Muslim residents of Jalingo town in Taraba State have been instructed to cease all components of traditional wedding celebrations, including the popular Kauyawa day and Ajo ceremonies.
These gatherings, known for youths dressed in worn attire dancing from dusk to nightfall, are now forbidden.
This restriction was collectively decided by the imams serving Jalingo under the umbrella of the Taraba Muslim Council, alongside input from local traditional rulers and with official backing from government authorities.
The prohibition formed the central theme of the Friday sermon (Khutbah) delivered across all Jummat mosques in the city last week. Imam Tajudeen Nuhu, Chief Imam of Mayo Gwoi Mosque, conveyed the council’s directive
“From this moment forward, no household in Jalingo is permitted to host ‘Kauyawa’ or ‘Ajo’ events, nor any other type of celebration associated with weddings.”
The council has issued a stern warning that any Muslim who disregards this directive will face serious religious sanctions. Specifically, no imam will officiate the marriage contract (Nikah) in households that violate the new protocol. Clerics are prohibited from conducting funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah) for community members in these homes.
Additionally, scholars, regardless of gender, must not deliver Islamic teachings related to marriage or naming ceremonies in the residences of those defying the ruling.
Imams and religious officials who participate in any banned ceremonies are subject to disciplinary measures, including removal from their posts, the statement added.
The ruling represents a unified stance by the spiritual leaders and community heads, intended to promote orderliness, instill reverence for divine laws, and encourage discipline within the Muslim population of Jalingo.
Muslim Council officials urge all believers to adhere strictly to the new policy in order to uphold the sanctity and decorum of marital rites in Jalingo.
Leave a comment