The Executive Secretary of the Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana (TMMG), Alhaji Mohammed Osman Khuzaimah, says commitment, love, sacrifice and patience are the key factors and ingredients for healthy and long lasting marriages.
“Let’s educate our young children, both boys and girls that marriage lasts when there is so much patience, commitment towards one another, love and compassion,” he entreated.
Delivering a sermon in Accra on Friday on the rate of divorce in some Muslim communities, Alhaji Khuzaimah, who is also a member of the National Peace Council (NPC), Greater Accra branch, observed that marriage as an institution was gradually losing its value.
This, he observed was because “our people have unrealistic expectations and they want those expectations met in anyway hence result in divorce if their expectations aren’t met.”
He said “It’s very critical that citizenry re-orient their perspectives towards marriage because the divorce rate in the country is frightening and worse still, few people are addressing it since both are considered sensitive issues.”
“Most women are not patient today and want things in marital life done their way and at the time they want it. Most women of today don’t care and give less importance to being dutiful and obedient to their husbands,” he said.
“We conduct marriages these days and few weeks or months later you hear the sad news,” he said adding that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, said: “Allah abhors divorce. Marriage is a precious gift from God and the earlier people appreciate that God initiated it for a purpose the better.”
He reminded Muslims of Allah’s injunction in Qur’an 30:21. “And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.”
He emphasised that the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammed (PBUH) said: “Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah has nothing to do with me.”
Expressing worry over culture adulteration in the country, Alhaji Khuzaimah said “we are losing our African cultures for the western cultures and telenovela values. We must wake up and address this issue as soon as possible before it eats every home.”
“The marriage of our fathers were not built on telenevola fictional lifestyles but on ancient African wisdom”.
He said the young women of today knew nothing but “my rights”, it’s always “it is my right to do this or not”, adding “this is causing divorces and turning young women into divorcees but they are not realising it.”
“The tradition of our dear Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, had indicated to us that being obedient and dutiful to husband brings a woman closer to raising blessed and successful children.”
“For sure, every marriage has its own ups and downs but commitment, love, sacrifice and patience are the key factors and ingredients for healthy and long lasting marriages,” he added.
With a piece of advice, Alhaji Khuzaimah said spending quality time together as a couple was ideal for marriage to work and for children to imbibe in them the precious Islamic culture and values of love, compassion and affection.
By Salifu Abdul-Rahaman
