30 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016
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Jumada Al-Akhir 9, 1437 A.H.
Ese: Child marriage is about culture, not Islam (2) Continued from last week SLAMIC maturity age: For those who want to be anachronistic about Aisha’s, (r.a) marriage to the Prophet, she did not live with him until she reached the customary and Islamic maturity age and in accordance with the norms of the society at that time. Nobody complained, not even the enemies of Islam at that time because that was the norm. According to Imam Ahmad Assawiy in his commentary (Tafsir Jalalain) on Suratul Mariam verses 15-27, Mariam the mother of Isa, one of the four women revered in Islam who Prophet Muhammad described as women of paradise gave birth to Isa at the age of 13. In fact he stated that there was an account which puts her age at 10. It will be wrong to compare these special creatures of God with todays being, it is a great sin to also vilify them. In the recent century however, it was the practice for young girls of age 10-15 to be married. Today, in some countries, young girls of similar age go into marriage. If it is the culture in one environment, that is not about Islam, it is about culture.
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Age of puberty The Prophet did not rule that every Muslim must marry a nine-year-old girl. It is cultural, hence there is no clear age set in Islam for a girl to marry. Maturity changes according to different societies, period and environment. They are free to determine marriageable age, based on maturity and other social factors of that environment, but it must not be lower than the age of puberty which Islam has set. Even at that, the desire to protect young people is a genuine desire; young girls who have not attained maturity cannot decide for themselves and so should stay with their parents until they attain maturity to consent to the marriage in order to cope with marriage and motherhood. This is not something that should be looked at in the negative light. Qur‘anic Teachings on Child Marriage: The Quran equates marriageable age with the ability to make mature and sound judgments: “Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage ; if
you then find sound judgment in them, release their property to them… When you release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence.” (Quran, 4:6) According to this verse, there is affinity between marriageable age and the age of mature intellect. It shows that children cannot take possesion responsibly, which also means marriageable age is equated with sound judgment. To enter into such an immense, life-changing responsibility such as marriage, Islam recognises that it requires the ability to make sound judgment. The verse also talk about witnessses which is required in any marriage in
The religion has taught that when a man proposes to a woman, her consent and that of her parents are necessary and no relationship should exist if there is no consent
Islam because the institution of marriage is contractual in nature. The Quran forbids forcing women to marry: “O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! It is not lawful for you to force women into marrying or holding on to them in marriage against their will.” (Quran, 4:19) The immense responsibility of marriage is one that children do not possess the intellectual capacity to grasp thoroughly. Therefore, children only entertain the idea of marriage if they are heavily influenced by their parents, which, as stated above in the Qur‘an, is severely discouraged. The scholars agree that if marriage of a young girl will serve some very real interest for her, then her guardian may arrange a marriage for her, but if no real interest will be served for her by that, then he does not have the right to arrange a marriage when she is still a minor, until she can choose for herself and give consent. The caveat is that during the period between her betrothal and the consummation of her marriage, the young bride would reside with her parents until she is fully grown and able to cope with marriage and motherhood. She must have the physical ability to be able to bear and nurture children. Again, when she is fully grown and she declines, she has the right to annul the marriage.
ELCOME to Muslim SoulMates in Vanguard. A unique platform for single Muslims who wish to find their potential marriage partners on this page. We have designed it to help you find perfect soul mates every Friday. We will also give counsel where necessary in order to keep with the halal standard. Our aim is to further develop couples that could be blessed, compatible, enduring following Islamic injunctions. It promises to be a rewarding service just as we will treat all inquiries and submissions in confidence. Send your profile, contact and details of who you want, not more than 75 words to isholaism@yahoo.co.uk. Names and contacts will not be published. For those whose profile are published, they are advised to check their emails as we will revert to them for further information. PROFILE 08: A single Muslim male, 30, Yoruba, and gainfully employed wants an educated Muslim lady for marriage. Preferably between 21-25 years. PROFILE 09: A married Muslim male, from the South South, businessman desires to have an educated and God fearing Muslim lady or divorcee as second wife. Preferably not more than 40, from any part of the country. PROFILE 10: A Muslim widower, 49, 5ft.6inches tall, into import and export business desires a God fearing lady, single or divorced for marriage. She must be literate and hails from any part of the country. PROFILE 11: A young man, 5ft.8inch from South-West, wants a Muslim lady between 35 to 40 years as life partner. Preferably tall, light in complexion, literate and beautiful. PROFILE 12: A young man, 6ft tall from South-West, currently based in Delta State wants a Muslim lady between 35 to 40 years as life partner. Preferably tall, light in complexion, literate and beautiful. PROFILE 13: A gainfully employed young man, 5ft.7inch from South-West, currently based in South-South wants a Muslim lady between 30 to 35 years as life partner. Preferably tall, light in complexion, literate and beautiful.
NIKKAH: Former Miss Zainab Akinpelu was solemnized in Holy matrimony with AbdulWasi Owolabi. The event was held at Rontex 18 Event center, Igando, Lagos, recently.
NAHCON will refund N1.7b to 2015 Hajj pilgrims — Mukhtar •Action justifies FG’s zero tolerance for corruption —NACOMYO
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HE Executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, has said that the Commission would refund N1.7 billion to some 2015 Hajj pilgrims across the country. Alhaji Mukhtar made the disclosure while inaugurating the 2016 Hajj Carriers Screening Committee in Abuja recently. He explained that the money was for services not rendered to the pilgrims in terms of feeding, accommodation, change of accommodation, and for those who were unable to perform the Hajj last year. The chairman said it was a tradition of NAHCON annually to make such refund but the
volume in 2015 was higher than the previous years. Mukhtar said that the Commission had evolved a strategy to make sure that all those who were supported received what was entitled to them. He added that “after the 2015 Hajj, the Account Department of NAHCON carried out a thorough reconciliation with all service providers, both the Nigerian service providers and the Saudi service providers. “They were able to come up with substantial amount that will be refunded to all the state pilgrims’ welfare boards and agencies and this amount is to the tune of about N1.7 billion,” he said. Mukhtar said NAHCON had set up machinery to create
awareness among the public who participated in 2015 Hajj to approach their respective pilgrims boards for the refund. “We believe in the leadership of the state board, we appreciate their capacities to effect the refund in line with financial regulations and in line with the change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said. The executive chairman also assured that proper monitoring of the refund of the money would be carried out by the Commission and other agencies responsible at the federal level. Meanwhile, National Council of Muslim Youth Organization, NACOMYO as lauded NAHCON for the refund, describing the action as a
wholesome development. It noted that NAHCON’s action underscored Federal government’s zero tolerance for corruption and a significant step and determination by the NAHCON headship to addressing sharp practices that are allegedly associated with the annual pilgrimage exercise. It called on state pilgrims Agencies and boards to ensure that the concerned pilgrims are paid accordingly and with orderliness. NACOMYO urged all stakeholders to evolve a robust synergy that will revamp Hajj operations and enhancement of pilgrims’ welfare and the realization of hajj mahbrur.