Muslim youths urged to prioritise faith over love, wealth in marriage

MUSLIM youths have been urged to place faith above all worldly considerations, including love, wealth and beauty, when choosing life partners.

The admonition was given by former Nigerian Ambassador to Sudan, Ambassador Safiu Olaniyan, during the inaugural joint usrah of The Companion, Abuja District, held last Sunday in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to Olaniyan, faith should be the foremost criterion in marital decisions, as both love and material wealth are transient and often unreliable foundations for lasting unions.

“It is very important to tell our young Muslims who are getting married or wish to get married to consider good Islamic faith in their relationships.

“Love will fade, wealth will fade and beauty will diminish. But Islamic faith sustains marriage through trials,” he said.

The diplomat cautioned that prioritising love or wealth could lead to marital instability.

“If you take love first in marriage, you may end up having problems that can crash the union. Love is good and important, but it must come last. Faith should always be on top, because it is this faith that will control and stabilise every challenge that arises later on,” Olaniyan stated.

He also advised Muslim parents to actively guide their children through Islamic teachings, emphasising that life itself is a form of worship.

“Parents should teach their children the words of Allah and the sayings of the Prophet (SAW). Life is not for jokes but for worship. Get married to worship Allah and be elevated,” he added.

Earlier in his remarks, the Amir of The Companion, Abuja District, Dr Saheed Imran, described marriage as the bedrock of society and a critical pillar of societal stability.

He explained that the decision to focus on marriage at the district’s first joint usrah under the new administration was deliberate, considering the growing concern over rising cases of broken homes and disoriented children.

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“Marriage is the foundation of society. If it is not properly guided, society will be in chaos. Today, we see thousands of broken homes and shattered children,” he lamented.

Dr Imran assured that the Abuja district of The Companion remains committed to tackling pressing issues affecting Muslim families, starting with the foundations of a healthy and faith-based marital life.