Pastor sparks reactions after sending his muslim wife and their son to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj is

A Nigerian clergyman, Emmanuel Simon of The Blessed Embassy, has sparked a debate online after announcing that he escorted his Muslim wife, Jamal, and their baby to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, ahead of their journey to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, popularly known as Umrah.

A Nigerian clergyman, Pastor Emmanuel Simon of The Blessed Embassy, has sparked a debate online after announcing that he escorted his Muslim wife, Jamal, and their baby to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja ahead of their holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

In a Facebook post, Simon openly acknowledged that his interfaith marriage and support for his wife’s lesser Hajj (Umrah) would attract heavy criticism from both religious divides.

"Just escorted mummy Jamal (my wife and baby) to Abuja international airport they are traveling to Saudi for Umrah," Simon wrote, alongside photos of his family at the terminal. 

Anticipating a social media backlash, the cleric jokingly challenged critics to throw stones, reinforcing his belief that a person's character and deeds matter more than religious affiliations.

The viral post generated reactions online. While many commentators celebrated Simon for exhibiting religious tolerance, love, and mutual respect, critics strongly disagreed with the arrangement. Several Muslim netizens argued that the marriage violates Islamic laws, pointing out that while Islam permits a Muslim man to marry a Christian woman, it strictly forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man.

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