husband and wife during his lecture, Prof. Muslih Yahya, the Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, called on the new bride to respect the leadership of the husband, which Allah has vested on him as the protector and provider’s of his wife’s needs.
Prof Yahya, who got inspiration of his sermon from Surah Nisai, Quran 4:1 said, “In Islam, both wife and husband have responsibilities. The husband must be ready to take leadership by making sure that he has everything it takes to lead the home to success and part of what he needs is to pray to Almighty Allah to give him the capacity for the sustenance of the home.
“He has to provide food, shelter, among other things that will guarantee the wife’s safety. However, if the wife is in the position to assist him, it only comes as a help for the responsibility of that of the husband. The major responsibility of the wife is for her to first recognise the leadership of the husband and to not necessarily insist on ‘sharing’ it with him even if she has an opinion to express.
‘The opinion must be presented respectfully and the husband too will have to take it respectfully. Therefore the respect, understanding, love will have to be mutual and they should pray together so that Almighty Allah will always guide them and help them run the home effectively.”
Nikaah officiated by group of Imams
The Director of Programme, Prof Kamaldeen AbdulAzeez Balogun, the Grand Mufti of Egbaland/and Grand Imam of Gbagura, initiated the solemnization process between the bride and groom, with the unflinching support of their parents.
Prof Balogun established that there was agreement between the bride and groom with respect to the presentation of mahr (marriage gift) by the groom to his bride, among other requirements of aqdu-n-nikaah according to the Shari’ah.
The aqdu-n-nikaah was concluded with the collective recitation of suratul fathia by the group of officiating Imams, among them were; Grand Mufti, OMC, Sheikh Mikail Shille Rufai; Amir, Islamic Da’wah Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Shuaib Sambo; General Secretary, Robita, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi; Mudir ZASAIS, Dr. Khidr Mustafa; Imam of Ake, Abeokuta, Imam Jemil Jimoh and Imam Ridwan Hamzat, Bride’s Qur’anic tutor, among others.
Exchange of ‘wedding’ rings
One of the highlights of the solemnization was an exchange of wedding rings between the bride and the groom. The session was coordinated by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, who congratulated the two families for holding the Nikaah for their children, prayed Allah to bless the union with everlasting happiness.
Trust, patience, fidelity, essential requirements for a successful marriage – NAHCON Chairman
The NAHCON family, an umbrella body for Hajj operations in Nigeria, were also present at the nikaah to honour one of their own, Alhaja Basirat.
Speaking with Muslim News, the Commission’s Chairman, Alhaji Hassan, who congratulated the couple and their parents said, “It’s my pleasure to be here and I am particularly happy because I have known the parent of the bride – both the husband and the wife, from way back, right before both of them were married and I know them outside their marriage. I also know them in different walks of life as relates to Da’wah.
“As everybody knows, Alhaji Kamal Akintunde, the father of the bride is a seasoned Islamic jihadist who has move round all part of the country doing Da’wah. So, today, the coming of almost every person who is relevant kn this part of the country is therefore not surprising.
“The mother is also a great activist and currently, she is a board member of the National Hajj Commission in the entire southwest. Hence, our being here is because of her role in the hajj commission. For both parents of the bride, they are indeed worthy of emulation.
While wishing the couple a happy married life, the NAHCON Chairman identified trust, patience and fidelity as part of essential requirements for a successful marriage.
“I equally want to congratulate the latest couple. They had been told that trust, patience, fidelity are part of the essential requirements for a successful marriage. They should keep on to it. We wish them a happy married life,” he noted.
Bride, groom’s mothers express happiness
The joy and happiness of the bride and groom’s mothers, who are both indigenes of Ijebu, knew no bounds as they spoke with Muslim News in separate interviews.
Alhaja Basirat said, “I’m happy because this is what I have been longing for, thinking of, praying for and Allah made it in my lifetime, Alhamdulillah for everything.
“She is my first daughter to get married. Just like the scholars have told them, they should abide with the tenets of Islam. They should follow all the guidelines established by Islam, that is what would make them have a successful home. May Allah bless the home with wonderful children.
For the groom’s mother, Alhaja Monsurat, “I’m very happy, I’m excited, I’m delighted and I thank Almighty Allah for sparing my life to witness today and sparing my family’s lives to witness today, all praise be to Almighty Allah, the Lord of the worlds. This is my first son, my first wedding, my first experience and I pray Almighty Allah to guide me to lead them aright and protect them.”
Speaking further, “I wish the couple of today, the newest couple of the year all the best of luck in life. Whatever they lay their hands on shall prosper by the will of Allah. They will be best of friends and Allah will grant them good children. I want to advise that they should be patient between themselves and endure, show mutual love and understanding.”
As bride, groom’s fathers delighted about the bond
The bride and groom’s fathers, who are both Balogun Adinni of their respective communities in Itesin and Ake in Abeokuta were delighted about the success of their children’s nikaah, as they thanked all the dignitaries, families and friends who honoured the nikaah.
Speaking with Muslim News, the groom’s father, Alhaji Lawal said, “I feel very delighted, I feel much more elated, I’m happy that one is witnessing this. It is happening in our lifetime and it is a day that we have been looking forward to. It is a day of joy for one to marry for one’s son. We give all glory and adoration to Almighty Allah who has made it possible for us.
“We are indeed happy as a family. We are happy that our son has picked a wife. We are happy that both families are bounded by Islamic faith and in fact already, we are friends, we are family friends and Allah has now joined us together as one. We pray that Allah blesses the union.
The bride’s father, Alhaji Akintunde admonished the couple to be prayerful, persevere and understand themselves, saying that, “these three features including what you call sense of wisdom, have really helped my marriage to Rabia’ah’s mother. I am calling on our children to emulate us so that they too can live long in their marriage.
Also present at the Nikaah were HRH Oba (Engr) Mufutau Kasali, Moyegeso of Itele-Ijebu; Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, represented by Chief Rasheed Raji, former MD, MILAD, Sokoto and Bauchi States; Olowu of Owu Kingdom; HRM Oba Prof Saka Matemilola, represented by Olori Ameenat Matemilola.
The Reception
The reception continued immediately after the aqdu-n-nikaah at the beautifully decorated marque hall, inside the same Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, where guests were treated to another round of jollity and an unforgettable cocktail party.
