Arabic-Yoruba Interpretation Services in Muslim Marriage Ceremonies in Osun State: Professional Standards and Practice

Muslim marriage ceremonies in southwestern Nigeria require Quranic Arabic recitations, ijab and qabul formulae, khutbat al-nikah, and du'a in Classical Arabic, all of which require competent Arabic-Yoruba interpretation for the comprehension and participation of family members without Arabic literacy. This study examines the professional standards and actual practices of Arabic-Yoruba interpretation in Muslim marriage ceremonies in Osun State, assessing the qualifications of practitioners, the accuracy and cultural adequacy of their interpretations, and community expectations of interpretation quality. Using a qualitative observational and interview-based methodology, the research conducts structured observations at 25 Muslim wedding ceremonies in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ede, documenting interpretation practices and assessing accuracy against established Arabic sources. Interviews with 20 officiating imams, 30 family participants, and 15 professional Islamic event interpreters provide practitioner and community perspectives. The study finds significant variation in interpretation quality, with many practitioners lacking formal Arabic training and relying on memorised Yoruba glosses for Arabic ceremonial phrases rather than dynamic interpretive translation. Community satisfaction with interpretation quality is generally lower among Arabic-literate participants than among the general congregation. Recommendations include the development of a professional certification pathway for Arabic-Yoruba Muslim ceremony interpreters under the auspices of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria. Keywords: Arabic-Yoruba interpretation, Muslim marriage ceremony, professional standards, Osun State, Islamic events.