MUSLIMS MASS WEDDING HELD IN NIGERIA

Kaduna, 12 Rabiul Akhir 1435/12 February 2014 ( MINA ) – A stakeholder at the Rehabilitation Centre for New Muslims in Kaduna State, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi stated, a Nigerian center for new Muslims have announced plans to arrange mass weddings for reverts to Islam.

Ahmad Gumi also said this event is set to help the new converters to start a stabilized family life in Islam. “Before the wedding the center will arrange for a screening exercise for prospective grooms and brides in order to ensure that they are not HIV/ AIDS careers among other ailments,” Gumi said.

Sheikh Gumi plans were revealed during the 8th graduation ceremony of 50 new Muslims who have concluded a three month basic training about Islam. On Islam reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Wednesday.

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He asserted that the wedding would help new reverts to get married and establish a new Muslim family, encouraging Muslims to marry new reverts without discriminating against their old wives.

Shiekh Gumi has also warned that the attitude of some Muslims is responsible for discouraging non-Muslims from embracing Islam, urging Muslims to present a good example and serve as ambassadors of Islam for non-Muslims.

Nigeria, one of the world’s most religiously committed nations, is divided between a Muslim north and a Christian south.

Muslims and Christians, who constitute 55 and 40 percent of Nigeria’s 140 million population respectively, have lived in peace for the most part.

Last November, eighteen Igbo men from Nigeria’s mainly Christian southeast region embraced Islam at the National mosque Abuja, in Nigeria’s capital.

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A Christian monarch and then a daughter of a pastor had earlier this year reverted to Islam, the latter drawing widespread controversy over claims that she was hypnotized by a Muslim monarch in the country’s north central city Bida, Niger state.

The Pastor’s daughter, Aisha, denied being hypnotized, insisting her choice of Islam was strictly a personal decision driven by conducts of Muslims around her.

Meanwhile, a leading Nigerian Muslim group has condemned the ban on the use of hijab by Muslim student across all Lagos public schools, calling it a breach of the fundamental rights of the students to practice their religion.

“As a Muslim alumni body, that cut across the country and beyond, we have not heard of any state or public schools where wearing of Hijab causes confusion or led to break down of law and order,” the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) said in a statement cited by Premium Times newspaper.

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“If, the Lagos state Government, or the Ministry knows that the affected students need to wear Hijab when they go for prayers or read Qur’an, why not for all times,” the statement signed by the group’s National President, Prof. Wahab Egbewole and Abdur-Rahman Balogun, National Public Relations officer, added.

Lagos authorities have banned the wearing of hijab at schools. The Muslim outfit is also outlawed in most south-western states. (T/P04/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)