Poor and often dishonest pre-marital background checks, marked by deliberate concealment of facts and the spread of misleading or outright false information, have been identified as a growing factor behind marital breakdowns and social tension in society.
Dr Aminuddeen Mujahiddeen, the Deputy Commander General of the Hisbah Kano State Command, raised the concern while analysing current marriage investigation practices, noting that many people entrusted with providing character references either hide the truth or give biased and negative accounts driven by personal interests.
According to him, most marriage inquiries today focus on surface-level details such as a person’s name, family background, place of origin and health status, while neglecting the more critical assessment of character, moral conduct and behavioural patterns—areas Islam places the highest priority on.
Dr. Mujahiddeen cited a Prophetic tradition in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised that a suitor whose religion and character are satisfactory should be accepted in marriage, warning that ignoring this guidance could lead to widespread social disorder.
He explained that the neglect of this principle has created an environment where marriages are entered into without proper knowledge, often resulting in conflict and eventual collapse.
He further analysed how information gathered during marriage investigations is frequently unreliable. Parents and close relatives, he said, tend to present their children as flawless, concealing weaknesses to ensure the marriage proceeds.
“Neighbours, on the other hand, often judge based on personal interactions rather than objective facts, branding individuals as good or bad depending on familiarity or personal benefit,” he stated.
Community forums and informal social circles, he noted, are also problematic, as they may include former suitors, rejected admirers or individuals with unresolved grievances, many of whom are unlikely to provide fair or truthful assessments.
Friends, he added, sometimes distort facts—either out of jealousy, competition or misplaced loyalty—by mixing truth with falsehood or deliberately discouraging suitors.
Dr. Mujahiddeen stressed that providing honest information during premarital inquiries should not be viewed as an act of hostility or character assassination.
Rather, he described truthfulness as a moral and religious obligation owed to God and society, as it protects individuals, families and the wider community from preventable harm.
He concluded by urging members of the public to revive sincerity, fear of God and accountability when asked to give character references, noting that “truthful premarital investigations are essential for building stable marriages and maintaining social harmony.”