INNOVATIONS OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM by IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI

THE 104^th KHUTBAH DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AT MASJID ABUJA, BY IMAM YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, 

ON 27TH JAN 2017/ 28th,R/THANI 1438AH

TOPIC: INNOVATIONS OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the most Merciful

 My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, our last week’s Khutbah centered on significance of marriage and Today’s sermon will discuss the topic: Innovations of marriagein Islam.

Islam is very clear on the issue of (Halal andHaram) lawfuland forbidden things or activities and the concept of (bidi’ah). Innovation in Islam is the creation or addition of any religious matter which was not originally found in Islam or from the teachings of the prophet and his companions.  And He said: "Truly, what is lawful is

evident, and what is unlawful is evident (clearly explained), and in between the two are matters which are doubtful which many people do not know. He who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things..”[Bukhari and Muslim].

And He also said:  “…and the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (SAW), and the worst of all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)” [Sahih Muslim].

Innovations of marriage here, referred to those un-Islamic activities, unlawful things, western styles and bad culture and traditions that are attached to our marriages in these days which gradually doing away with Islamic teachings, discouraging those intend to gatemarry and eventually promoting hardship, immoralities, adultery among the muslimUmmah. This societal problem needs to be addressed by the youth themselves, parents, royal fathers, religious leaders and other concern agencies.

We need to educate ourselves the true Islamic teachings in marriage to ease things to our people starting from the process of gating marriage, in the wedding day, and what follows after that. Allah says “…And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty”.Q5:2

 Some ofthe innovations in marriage include:

1.      Unnecessary delay of marriage in both young men and ladies in the name of colleges/university studies, ready-madewaiting or otherwise after having reached the age of marriage is incorrect.

2.      Extravagance: spending recklessly to display class/ status Allah says “ …And  do not spend wastefully.Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful”Q17:26

It is amisconception to think that one's respect will be lost if one does not hold an extravagant wedding and invite many people. What is our respect compared to that of the Messenger of Allah (SAW)? We spend thousands of Naira/dollars to impress people. We are sentimental - "I want my daughter/son to have the best." However, think about it this way...the people you impress will forget the wedding after a few weeks, your daughter/son's marital happiness may float on the extravagance of her/his wedding for a short while but ultimately, it will depend on just one thing that is Allah SWT.

3.Lack of good intention/ sincerity in marriage.Verily, deeds are only with intentions. Verily, every person will have only what he intended. So whoever emigrated to Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever emigrated to get something in the world or to marry a woman, then his emigration is for whatever he emigrated for”. Bukhari

4.      Dinner and lunching: this act ofinviting Allah’s anger in the name of dinner, lunching, mother’s night, cut cake, Indian day tea party etc. where mixing between opposite sexes will take place, singing and dancing wearing the highest attractive dress sometimes almost naked usually after wedding fatiha took place in the mosques is an act of sin which leads to so many evil acts and totally against Shariah.   Allah says: “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not exposes their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers…” Q24:31

5.      Telling lies in words or in actions.Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah Messenger (SAW) said, "The sign of Munafiq (Hypocrite) are three: If he speaks, he lies, if he makes a promise, he breaks it, and if he given a trust, he betrays it."  Bukhari and Muslim

6.      Movement of husband-to-be and fiancée outside her parent’s house sometimes outside the country.

7.      Lack of knowledge with the concept of marriage itself.

8.      The Process and steps followed to gate married.

9.      High test: The Prophet (saw) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser."  Some us will like their partner to have the four while they themselves possess none of those qualities in real sense.

10.   Being capitalist of the highest order: some ladies, men, parents believe and respect only millionaire, who has money and will give them money not considering what will follow after that.

All these factors and others are the genesis of all our marriageproblems which need urgent attention of scholars, parent and everyone concern may Allah swt assist us and ease our tasks. Ameen.

We ask Allah the most High to continue to guard and protect our iman.

Contact: yahyalyolawi@gmail.com