Muslim wedding parties banned in Taraba

Muslims in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, have been prohibited from holding any kind of wedding celebrations following a new directive issued by the Muslim Council of Taraba State.

The decision, endorsed by all imams in Jalingo along with traditional rulers and backed by local authorities, specifically targets events such as Kauyawa day (villagers’ day) and Ajo parties — gatherings where youths, often dressed in ragged clothes, dance from evening until night under the guise of wedding festivities.

The ruling was announced during last Friday’s Khuduba (sermon) across Jummat mosques in Jalingo.

Imam Tajudeen Nuhu, Chief Imam of Mayo Gwoi Jummat Mosque, speaking on behalf of the council, declared: “Henceforth, it is forbidden for any household to hold ‘Kauyawa,’ parties, ‘Ajo,’ or any form of celebration during weddings here in Jalingo.”

According to the council, any Muslim who violates the order will not have an imam officiate the marriage contract (Nikah). In addition, imams and clerics have been instructed to withhold funeral prayers (Salat al-Janazah), wedding lectures, and naming ceremony participation for offenders’ families.

The directive also warned religious leaders of sanctions if they defy the ruling by attending events in homes of those who disregard the ban, with penalties including removal from their positions as imams.

The Muslim Council said the measure is intended to promote discipline, instill fear of God, and uphold moral standards within the Muslim community in Jalingo.