NIKKAH/WEDDING FATIHA

This is the most significant event in the Hausa cultural marriage, it is done at the brides residence or at the mosque, family and friends of both the groom and bride gather at the location to witness the wedding vows, unlike other marriages the wedding vows in the hausa cultural marriage is done by the representatives of the groom and the bride precided over by an Islamic leader witnessed by many invited guests. Prayers are offered to the newly wedded couple and celebration continues.

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Ruqayyah stared at the wall, blankly. She could not welcome slumber once her eyes opened some hours back. Her heart wobbled inside her bust, the mere thought of getting married in some few hours, scared the life out of her.

It felt surreal!

She let out a shaky breathe, trying to look back on every event that happened from last year till date. Indeed, in a blink of an eye everything can change.

A soft chuckled escaped her lips when she remembered her silly fights with Al amin. She slowly traced her vein with her finger. His blood was still running through her veins.

She smiled broadly to herself and strolled to the bathroom. She performed wudhu, put on a long hijab and spread out her prayer rug.

She prolonged her sujood in her salat and begged for forgiveness from her lord, her creator. She prayed to Allah to give her and Al amin the love which He had blessed Muhammad (Allah's Peace and blessings be upon him) and Khadija with (May Allah be pleased with her). She prayed to Allah to bless them with children who will be a source of great joy and happiness. She prayed to Allah to let their marriage be a way for them and their families to enter Jannah. She prayed and prayed till her forehead hurts.

XXx

"Ruqayyah, wake up" A soft voice approached Ruqayyah's ears.

Her eyes fluttered open and saw Adda adama beside her. She looked around and realized she was laying on the prayer rug. She must have dozed off there.

"Your back must be hurting, get up my dear" Adda adama pulled her up "Its already 9am, go and take your bathe"

She nodded as Adda adama gently walked out. Shortly after, furera the beautician, entered with a salam.

"Wa alaikissalam Fure, jam bandu, how did you sleep?"

"Jam Alhamdulillah amarya, the day is finally here" She grinned widely.

"Yes!" She took in a deep breathe "Its finally here"

"Let's get started with the spa, sadly today would be the last day, I'm gonna miss that soft glowing skin of yours" Furera pouted her lips while Ruqayyah just chuckled.

It took furera one hour to finish with the spa. Ruqayyah took a long warm shower bath and came out smelling so damn good.

She ate breakfast first before the makeup artist glammed her up. She donned an azure blue straight dress, paired with a matchy upper lacy kimono and silver jewelleries. The cameraman was already there, so he started to give the bride some shoots. Her friends and family soon joined. They snapped until they were all pleased.

People kept coming in the room heaping thousand praises on her. In the interim, the bride kept smiling and blushing.

Soon, she got announced by ya husna that the daurin aure (Wedding fatiha) was going to commence, in the central mosque of Abuja, immediately after Jumma'at prayer.

Ruqayyah instantly got nervous but physically kept her cool. She kept reciting some verses from the qur'an in a hushed voice for a prolonged time. The rowdy house surprisedly became super quite.

Ruqayyah's phone buzzed. Seeing the message was sent by al amin, she quickly picked the phone and read the message.

'Hello My mrs, Alhamdulillah it's official you're finally mine and I couldn't be more happier. May Allah (SWT) give me the strength to make you the happiest wife on earth.. I love you'

She read the message again, again and again. She tried hard to push back her tears but miserably failed.

"The wedding is official guy" Ya husna announced as soon as she walked into the room.

"Alhamdulillah" The girls in the room said in unison.

"Congratulations baby sister. May Allah azza wajal bless you guys with faith, love and happiness in this world and the Next" Ya husna prayed and hugged her sister tightly.

"Ameen. Thank you" Ruqayyah said amidst sobs.

"Please stop those tears if you don't want me to join you" Ya husna said with glassy eyes "I'll head downstairs now, please ameela take care of her" With that she quickly walked out.

Ameela took ya husna's spot and cupped Ruqayyah's face "Congratulations bestie. I wish you a happy married life, may Allah (SWT) bless this marriage and bless you with cute and obedient children"

Ruqayyah rolled her teary eyes and chuckled "Ameen"

Each and every girl in the room hugged and wished her a happy married life before her aunties came rushing into the room jubilating and congratulating her too.

Ihsan ran into the room and jumped on Ruqayyah "Uncle A and his friends are here, he told me to tell you that your husband is here"

"Iyyehhhh" All the girls said and laughed.

"Shut up" Ruqayyah playfully glared at them, her cheeks flushing. She changed into a maroon french lace and slung a coordinating veil around her. She changed her jewelleries and Zahrah helped her tie a silver headgear.

She walked out and went straight to the waiting room where she was told Al amin was. Of course, she received a lot of complements and congratulations on her way.

"Salamu alaikum" She greeted once she reached the room.

Al amin stood up from his seat "Wa alaikis-salam wifey"

She examined him from head to toe. He was wearing a white kaftan, a babbar riga with a light brown appliqué and a matching hula. He was the complete definition of Ango (Groom).

"Come inside" He said, flashing her his signature smile.

She slowly walked to where he stood, avoiding his intense gaze.

"Congratulations!" He spoke again.

"Congratulations to you too" She uttered in a low voice.

Silence enfolded them before al amin spoke "You look beautiful.. As always"

"Thank you" Was her short answer. She kept Jiggling her ring.

He chuckled softly "Where is the lively Ruqayyah i know? Won't you at least give me a compliment? Orrrr.." He dragged "I'm no more handsome?"

She found herself laughing and clashing her eyes with his.

"You look handsome.. Very" She smiled up sweetly at him.

"Thank you.." He looked down at her "And you're so short"

She couldn't resist the temptation of rolling her eyes at him "Stop making it sound as though I'm short as a dwarf"

He laughed wholeheartedly, throwing his head back. When he finally composed himself, he raised up his hands "No hard feelings! We wouldn't want to fight on our wedding day, would we?"

She shook her head and opened her mouth to verbalize when Ya husna walked in.

"Ango and amarya kunsha kamshi, i hope I didn't intrude?"

"No" They said simultaneously.

"The cameraman will come in right now and snap you some pictures, Alright?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Okay" They both nodded while she walked out. Before long, the cameraman entered and started his job, right away.

Al amin's fingers were laced with Ruqayyah's throughout the photo session. She was uncomfortable at first but gradually got used to it. She felt secured, relaxed and happy.

"Congratulations! May God grant both of you blessings and vastness in your sustenance" Said the cameraman man after the photoshoot.

"Thank you" Ruqayyah smiled.

"Ameen Thank you" Al amin stretched out his other hand and shook the cameraman's hand.

"Salamu alaikum, husband and wife" Came Faruq's voice.

Ruqayyah couldn't reply for she was blushing profusely. 

"All thanks to Allah ta'ala for making this amazing day possible" He spread his arms wide "May He bless you and grant you abundant barkat in your marriage, congratulations Mrs Al amin" He bowed slightly.

Ruqayyah couldn't help but laugh at Faruq's little drama. He was just hilarious.

"Thanks much" She nodded with a smile.

Al amin's friends all came in and congratulated her. She could not stop blushing all the while.

"Wifey, we'd be leaving now, take care of yourself" Al amin gave her a side hug making cold shivers slither down the length of her spine.

"Alright you too" She managed to voice out "See you later, Love you" With that she quickly walked out of the room leaving him smiling like a maniac.

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4:13pm

"Ruqayyah where are you?" Aunty sadiya peeped into Ruqayyah's boisterous and disheveled room.

"I'm here" Ruqayyah said and stood up.

"Come and wrap your lifaya, we'd be leaving now, All of you girls should get up and get ready now"

Ruqayyah nodded and followed her to another room, which was more tidier. Aunty sadiya helped her wrap the white and gold lifaya and sprayed her with some perfumes.

She later got summoned by the elders in mama's room. She sat in front of hajia mama and dada, her head ducked down.

"Ruqayyah my dear.." Hajia mama started "As you are entering this phase of life, i want to advise you on so many things but since we don't have all day, i guess i will have to stick with a little. As i always tell you, marriage isn't an easy thing, if you're to follow your heart desires then it might not work as it work.. in marriage you have to be selfless and considerate about one another and one thing I always tell you which is patience, Ruqayyah i know you're patient Alhamdulillah, but you have to be more patient. You should learn to not complain too much, bear with your husband, do as he says, and in sha Allah God will guide you through. Lastly put Allah first in whatever you do, when you're in any hardship, pray as it is your only way out. Allah should always be your first priority kinji? Allah ya Albarkaci rayuwar auren ku"

"Ameen Ameen" They all answered in unison.

Dada nodded her head "Yauwa hajia ai kin gama fadan komai, Ruqayyah i hope you heard her well because she already has said all that is to be said. Patience, patience I'm reminding you, it the only thing that keeps any couple going and pray not only when you're in need of Allah's help, when you put Allah first then he shall be with you in sha Allah. May Allah bless your matrimonial home and bless you with pious children.. Ameen, Asma'u come and take her to your mother"

Rukayya had been weeping all through. Hajia mama and dada gave her a hug before ya husna slowly pulled her up and lead her to the other room, where mama was.

Ya husna carefully made her sit beside mama and left.

"My daughter.." Mama said with a shaky voice.

"Allah ya baku zaman lafia, ki dunga hakuri diyata, rayuwar aure saida hakuri kinji? Never disrespect your husband and always do as..." Mama couldn't continue because of the lump that formed in her throat. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she embraced her daughter.

"In shaa Allah mama.. In shaa Allah" Ruqayyah said, sobbing uncontrollably.

They stayed like that for only God knows how long until ya husna walked into the room.

Ya husna immediately regretted coming in, once she saw Ruqayyah and mama weeping. She swallowed her tears and tried to pull Ruqayyah up.

"Ya husna i don't want to go" Ruqayyah said amidst sobs as she gripped on mama's arm firmly.

"What are you talking about? Kiyi hakuri Ruqayyah, its almost six, Lets go baba and abbu sule (Ruqayyah's maternal grandpa) are waiting for you" Ya husna slowly pulled her away from mama and hugged her "Don't cry baby sis, it's okay.." She choked.

As much as she didn't want to cry, she couldn't help. She hugged her little sister tightly, both weeping over each other's shoulders. Ruqayyah could clearly remember how she got pissed off by how ya husna kept crying when the elders and mama were giving her the marriage lectures on her wedding day. She had no idea...

After some minutes, Ya husna composed herself and escorted her to baba's room.

Ruqayyah sat in front of him and placed her head on his thighs. He slowly stroked her back "Do not weep my little princess, do not weep.." He smiled sadly "Diyata nasan kinsan duk abunda ya dace. May Allah ta'ala give both of you the ability to fulfill each other's rights as much as possible and fully protect yourselves from trampling each other's rights. Take this" He placed something on her palm "It is my gift, Allah ya baku zaman lafiya, ya bada zuriya dayyiba"

She checked and saw a mercedez car keys "Thank you baba, Ameen ameen" She hugged him.

Baba sule gave his little speech too and gave her a set of gold jewelry as his gift.

"Thank you baba sule, Allah ya qara budi" She hugged him.

By the time she walked out, everybody was waiting for her. Aunty hadiza and adda adama conducted her to the car which would be taking them to the airport.

Ruqayyah couldn't contain herself as she cried her eyes out.

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"Maryam, have you seen my earrings?"

"Where is my headgear?"

"OMG! My eyebrows look ugly"

"My dress is not fitting the way i want it to be"

"Is ihsan here?"

"I'm so gonna kill ilham, she probably took my phone"

Ruqayyah giggled as she watched her family and friends go wild.

After arriving in Kano, she was taken to Al amin's parents' house. She was sermoned by umma and abba; and both al amin's paternal and maternal grandpas before she was taken to one of the rooms in the other side of the house. She would stay there till the next day. The dinner event would be in an hour.

Once her makeup got touched up a little, she slipped into her golden dress. She snapped some pictures in the living room and the bridesmaids joined shortly after. They wore a blue curd lace and a blue headgear.

The groom and the groomsmen joined them. They were also wearing blue kaftan while the groom was wearing all black with only gold appliqué in the babbar riga. 

30 minutes later, they arrived at the event hall. The groom and bride came in Faruq's car with ameela sitting in the front seat.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids lined up in two lines with only the bride and groom in the middle. Everybody stood up and started cheering at the sight of them. Flashes everywhere.

"You look beautiful wifey" Al amin said once they settled down.

"Thanks, you don't look bad yourself"

"I love you"

"I love you too"

Faruq was called to give a brief history about his one and only best friend, al amin. Ameela was also called to do the same. The MC later announced that the groom's surprise would now be presented to his bride.

"Whats the surprise?" Ruqayyah asked eagerly.

"Wait and see for yourself" He smirked.

"My woman.. My everything..." Came patoranking's melodious voice that Ruqayyah use to die for.

"OMG! Patoranking.. As i live and breathe!" Ruqayyah said, eyes popped out, internally jumping up and down.

She was so happy that she didn't know when she gave al amin a bone crushing hug. He didn't hesitate in hugging back.

"I hope you love me more because right now I'm kind of regretting calling him, I'm jealous" He whispered.

She giggled "Don't be! You know i love you more"

"I'm glad"

The occasion went on without a hitch. Everybody ate, danced, swayed, twirled and had fun to the fullest.

The bridesmaids❤️

Ya husna❤️

Faruq and khalifah❤️

Al amin and Ruqayyah on the dance floor❤️

Groomsmen❤️

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"My legs are hurting because of this stupid heels" Ruqayyah whined.

"I can massage them if you want" Al amin offered.

"No thank you" She waved her hands in the air "I just need to sleep, I'm already having a headache, i never thought being a bride could be this stressful, ya salam!" She prattled in one breathe. Faruq had drove them from the event and left the newlyweds talk a little in the car as he also went to talk to his 7abibti.

"Okay sweetheart, don't freak out, just inhale and exhale" He slowly inhaled and exhaled as she copied him.

She felt better afterwards "Thank you"

"Don't mention sweetheart, you should go have a sleep"

"Alright, you should go take some rest too, you must be really knackered"

"Yeah! But when i look at you, all the tiredness goes away"

She chuckled "Stop telling lies, i know you're tired"

"I get it, you're shooing me away, in a roundabout way" He squinted his eyes.

"Come on, how would i shoo you away? How would i shoo my fine husband away?" She said faking a disbelief look.

"You're save." He winked "I'll call you before you go to bed, I love you so much"

"Okay, i love you more"

"No i love you more"

"I love you more"

"I love you more"

"I love you more and more"

"Okay, you should get going but i know i love you more" Al amin spoke, eyes sparkling.

She rolled her eyes "Till we talk, bye"

Yo wassssup?
Doing good?

Right now, i just wish I could be Ruqayyah (Thank God I'm already one💁🏾) and find someone like al amin.😞😞

I decided to put patoranking because he's my fave 9ja musician. Who's your favorite? Please do tell me.

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Peace!✌🏾️

Lots of love!💕💕

Ruru!❤️