A young couple in Kano State has sparked widespread controversy after they tied the knot without the consent of the bride’s parents, prompting swift intervention from the Hisbah Board in the Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
The incident, which occurred on the night of Wednesday, July 2, involved a young woman identified as Fatima, who was reportedly married off without her family’s knowledge or approval.
Her father has since lodged a formal complaint with the Hisbah, describing the union as “unlawful” and demanding that religious authorities nullify it.
Fatima’s mother, Fiddausi Abubakar, expressed her shock over the sudden marriage. According to her, she was at home when a group of youths arrived and announced that her daughter had just been married. “Nobody informed us. No bride price was paid to our knowledge,” she said.
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On the groom’s side, Mukhtar Musa Yakasai, father of Aliyu Mukhtar, admitted being aware of the relationship between the two youths but said he had earlier told Fatima’s parents that his family was not ready for marriage at that time.
He added that the family was stunned to discover that the wedding had been conducted by Aliyu’s friends without any parental or formal involvement.
Aliyu Abdullahi, who acted as Fatima’s guardian (waliyy) during the ceremony, told authorities that the bride personally requested him to officiate the marriage on her behalf. Usman Muhammad, who represented the groom during the ceremony, confirmed that he was invited by Aliyu to also fulfill the role.
Despite the backlash, the couple remains defiant. Both Aliyu and Fatima claimed they were in love and had mutually planned the wedding. Fatima also stated that she received the bride price herself and pleaded with the authorities not to annul her marriage.
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However, the Hisbah Commander in Kano Municipal, Ustaz Hamidan Tanko Alasaka, declared that the marriage was not valid under Islamic law due to the lack of parental consent and proper procedure.
“A valid marriage in Islam must involve the presence and approval of the bride’s guardian, proper payment of bride price, and formal witnessing,” he stated.
The matter is now under active investigation, with the Hisbah Board consulting Islamic scholars to determine the appropriate next steps.