The Muslim Council of Taraba State has formally announced a ban on all forms of wedding parties within Jalingo, the state capital.

The decision, which has already generated widespread discussion across the city, is aimed at curbing what the council describes as growing excesses during marriage celebrations and preserving the sanctity of Islamic traditions.

According to the council, the directive followed extensive consultations with respected Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, and local authorities who expressed concern over the manner in which weddings were increasingly being celebrated.

The ban was made public during last Friday’s Jummat prayers, when imams across the city were instructed to deliver uniform sermons informing the faithful of the new regulation.

Imam Tajudeen Nuhu, the Chief Imam of Mayo Gwoi Jummat Mosque, delivered the official pronouncement on behalf of the council.

He declared that popular celebrations, especially the “Kauyawa” and “Ajo” parties, which had become a cultural trend among young people, were no longer permissible under Islamic practice within Jalingo.

“Henceforth, it is forbidden for any household to organize Kauyawa, Ajo, or any other form of celebratory gathering during weddings in Jalingo,” Imam Nuhu announced firmly to worshippers.

The council argued that such gatherings, while often seen as social entertainment, had in reality turned into platforms for indecency and disorder.

Reports presented during consultations revealed that these events are usually dominated by large numbers of youths, many of whom appear in tattered or provocative clothing and engage in rowdy dancing that stretches late into the night.

This, the council insisted, not only disrupts public peace but also diminishes the sacred nature of marriage in Islam.

To enforce the new regulation, the Muslim Council outlined a series of severe sanctions. Any household found guilty of flouting the directive will face serious religious and social consequences.

Most notably, imams will no longer officiate their Nikah (marriage contract). Beyond that, the council stressed that such families will also be denied other key religious rites and privileges within the community.

“Defaulters face stiff sanctions: no imam will conduct their marriage. Moreover, funeral prayers, naming ceremonies, or wedding lectures will not be permitted in their homes,” Imam Nuhu declared.

In addition to households, the ruling also applies directly to clerics themselves. The council warned that any imam or Islamic teacher who is found attending, blessing, or supporting the outlawed gatherings would face disciplinary measures. Such actions, it said, could include suspension or outright removal from their positions.

The ban has been framed not merely as a punitive measure but as a moral and spiritual safeguard for the Muslim community in Taraba.

By eliminating what it views as un-Islamic practices, the council hopes to reorient young people toward discipline, modesty, and respect for Islamic values.

The directive has already started sparking mixed reactions among residents of Jalingo. While some families and elders welcomed the move, praising it as a necessary step to address moral decay among youths, others expressed concern about how it might affect the social fabric and long-held traditions associated with marriage celebrations.

Still, the council maintained that its decision was final and binding. It called on all Muslim faithful in Jalingo to strictly comply, reminding them that true celebration in Islam lies not in excessive display but in adherence to the teachings of the Prophet.