The Dilemma of Masaba
By Anza Philips, Abuja Bureau
Monday, September 08, 2008
Muhammed Bello Masaba, now facing severe criticisms for marrying 86 wives contrary to Islamic injunction, is still unable to decide if he should divorce all but four of them
The family of Muhammed Bello Masaba, 82, had cause to be joyful on August 28. The husband to 86 wives and father of 156 children returned home from his mission to the palace of Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, the traditional ruler of Bida, unharmed amidst his family’s anxiety that ill fate might befall him there.
The family’s worry heightened because some muslim groups allegedly declared fatwa on Masaba because of the number of wives he has. Masaba was summoned by the traditional ruler to explain his declaration that he married 86 wives contrary to Muslim injunction limiting men to only four wives each. His family had thought that their bread-winner would be sentenced to death because of his action. But their anxiety turned into wild jubilation when Masaba came home.
Newswatch learnt that at the palace of Etsu Nupe, Masaba was told of the position of the Islamic law on marriage. He was also said to have been given two days from the date of the meeting to divorce 82 of his wives or leave Nupe land. Palaces sources quoted the Etsu Nupe as saying that the safety of Masaba could not be guaranteed if he failed to abide by the directive. They told Newswatch that the meeting had in attendance Adamu Yakatu, acting chief Imam of Bida who read out the relevant parts of the Qur’an and other stipulations regarding marriage among the Muslims to Masaba.
Sources said Masaba defended himself fiercely at the meeting. He was said to have argued that after reading the Qur'an over and over again before he finally stopped reading it, he could not recall any part of the holy book which limits marriage to four wives. Masaba was said to have told his audience that he was hit by a strange wind in 1972 and consequently, he became unconscious, adding that he stopped reading the Qu’ran after he met Allah 20 years ago.
During the meeting with the traditional ruler, Masaba also denied ever claiming to be a prophet. He, however, owned up to his claim that he had seen Prophet Mohammed. This claim, drew the ire of the Imam who reminded Masaba of the writings in the Qur’an which says that no one can see Allah. But Masaba did not recant, insisting that he had seen Allah.
After a long argument, the Etsu Nupe passed his verdict saying "from the facts available to us, you are not a true Muslim and you are hereby given two days to divorce 82 wives from your 86 wives and if you fail to do so, we cannot guarantee your safety in Bida and the entire Nupe kingdom; as such, you should pack your load and leave."
Responding, Masaba requested to be given two weeks instead of two days to implement what he was asked to do. According to him, "to reduce the number of wives needed a lot of negotiations and one had to think of the children and what becomes of them."
The Etsu Nupe was said to have replied him that the Sharia commission in the state would take care of the 82 women divorced while the social welfare department would take care of the children. The traditional ruler also declined Masaba’s request. He also said he did not agree the man hailed from Bida, adding that every available evidence to the emirate council showed that the man came from Lokoja in Kogi State not Bida.
But the claim by the Etsu Nupe that Masaba is from Kogi and not Niger State is hotly disputed. Bala Nayashi from Yashi area of Lokoja, Kogi State in a statement on Tuesday, September 2, said from records available to them, Masaba is not from Lokoja.
According to Nayashi, the people of Lokoja have had a cordial relationship with Nupe, and indeed have some Nupe living in Lokoja. "We understand the embarrassment that Masaba has caused not only the people of Nupe kingdom but the entire Muslim in his country, but to say that he hails from Lokoja is unacceptable to the people of Lokoja. We in Lokoja do not have an environment that would contain the harem, let alone accommodate him. We believe that the Etsu Nupe was misrepresented with the statement that Masaba is from Lokoja," he said.
As at the time of this report, Masaba had not agreed to reduce the number of his wives to four. He also declined speaking to Newswatch over the matter for now, directing the magazine to speak with Shehu Muh’d Jubril his lawyer for a possible date for an interview. When contacted, Jubriel denied that Masaba agreed to reduce his number of wives to four.
Before the controversy started, Masaba had lived happily with his 86 wives and 156 children on Kotaworo Road, in Masaba area of Bida, Niger State, until recently when he granted interviews to the media, telling the world that he was married to that number of wives and with such scores of children, and that he would keep marrying until Allah says it is enough.
Jama’atu Nasurul Islam, JNI, an umbrella body of all Muslims in the North wouldn’t take that. JNI lashed out at Masaba for breaching Islamic principles and precepts. On August 18, JNI issued a fatwa (death sentence) on Masaba should he fail to repent and reduce the number of his wives to four as prescribed by the Holy Qur’an for all adherents of the faith.
JNI, however, in a press statement on Monday, August 25, following public criticisms, denied issuing a fatwa on Masaba. According to the statement, JNI said it only informed Masaba of what could have happened to him under a strict Islamic injunction for anybody who deliberately misinterpret the Holy Qur’an and Hadith and refuses to repent. The statement was signed by Sheik Usman Babatunde and Abdulkarim Mu’azu.
JNI had also, in a letter sent to the Etsu Nupe on Friday, August 22, called on the paramount ruler who is also the chairman, Niger State council of chiefs to summon Masaba and explain the Islamic law governing marriage to him.
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