Today is a very special day in my life. Nineteen years ago, on 8th September 2007, I got married to a girl, who has remained my companion, my strength, my comfort and one of the brightest spots in my life — my beloved wife, Surayya Aminu Mudi Spikin.
And please, not 11th September o!
Mine is proudly 8th September — not the 11th September that the world remembers for the destruction of the American towers. Mine is a date I remember for something entirely different: the beginning of a beautiful journey of love, family, sacrifice, patience and blessings.
Nineteen years later, I look back with a heart full of gratitude to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, the One who makes everything possible.
What began as two people coming together has, by the grace of Almighty Allah, blossomed into a family blessed with seven wonderful children. Six of them are now in school, pursuing knowledge and preparing themselves for a better future.
This journey has not been without its challenges. Marriage, like life itself, comes with moments of happiness and moments that test patience, understanding and faith. But through it all, we have continued to walk together, learning, forgiving, supporting one another and trusting in Allah.
Our children remain one of the greatest testimonies of this marriage.
Fatima and Amina, our first-born daughters, have made us immensely proud. This year, they graduated with flying colours, opening the next chapter of their academic journey as they prepare to study B.Sc. Nursing, Insha Allah.
To Fatima and Amina, your success is not only your achievement; it is a source of joy and thanksgiving for the entire family. May Allah guide your footsteps, increase you in knowledge and make you successful in your chosen profession.
Abdurrahman, Aminu, Maryam and Najaatu, you are also on your way. Your good behaviour, discipline and commitment continue to give us hope that the future is bright. May Allah preserve you, strengthen you in your studies and make you people of excellent character and great accomplishment.
And then comes my beloved last born and my namesake, Muhammad Kabiru II. From the little signs we see today, there is already a glimpse of greatness in you. May Allah nurture that greatness, protect you from evil and make you a source of honour, happiness and benefit to the family and humanity.
Surayya Aminu Mudi Spikin, after nineteen years, I can only say: Alhamdulillah.
You have been a bright spot in my life.
Thank you for your patience, your sacrifices, your understanding and your contribution to building our home. Thank you for standing beside me through the struggles, the uncertainties, the responsibilities and the beautiful moments.
A successful marriage is not built in a day. It is built through thousands of little acts of patience, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice and love. For nineteen years, we have continued that journey together.
I am grateful to Allah for choosing you to be my wife and the mother of our children.
I remain deeply grateful to your parents, Arch. Aminu Mudi Spikin and Maryam Abdullahi, fondly known as Momy, for giving me such a wonderful daughter.
Your daughter has become an important part of my life, and through her, our two families became one.
I also remember with immense gratitude my beloved parents, my late father, Alhaji Haruna Waziri, whose memory remains a permanent part of my life, and my beloved mother, Amina Mudi Spikin.
To my brothers and sisters, with whom I shared the struggles, sacrifices and challenges of life, I am highly indebted to you all. Your support and companionship remain unforgettable.
There are people whose names may not appear in every chapter of our lives, but whose contributions helped make important moments possible.
I will never forget Bello Janga, whose support and assistance meant so much to us.
I also remember Sulaiman Aliyu and Bashir Dahiru Galadanci, who helped convey my wife and her entourage to her matrimonial home on that memorable occasion.
I remember the Muhammad Buwa Family, Class 89 family, and NAPEP family, headed by Rabiu Aminu, alongside Mohammed Ismail Ishaq, Muhammad Kabiru, Mansur Lawal, and the many others whose names I may not be able to mention individually.
To everyone who supported us, prayed for us, celebrated with us, stood by us or contributed in one way or another to our journey, Jazakumullahu Khairan.
Some contributions may have been forgotten by time, but they have not been forgotten by the heart.
Above every person, every circumstance and every achievement is Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, the Almighty who makes all things possible.
Nineteen years of marriage, seven children, educational achievements, struggles overcome and countless memories — none of these would have been possible without His mercy.
And to our beloved Prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah (SAW), worthy of abundant praise and blessings, we send our salawat.
Allahumma salli wa sallim 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma'in.
Today, as we celebrate 19 years of marriage, I do not only celebrate the day we got married. I celebrate every struggle we survived, every smile we shared, every child Allah blessed us with, every lesson we learned and every day that brought us closer together.
Surayya, my love, nineteen years have passed, but the journey continues.
May Allah grant us many more years together in good