An Islamic cleric, Shuaib Agbarere, advised Muslims on Sunday to prioritise piety and religion in choosing spouses.

Mr Agbarere gave the advice in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a weekly Ramadan lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja.

He noted that ”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.”

The cleric noted that all the socioeconomic and security challenges bedevilling the country could be addressed if the couple got the right marriage.

He emphasised the need for parents to take on the responsibility of educating their children about marriage.

” You only enrolled them in schools to earn certificates in sciences, law, and philosophy. In fact, you will even tell them to go and do your masters degree in a field of study.

” But you never have time to call them and say there is one field that is difficult that you cannot get to the end of without experience,” Mr Agbarere said.

The cleric warned youths against marrying someone without a future.

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

He warned men and women against secret marriage, saying, ”Some people will say we can do it secretly and you will be giving me children; say no, Islam doesn’t want that.

” Islam wants us to publicise marriage and say that from today, Mr and Mrs Rukayat and Abdullahi are now coming together as a couple.”

(NAN)