MUSLIMS in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, have been banned from organizing all forms of wedding parties following a new ruling issued by the Muslim Council of Taraba State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the prohibition covers traditional celebrations such as Kauyawa Day (Villagers’ Day) and Ajo parties, during which young men and women often dress in tattered clothes and dance late into the night in the name of wedding festivities.
The decision, which was jointly endorsed by all imams in Jalingo, traditional rulers, and backed by the authorities, was announced last Friday during the Khuduba (sermon) at Jummat mosques across the town.
Delivering the message on behalf of the council, Imam Tajudeen Nuhu, Chief Imam of Mayo Gwoi Jummat Mosque, declared that henceforth, “It is forbidden for any household to hold Kauyawa parties, Ajo parties, or any form of celebration during weddings in Jalingo.”
Sanctions for Violators:
The council outlined tough consequences for any Muslim household that flouts the ban. These include:
No Nikah (marriage contract) will be officiated in their homes by any imam.
No funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah) will be conducted for them when death occurs in their household.
No Islamic lectures or clerical services will be rendered during weddings or naming ceremonies in their homes.
Imams and clerics were also warned against disregarding the ruling. Any scholar, male or female, who participates in weddings, naming ceremonies, or funeral rites in the homes of violators risks disciplinary action, including removal from their positions.
The Muslim Council explained that the measure was taken to restore sanity, discipline, and the fear of God among Muslims in the community. According to the council, the affected wedding practices had over the years become avenues for immorality, unruliness, and lack of religious decorum, prompting the need for immediate intervention.
Traditional rulers in Jalingo have also thrown their weight behind the ruling, describing it as a necessary step to strengthen Islamic values and prevent social vices.
The Muslim Council therefore urged all Muslim households in Jalingo to comply strictly with the ruling. “This measure is aimed at installing discipline and promoting the fear of Allah among the Muslim Ummah in Taraba,” the council said.
With the ban now in effect, Muslim weddings in Jalingo are expected to take on a more solemn and strictly religious character, devoid of the lavish celebrations and late-night parties that have long characterized them.