It was a memorable occasion to remember as prominent businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Muhammad Mutiu Anthony, popularly known as ‘Easy and Quiet’, gave out two of his daughters in marriage on Sunday, 3rd November 2024.
The wedding reception (walimatu-n-nikaah) which took place at Opic Event Center, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun State, was attended by a galaxy of Islamic scholars, captains of industries and influential businessmen from across Nigeria.
It was also witnessed by popular monarchs in Yorubaland, including the Oluwo of Iwo, Emperor AbdurRasheed Adewale Akanbi (Ilufemiloye) Telu; Olowu of Owu-Ile, HRM, Oba Muhammad Raji Qasim Okikilokun; Alakodo of Akodo kingdom, HRM Oba Abdul Hakeem Olokodana and Oba-elect, Olu of Imedu kingdom, Lekki LCDA, Lagos, HRM Ibraheem Soliu.
The two precious daughters, Khadijah and Asiyah Mutiu Anthony, were married to two renowned Islamic scholars, Sheikh (Dr.) Munirudeen Salaudeen Ar-Riyadhy and Sheikh Uthman AbdulHameed (Abu Royyan).
Muslim News gathered that the aqdu-n-nikaah had earlier been conducted at the brides’ family house in Lagos, which also attracted huge participation from Islamic scholars and dignitaries and families of the grooms.
The two brides, our medium learnt, are niqabites (Muslim women in veil) and huffadh – who have successfully committed the whole of the Qur’an to heart. While Asiyah is one of the children of the first wife of Alhaji Anthony, Khadijah is one of the scions of his third wife.
I am one of the happiest human beings today: Brides’ father Anthony
Speaking to Muslim News on the sidelines of the event, the elated brides’ father, Alhaji Anthony, said he is one of the happiest human beings today as he gives out two of his daughters in marriage in accordance to Islamic injunctions.
He said he has done his best to train them in the way of Allah, adding their grooms are also trustworthy people whom he’s confident will take good care of them.
“I’m one of the happiest human beings today. I thank Almighty Allah (SWT) who has made it possible. This has already been written in the book of Allah. I have tried my best to train these children the way Allah wants. I have now handed over two precious daughters in marriage. They just finished their Qur’an memorisation.
“Today, I am transferring both of them to people who are trustworthy. We can’t determine people’s faith, but with the knowledge they have and their records, I believe they will do well,” he said.
Fondly called Easy & Quiet by admirers and colleagues, Alhaji Anthony appreciated the unflinching support of his family and his in-laws, without forgetting contributions of his brethren, especially Sheikh (Dr.) Bilal Sirajudeen Al-Asrau, Alhaji Engr. Iskeel Asifat, Alhaji Akanni Moruf Toluwaloju, among others, towards the success of the nikaah.
Marriage beyond sexual satisfaction – Dr. Sekoni
In his lecture, Sheikh (Dr.) Lukmam Idris Sekoni, the Chief Imam of Darus Sunnah Central Mosque, Akure, Ondo State, said marriage in Islam goes beyond sexual satisfaction.
“It is about huge responsibilities for both the husband and wife. Both of them should have it at the back of their minds that before they go into marriage proper, responsibility is the major factor in marriage,” he said.
Dr. Sekoni, who is also the Director of Darus Sunnah Islamic Centre, Akure, also considered marriage as a platform for sanitising the society.
He said the couples will account for their responsibilities before Allah on the day of judgment.
“Allah (SWT) made marriage a means of sanitising the society. Marriage is a means of establishing a viable community. Even before Allah sent the Messengers, He established marriage. This is to show the importance of marriage in sanitising the society. Prophet Adam and his wife were the first family on the surface of the earth, and that was before Allah sent messengers to the people.
“Each family should look for what to contribute to the development of the society before thinking of personal benefits in marriage. The couples have responsibilities to the society, and Allah will ask them regarding the responsibilities. A husband is a shepherd, and Allah will ask him to account for it. So, being husband and wife is beyond sexual satisfaction. We should think of what we are going to render to the society through our family.
“We also need to consider peaceful coexistence between the husband and wife. Without peaceful coexistence between the couples, they can’t make any contribution to the society. That’s why Islam introduced rights and responsibilities of husband and wife. This is to make the family solid and render contributions towards the society.”
Put Allah first in your affairs, Hon Iyepe charges couples
For his part, another guest lecturer, Sheikh (Dr.) AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, popularly known as Hon. Iyepe, charged the couples to always put Allah first in their affairs.
He congratulated the couples and their families for the successful walimatu-n-nikaah, saying they are accomplished individuals in both religious and mundane affairs.
The former lawmaker in Lagos and the immediate former chairman of the governing board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), offered thirteen (13) pieces of advice to the couples as encapsulated in Surah Al-Fatiha.
He said, “Firstly, the couples should always say ‘audhu billahi mina shaytani rajeem’, meaning ‘I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast shaytan’ in whatever they want to do because shaytan disrupts good things. But once you make it a habit to say this, Allah will always protect you from the evil of shaytan,” he said in his advice
“Another one is to always say ‘bismillahi rahmani raheem’ meaning ‘in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful’. They should always commit all their affairs to Almighty Allah. Whoever dismisses Allah from his affairs will become destroyed eventually. I, therefore, urge the couples to always place Allah first in their decisions.”
Oluwo urges newest brides to be submissive to their husbands
In his goodwill message, the Oluwo of Iwo charged the wives to be submissive to their husbands, noting that this will build peace and love in their homes.
“Allah (SWT) mandated that wives should be submissive to their husbands. All wives should support and submit to their husbands. Once you do this, the home will be peaceful and delightful. Your husband will love you so much. I therefore urge the wives to be submissive to their husbands.”
I am so happy for the Brides’ father: Alhaji Animashaun
Also speaking, the Chairman of Al-Hujjaj International Umrah & Hajj Services Ltd, Alhaji AbdulJeleel Animashaun, extended heartfelt congratulations to the brides’ father, Alhaji Anthony, noting the Sunnah (Prophetic) path he embraced years back has been instrumental to his accomplishments.
“I thank Allah (SWT) for the life of my brother, Alhaji Mutiu, a bonafide Lagosian. When he joined the Sunni fold, I was one of those that criticised him. I was just a nominal Muslim. I couldn’t differentiate my right from my left because I was not guided. Yet I have been facilitating hajj for people since then.
“When Alhaji Mutiu embraced sunnah, and started following our scholar, Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i in Ijesha, he told me I would also join him soon. But I usually laughed at him. Today, however, I am so happy for this path he has chosen. I have also seen through it, and all I can say is that this is a great path.
“Back in those days when we started our hajj services, on Arafat day, we used to entertain ourselves and dance wildly. We never saw anything abnormal in that. And people were following us. Then, Sheikh Shafi’i drew my attention to it. He asked me to change the system. Alhamdulilah, today, we have changed the system, and many who followed us then now have a better understanding of Islam.”
The elder businessman said he is confident that they won’t regret the decision to give out the daughters in marriage to the Islamic scholars.
He said the brides are from a good home, urging them to follow the footsteps of their mothers who are submissive wives.
“Our first daughter which we gave out to Dr. Ashraf in marriage, we didn’t regret it. In fact, I purposely sent my grandson to Dr. Ashraf for mentorship and guidance. I feel what we just need is a person to provide guidance and understanding of the deen.
“I don’t have many words for the grooms. I’m confident that just like we didn’t regret our action on Dr. Ashraf, we wouldn’t have any cause for regret on this step too. Nevertheless, I still plead with you to take good care of our daughters.
“For the brides, they are from a good home. Their mothers are good wives. I believe they will follow their footsteps to be good wives in their new homes. May Allah bless their marriage with wonderful children, including boys and girls.”
Grooms speak, express gratitude to Allah
The two grooms also spoke to Muslim News Nigeria on the sidelines of the event.
Sheikh (Dr.) Ar-Riyadhy said he is thankful to Allah for the rahmah showered on him, adding that his father-in-law didn’t give any strict conditions for the marriage of his daughter other than keeping to the laws of Allah and Islam.
He said, “I am grateful to Allah (SWT). I try to evaluate myself to see why I deserve this, but I could not see anything that qualifies me to be entitled to the rahmah of Allah. I just realised that Allah decided to shower his rahmah on me. So I am happy.
“I have also learnt a lot of things from our in-law. When you say practical Islam, this is practical Islam. This is an in-law giving you his daughter without conditions despite the fact that Allah has blessed him. All he’s saying is ‘just make sure you keep the law of Allah and the law of Islam in dealing with my daughter’. So, I feel very happy and honoured.”
Speaking about his bride, Sheikh Ar-Riyadhy said she’s not only well educated in Islam and Western knowledge, but also ever conscious of the dictates of Allah.
“She is a memoriser of the Qur’an. She committed the whole of the Qur’an into her memory. As I speak to you, she has started writing some books about the importance of memorising the Qur’an by ladies. She’s well informed about Islamic education and Western education, and she’s conscious of the dictates of Allah (SWT),” he said.
The second groom, Sheikh Uthman, said it felt good for him to add another wife, noting he is conscious of the responsibility that comes with it, especially the fear of worshipping Allah in another form.
“It is a responsibility and not just about the fun. One has to have the fear of Allah in the heart and I hope that He helps us to make it easy,” he said.
Speaking briefly about his bride, Sheikh Uthman said though his wife is beautiful and has other qualities, what is most important to him is her devotion to Islam and simplicity.
“My wife is exceptional, and I have married her singularly because of Allah. She is very good and religious. If I am talking about beauty and all those things, I cannot talk more. But the most important for me is her religion and her simplicity. She gives me comfort and makes me happy.”
The list of guests that graced the nikaah are endless but some of them included Sheikh Jubril Oyekan, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, Sheikh Yaqub Abdul Baaqi, Prof Abdur-Razzaq Abdul Majeed Alaro, Sheikh Isa Akindele, Professor Khidir Abdul Baaqi, Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, Prof Akorede Agbarigidoma, among others.
Beautiful faces at the Nikaah
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