AND THE WALIMATUL QUARAN BEGINS...
The bride during the Walimatul Quran in the midst of clerics
T
he groom did include take the lead and they set a date for the wedding.
The wedding, a four-day event, which could best be described as regal, royal and stylish, started traditionally with the Waka Night at the Atiku Abubakar Drive, Adewole Housing Estate Ilorin, residence of father of the bride in Ilorin. The Waka Night is also traditionally referred to as the Aisun Iyawo. Waka Night, which is a traditional performance that is peculiar to Ilorin, signifies the commencement of a wedding ceremony. Usually didactic in nature, the performances are full of admonitions for the couple and everybody in attendance. The night usually features poetic compositions that are heavily laced with teachings from the Quran as well as teachings of Prophet Muhammed. This was amplified by the performers on that night. The Aisun Iyawo which started about 6pm dovetailed into the wee hours of the night and among the dignitaries that graced the night were Justice Durosinlohun Kawu , Justice Titilayo Daibu, Justice Lambo Akanbi, Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Prof. Abdularasheed Nahala, Managing Director, Niger River Basin, Engr. Afolayan Jumaah and Justice Mudasiru Oniyangi of the Court of Appeal. The day after was set aside for the Walimatul Quran, which in Islamic parlance, is the celebration of the completion of recitation of the Holy Quran by the bride. The significance of the Walimatul Quran is to show the world that, the bride has received basic Islamic training and that with that, she is well prepared for all that it requires to live a responsible life in marriage according to the tenets of Islam. The Walimatul Quran started by 10a.m. and the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Muhammed Bashir (OON) started the proceedings of the event with the Opening Du'a (prayer). As soon the Chief Imam was done, one of the Islamic clerics, Sheik Sulaiman Dan- Borno took to the podium to deliver the sermon for the event. Sheik Dan-Borno talked about the importance of the Quran and its uses for human life. He also prayed to Allah to 162
grant the couple the ability to do the same for their children. Thereafter, it was the turn of the Walimatul which was handled by the Chief Imam. His recitation over, it was the turn of the bride, Nimah, to perform her own recitation and show that she has the knowledge of the Quran. This she did to the appreciation and admiration of the guests which included, the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, who was represented by Sarkin Salama, Dr. Aliyu Alarape Salman; Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice S.O. Mohammad; pioneering Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi; Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali and the Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Amb. Nimota Niyilola Akanbi.Others were the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Kwara State, Barr. Bolaji Ojibara, Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Alh. Moshood Elelu; former Inspector General of Police, Chief Sunday Adewusi; Senator Iyiola Omisore,Chief Iyiola Oyedokun, prominent Islamic scholar in Ilorin, Sheik Usman Farouk Onikijipa; Justice Titi Daibu as well as the former Chief Justice of Kwara State, Justice Raliatu Elelu-Habeeb. Later in the evening of the same day, two Islamic scholars, Alhaja Khadijah Abdulsalam Olayiwola and Prof. Abdulrasheed Ajani Raji former Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin were the speakers at the lecture designed by the father of the bride, Ali, to drum tenets of the marriage institution to his daughter, Nimah and her groom, Nurudeen. This was similar to what the father of the bride did last year when he gave out the hand of his second daughter in marriage. After thanking Allah for granting the request of the father of the bride to give his daughter's hand in marriage, Alhaja Olayiwola, a veteran in the marriage institution told the bride to live up to her name, Nimah, which in Islam connotes divinity, goodness, truth, unconditional love and gift. While praying to Allah to bless the marriage, she urged her to be obedient and take a cue from her father, who in spite of his success was still a
simple man. In the same vein, Prof. Raji extolled the virtues of the marriage institution and urged the couple to alway see themselves as one. The next day, which was a Saturday was set aside for the Nikkah Ceremony and Reception at Roemichs Events Palace, Ajase Ipo Road,Offa Garage Area, in Ilorin, which was every inch the right venue. The six Imams that officiated the wedding were Dr.Yusuf Kolawole Jumah, Prof. A.G.A.S. Oladosu, Prof. Muftau Abdulrahman Oloyede, Prof. Badmus Lanre Yusuf, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Wole Abbas and Sheik Abdul Rahman Adangba. The guests, some of whom were already seated, were being entertained by Kwara's No. 1 Disc Jockey, Ololade Moses Ibitoye better known as D.J. Lollypop. Decorated richly in Orange and Gold colors, the venue lit up the minute the groom, Nurudeen, who wore a flowing Cream and Gold cotton outfit sewn in the traditional Agbada, made a royal entry into the venue, alongside his best man, Hon. Sola Yahaya. Minutes later, it was the turn of the bride, Nimah, who looked stunning in her Turquoise Blue mixed with Cream bridal gown which was a Hudaya creation, with her bouquet of flowers and special brooches, which she made herself. Hand-in-hand, the proud father, stepped into the venue with his daughter, accompanied by friends of the bride, who looked very attractive in their Aso ebi, courtesy the bride's fashion outfit, Nimah Collections Limited, an online hub for stress free fabric shopping. Her younger sister, Sururah Ali, who is studying Medicine at the American School in the Carribeans stood out among the bridal train, looking ravishing in her outfit. The twin sister of the late mother of the bride, Alhaja Taiwo Ibrahim was also around as well as the parents of the father and late mother of the bride, Alhaji Bisiriyu Olayiwola Ali and Alhaja Taibat Fomosara Ali as well as Alhaji Salaudeen Akintoye Akinleye and Alhaja Munirat Akinleye. Also, the siblings of the groom including, Yakut Lai Yahaya,Dr. Lateef Folarin Yahaya and Mrs. Arin Ogunnusi came to support their brother. As soon as the bride sat beside her groom, Dr. Wole Abbas from the University of Ibadan rendered the open-