The Chief Executive Officer of Al-Hatyq Travels and Tours, Alhaji Dr. Mutiu Adewale Badmus, has commended popular Yoruba actress, Alhaja Meenah Aigbe (formerly known as Mercy Aigbe) over her carriage during the 2023 Hajj exercise, noting it underscores her conviction about Islam.
Alhaja Meenah Aigbe, who recently embraced Islam after her marriage to Alhaji Kazim Adeoti, a successful film producer, was one of the Nigerian celebrities that performed the 2023 Hajj.
She turned out to be a sensation in the just concluded hajj exercise, as Muslim faithful extolled and encouraged her with positive remarks.
In an interview with Muslim News’ correspondent in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, the CEO of Al-Hatyq Travels and Tours, the agency that facilitated Meenah Aigbe’s pilgrimage to the holy land alongside her husband, said the actress amazed him with her wholehearted submission to the will of Allah.
Other Nollywood actors that travelled with the agency include Alhaja Aanatallah Kemi Afolabi, Alhaja Habeebah Kemi Korede, both of whom are also Yoruba movies stars.
During the 2021 post-Pandemic hajj with limited number, Fuji icon, Alhaji Alabi Pasuma was among the celebrities that performed hajj with Al-Hatyq Travels and Tours.
Alhaji Mutiu Badmus told Muslim News that Mercy Meenah Aigbe made the exercise easy for Al-Hatyq as she showed personal conviction about Islam.
“I think what I see in Hajia Meenah Aigbe is her submission to the will of Allah. It was obvious in the way she carried herself during the hajj exercise that she was ready to be a Muslim. She is not from a Muslim background. She was a Christian. She married a Muslim and wholeheartedly submitted herself to her husband. That was why the husband was also moved and encouraged to bring her for hajj. She performed all the rites, every single activity. That amazed me.
“I was expecting her to feel like a celebrity. When we got to Muna, I was expecting her to say how could she sleep under a tent. Look at Muzdalifah, everyone was on the floor and she did the same thing. So, for me, she was ready and it showed in the way she carried herself. I commend her, and I’m so happy that she could submit herself to the will of the Almighty Allah.”
He urged Meenah Aigbe to keep the ball rolling, recommending her action for other Muslim celebrities.
“My advice for her is to keep doing what she is doing. The important thing is personal conviction. I can see that she was personally convinced. Getting forced is different from being convinced. She was convinced. I saw the video your medium (muslimnews.com.ng) posted on social media where she was saying the Talbiyah, “Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik”. You can’t even know she’s just joining Islam.
“For other celebrities, my advice is that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. They should not do things as if they are being forced. It’s obvious nobody forced Mercy Aigbe to do what she’s doing. She embraced Islam. She embraced the new name (Meenah). More importantly, I am so happy she came with us Al-Hatyq Travels and Tours. It will go down in history that we brought her to hajj. I am happy. She made it very easy for us too.”
