The National Imam of Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jamaah (ASWAJ), Sheikh Umar Ibrahim Imam, has urged Ghanaian Muslims to act responsibly in marriage and family life, warning against marrying “by heart” and giving birth “by heart” without the means to provide for children.
The respected cleric and author of Investment in Islam and Spending in Allah’s Way gave the advice on Friday during the dedication of a newly constructed mosque and resource centre at Abeka, Accra.
The GH¢3 million edifice, located behind the Abeka Market, was built by the Kuwaiti humanitarian organisation, DirectAid, and is expected to serve as both a house of worship and a hub for community development. Sheikh Umar, who was the guest of honour, cut the ribbon alongside Mr. Sami Henedak Ahmed, Country Director of DirectAid, in the presence of worshippers, elders, and youth.
Responsible Family Life
Addressing the congregation, Sheikh Umar urged Muslims to invest in both their faith and their wellbeing. He warned that irresponsible marriages and unchecked childbirth contribute to poverty, crime, and insecurity across West Africa.
“We Muslims must wake up. Don’t marry by heart and give birth by heart,” he cautioned. The cleric recommended that Muslims marry one and have no more than three children so they could properly care for them.
According to him, the Qur’an permits men to marry up to four wives, but only if they have the capacity to provide for them and their children. “If not, marry one instead of bringing forth children you cannot look after. When they grow up with no knowledge, no skills, and no schooling, they become criminals,” Sheikh Umar stressed.
He further noted that violence in parts of Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger was not inspired by Islam but by young people raised without proper guidance. “What we are seeing in these countries in the name of Islam is not Islam, they are criminals with no faith,” he said.
DirectAid’s Contribution
Speaking on behalf of DirectAid, Mr. Ali Abdul Salam Ali explained that the one-storey mosque and resource centre took nearly two years to complete. The facility, he said, would serve as a spiritual and social anchor for the Abeka Zongo community.
The chairman of the building committee, Mr. Dawuda Zakaria, described the mosque as a “fortress against poverty, addiction, ignorance, and division.” He emphasized that it would also serve as a centre for learning, healing, and community renewal.
“This mosque is more than a place of prayer. It is a centre for rebuilding the moral fabric of our society,” Mr. Zakaria declared. He praised the youth of the community for their sacrifices, saying: “You did not wait for change; you became the change.”
He also reminded congregants of the Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that “cleanliness is half of faith,” urging them to keep their homes, streets, and hearts clean as part of their devotion.
Gratitude and Renewal
Mr. Zakaria, on behalf of the community, expressed deep gratitude to DirectAid for its generosity and to community leaders for their wisdom and support. He also lauded the youth whose labour and prayers, he said, made the completion of the project possible.
The inauguration ended with prayers and thanksgiving, with the cleric’s call for responsible marriages and planned families resonating strongly among worshipper
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