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New forms of Islamic marriage in Ghana
In name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and Merciful!
We praise and salute the Prophet of Islam, our leader and beloved to Allah and to us, Mohammed, Peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon Him and His family and noble companions.
Last week, I presided over a marriage ceremony as the conductor as well as the Imam who rendered the Khutba or marriage sermon and gave an advice to the couple at the National Mosque of Ghana at Kanda in Accra.
My attention has been drawn to some Muslims professionals, including some scholars and students of knowledge pouring their criticism and objections over certain practices and activities that took place at the ceremony and its aftermath. Some described it as foreign and alien to our culture but not unlawful, and others say it is completely haram and not permissible in Islam.
I have decided to offer my opinion, and an Islamic Fatwa in public without publicly exposing the couple out of our respect to them because the subject matter is becoming a public matter and therefore I pray my opinion would help in settling or at least extinguishing the simmering tension and debate over Islamic laws; traditions and its application, Insha Allah.
The Holy Quran as the ultimate Guide for all Muslims in every aspect of life permits entertainment and merry making when one or group of people rejoice or find a means to be happy.
Say, O Prophet, “In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice. That is far better than whatever wealth they amass.” 10:58.
The only concern is for all the people involved and participating not to include or entertain any form of any of the following:
1. Alcoholic drinks
2. Consumption of pig
3. Consumption of the meat of dead animal or lawfully permitted animal to be consumed but wrongly slaughtered
4. Dancing with a woman or a man in case of a woman who is not lawfully your partner, sister, mother or daughter.
5. Exposing parts of the body that makes one attractive and sexy
6. The lyrics in the music does not have or contain any immoral words, among other things.
In certain cultures in Ghana and outside Ghana, couples exchange weddings or engagement rings before, during or after the wedding and wedding gowns whether white or any colour including holding parties and receptions at hotels or event centres, and the issuance of marriage certificates.
All these are permitted in Islam as long as it does not violate or break any law such as kissing in public between the couple, which is also permissible only to some extent, touching the body parts of your partner in a dance or any form, and the superstition that the rings and white gowns bring fortunes or bondage between the couple.
Ibn Abbas reported: Ayisha gave away one of her relatives in marriage to a man among the Ansar. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came and said, “Did you send them a girl?” They said yes. The Prophet said, “Did you send someone to sing with her?” She said no. The Prophet said, “Verily, the Ansar are a people who love poetry, so you should send someone along with her to say: Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1900
In another narration of this Hadith by Imam Bukhari (RA), the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon actually said: oh Ayisha, was there any entertainment in the gathering because the people of Madina love entertainment.
I pray to Allah to bestow upon us His wisdom and guide, bless all our efforts and understanding of the religion and bless our affairs.
The writer is a Member of the National Peace Council of Ghana (NPC) and Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council (GARPC). Executive Secretary of the Tijjaniya Muslims of Ghana.
By Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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