“And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Verily in that are signs for those who reflect.” (Translation of the Holy Qur’an 30:21)
My husband and I were very grateful to Allah for bringing us together. We were unsure if we wanted to delve into marriage again after divorce and living single for a while. Alhamdulillah, Allah, Ta’ala, put it into our hearts to accept that He has decreed marriage for mankind. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Marriage is half of faith.”
We wanted to encourage our Muslim brothers and sisters to join us in this sacred endeavor. We aimed to elevate the beauty and joy marriage brings to those fulfilling that other half of their deen. It was my husband who pointed out that while we often talk about the importance of marriage, more emphasis is placed on getting married than on staying married. With the blessing and support of our Imam, we took on the task of celebrating marriage.
We planned a “Celebrate Marriage” dinner event featuring testimonials from newlyweds, couples married for 15–25 years, and veteran couples married for 50-plus years. What the couples shared was incredibly impactful. Listening to their stories felt deeply personal. Hearing from people we knew gave us a deeper understanding and reassurance that the struggles in marriage are real, but so are the rewards. The couples highlighted the importance of faith in Allah and practicing the Islamic way of life, which was central to their successful marriages. Their challenges and triumphs offered valuable lessons.
Three years ago, our committee began planning a couples’ retreat weekend. One couple on our planning committee recommended Coolfont Resort in Berkeley Springs, WV, where they had spent their honeymoon years ago. It met all our criteria: nearby, affordable, and accommodating. We visited the site and began making plans for our first Couples Retreat.
Our community welcomed the initiative with open arms, confirming what my husband had expressed: we needed to recognize marriage as the foundation of community life. For too long, we had taken marriage for granted. We assumed we would get married, have children, and that would be that.
Our Celebrate Marriage Dinner Event has become an annual program supported by our home community, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque in Washington, D.C. This year marks our 12th year of living our purpose:
The mission of the Celebrate Marriage Committee (CMC) is to provide recreation, education, and support for married life. We organize workshops and seminars to help increase understanding of the roles and responsibilities of being a spouse and to teach strategies for achieving marital success in a time when marriage is a struggling institution in our society.
The mountain retreat for Muslim couples illuminated a path toward deeper connection and spiritual fulfillment, proving that amidst life’s tumult, the sanctuary of love and faith remains steadfast and unwavering.
Email: celebratemarriage@thenationsmosque.org
Single2Married on Facebook
Hajjah Rafiah Jones is a Native Washingtonian. She lived in Seattle, Washington for nearly 20 years before returning “home” and becoming an active member of Masjid Muhammad. She has served as co-chair of the IPTCSA (Islamic Parents-Teachers-Community-Student Association, Title One Support Specialist, and Interim Principal of Clara Muhammad School of Washington, DC. Rafiah has a background in theater and education. Rafiah is a Board member of IAT InnerAttainment TV and an instructor for the Youth Weekend School at Masjid Muhammad The Nation’s Mosque. When possible, Rafiah performs with Hijabi Monologues, a women’s ensemble of story-tellers sharing stories of Muslim women living in America while wearing their hijabs (head cover.) The intention of the stories to is connect with our shared human experience.
Nana Kwame Shakoor was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Alexandria, VA. He became a track star at the renowned, TC Williams High School where he was one of the fastest runners in the 100 and 220 meter races in Northern Virginia. Kwame has built a career in the transportation industry which allowed him the flexibility to travel and engage in international trade in West Africa. He was bestowed with the title of Chief (Nana) after embracing the hearts and earning the respect of the people in a small village, Kissi, outside of Accra, Ghana.
Kwame and Rafiah became a couple in 2013. They have hosted the “Celebrate Marriage” event in DC since 2014 and have been grateful to work with the community to enrich and encourage marriage as the foundation of community life. They are business partners sharing health and wellness practices that are good for people and our planet.
