Poor and often dishonest pre-marital background checks are increasingly contributing to marital breakdowns and social tension, the Kano State Hisbah Command has said.
The Deputy Commander General of the command, Dr. Aminuddeen Mujahiddeen, raised the concern while analysing current marriage investigation practices in the society.
Mujahiddeen said that deliberate concealment of facts, biased assessments and the spread of misleading or false information by those entrusted with providing character references had worsened marital instability.
According to him, many premarital inquiries focus mainly on surface-level details such as name, family background, place of origin and health status, while neglecting the critical assessment of character, moral conduct and behaviour.
He noted that Islam places the highest priority on religion and character in marriage, stressing that ignoring this principle often leads to conflict and eventual collapse of marriages.
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 failure to do so could result in widespread social disorder.
He explained that information obtained during marriage investigations is frequently unreliable, as parents and close relatives often present their children as flawless, concealing weaknesses to ensure the marriage proceeds.
“Neighbours, on the other hand, tend to judge individuals based on personal interactions rather than objective facts, branding people as good or bad depending on familiarity or personal benefit,” he said.
The Hisbah official added that community forums and informal social circles were also problematic, as they might include former suitors, rejected admirers or individuals with unresolved grievances who are unlikely to give fair assessments.
He further observed that friends sometimes distort facts out of jealousy, competition or misplaced loyalty, by mixing truth with falsehood or deliberately discouraging suitors.
Mujahiddeen stressed that providing honest information during premarital inquiries should not be seen as hostility or character assassination.
Rather, he described truthfulness as a moral and religious obligation owed to God and society, noting that it protects individuals, families and communities from preventable harm.
He urged members of the public to revive sincerity, fear of God and accountability when asked to give character references, adding that truthful premarital investigations were essential for building stable marriages and maintaining social harmony.