Parents told to be involved in marriage counselling

An Abuja-based Muslim cleric, Barrister Shuaib Mustapha Agbarere, has urged Muslim parents to be involved in the marriage counselling of their children to prevent them from being misled.

Agbarere made the call at the weekend at the weekly Ramadhan women’s lecture series tagged: “By women, for women”, of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.

Sheik Agbarere, who spoke on the topic: “Preparing our children for marriage: Islamic Approaches”, urged Muslims to prioritise piety and religion in choosing spouses above other considerations.

He said, “It is important for parents to take on the responsibility of educating their children about marriage. You only enroll them in school to earn certificates in the sciences, law and philosophy. In fact, you will even tell them to go and do their masters in a field.

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“But you never have time to call them and say there is one field that is difficult that they cannot get to the end of without experience.

“As parents, prepare your sons to be responsible and not allow their wives to sustain the marriage. Sadly, many husbands today are not responsible.”

On the reason for marriage, he said, “It is important for a Muslim to marry a woman who is devoted to religious practices. If you marry a religious woman, you have married the most beautiful woman. If you marry a religious woman, you have married the richest woman. Therefore, tell your children to prioritise piety and religion while going into marriage.”

On her part, a marriage counsellor, Dr Aisha Adaviruku, cautioned Muslim couples against anal intimacy as it was haram (prohibited) in Islam.

She said that the Islamic legal system taught Muslims everything about life, including how couples should have intimacy, and train their children.

She noted that parents had a very huge space in ensuring that their children understood the true essence of marriage and guided them properly.

The Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi, represented by his wife, Hajia Haulat Adeyemi, urged parents to be the best to their children in piety and righteousness.