By Emmanuel Nduka
Islamic police, Hisbah has invited the parents of newly crowned Miss Nigeria for questioning for allowing their daughter, Shatu Garko participate in the beauty pageant, which it described as illegal.
Commander of Hisbah in Kano State, Sheik Harun Ibn Sina made this known on Wednesday in a statement.
“We have confirmed that Shatu Garko is a Muslim from Kano State and that her parents are from Garko local government area. Kano is a Sharia State and this is why we will not allow the matter to slide just like that.
“We will invite the parents to talk to them about the actions of their daughter and the fact that what she has done is illegal in Islam in the event they are not aware so that she will not continue with that path and other girls copying her as well,”Hisbah told BBC News Pidgin.
Garko, an 18-year-old hijab model, is the first Miss Nigeria to come from the Northern part of Nigeria.
She hails from Kano State and was crowned the 44th Miss Nigeria after beating 17 other finalists at an event on Friday, December 17 in Lagos.
She was also the youngest contestant this year, carting away N10m, a one-year residency at a luxury apartment, a brand new car and brand ambassadorship opportunities.
“Winning this competition means a lot to me. I have always wanted to be Miss Nigeria. I’d like to thank Miss Nigeria and its sponsors. I would also like to thank my mum for supporting and loving me,” Garko said shortly after she was crowned Miss Nigeria.
The Hisbah Chief further explained the position of the Quran on participating in a beauty contest like Miss Nigeria.
He said the organisers of the beauty pageant were drawing the wrath of God to themselves by organising the event, stressing that God dislikes beauty pageants.
“In Islam, it is forbidden for any person to participate in any beauty contest. Long ago, our great teacher, Mustafa Saba’i was asked about beauty pageant and he said it is forbidden for the following reasons.
“Many things that happen during the contest are against Islam. For example, there is a lot of body exposure and also the event teaches ladies not to be shy and reserved.
“Almighty God in the Quran told the prophet to tell his wives, daughters and other women of faith to always cover themselves properly.
“In another verse of the Quran, God also instructs people to guard their eyes against watching what is sinful like exposed body parts and also for women not to be exposing their beauty to the outside world except their face, hands and feet,” the Hisbah commander said.
