By Salisu Sani-Idris
An Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Shuaib Agbarere, has advised Muslims faithful to prioritise piety and religion in chosing their spouses.
Agbarere gave the advice at the weekly Ramadan lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.
The topic of the lecture was, ” Preparing Our Children for Marriage: Islamic Approaches.”
He noted that ” it is important for Muslim to marry a woman who devotes to religious practices. If you marry a religious woman, you have married the most beautiful woman.
“If you marry a religious woman, you have married the most richest woman. Therefore, tell your children to prioritise piety and religion while going into marriage.
” Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said a woman is married for four reasons: for her wealth, her status, her beauty, and her religion.
” However, he (prophet Muhammad) advised that we should go for a religious woman.”
The cleric noted that all the socioeconomic and security challenges bedeviling the country could be addressed if the couple got right marriage.
“Allah says among His signs is that He created for you partners, your spouses so that you have peace in them.
“And Allah created among you love meaning that Allah has designed it in such a way that we cannot live single, we have to come into one another to have a community.”
He emphasised the need for parents to take the responsibility of educating their children about marriage.
” You are married that is why you have children and these children will marry but you don’t take them to any college for lecture or education to earn certificate about marriage.
” You only enrolled them in schools to earn certificates in sciences, law, philosophy. In fact, you will even tell them go and do your masters degree in a field of study.
” But you never have time to call them and say there is one field that is difficult that you cannot get to the end of it without experience.
” So, it is the experience you have that you will give them as a guide that will illuminate their paths,” Agbarere said.
The cleric, who also is a legal practitioner, urged prospective couple against marrying vagabond who doesn’t have a future.
“As parents, prepare your sons to be responsible not to allow their wives to be sustaining the marriage.
“Allah says men stand like pillar for women same way that Allah gives preference for some of you over others.
“Sadly, many husbands today are not responsible,” cleric said.
He warned men and women against secret marriage, saying ” some people will say we can do it secretly and you will be giving me children, say no, Islam doesn’t want that.
” Islam wants us to publicise marriage and say from today Mr and Mrs Rukayat and Abdullahi, they are now coming together as couple.
” Let us prepare our children for that so that they will know that marriage is not secretive, it is an open thing.
” So, when you do that, you know that you are now preparing for a better tomorrow of any nation,” the cleric said. (NAN)
