Cultural traditions intersected with modern life when NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon married Dalia Asafi when she was just 18 years old, citing Muslim norms.
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is one of the greatest centers in basketball history, having won two consecutive NBA championships.
The NBA Hall of Famer has a great story of growth from nothing to owning everything through basketball.
Although he showed no initial interest in basketball, he entered the space at the young age of 15. Later, he went on to dominate and show his presence on the court for decades.
Alongside his athletic pursuits, god has blessed him with a supportive wife, Dalia Asafi. She has been with him for almost 30 years and supported him through everything.
Olajuwon married Dalia very young. Reports even suggest that she is Hakeem’s second wife; however, there are no authorized details.
People Often Mistake Former NBA Center Hakeem Olajuwon’s Wife, Dalia Asafi, For Dalia Mogahed, a Muslim Scholar!
After basketball and the NBA, Hakeem Olajuwon’s other side is with his family: his dear wife and the kids from his relationship.
Reports suggest that Hakeem married Dalia Asafi, a young Islamic girl, in the late 1990s. The couple has four children.
Hakeem and Dalia reportedly married on August 8, 1996. They are in their third decade of marriage, which is still going on.
She was born and raised in Jordan but met her husband in the United States during his time with the Houston Rockets.
Unfortunately, details about his wife are still mysterious, as very little information is available about her identity.
Analyzing the athlete’s social media handles, we found his picture with his kids but almost nothing about Dalia.
Happy Father's Day to this Guy @DR34M!!!! I know everyone thinks they have they best dad in the world, but mine is☺☺☺ pic.twitter.com/NoJgHrfp7A
— Abi Olajuwon (@AbiOlajuwon) June 21, 2015
The unclear details have raised confusion about the Hall of Famer’s wife with Dalia Mogahed, a Muslim scholar and researcher.
The mix-up likely stems from the similarity in their first names and shared cultural backgrounds, leading to misunderstandings.
Even large media groups have claimed her being the basketball legend’s wife, but the floating news is completely bogus.
Mogahed is a well-respected figure in the Muslim community and is also the Director of Research at the ISPU.
The lady has worked focusing on the issues related to Islamophobia, social justice, and Muslim communities in America.
While both women share the same first name, Dalia, they are distinct individuals with different life paths.
The real photos and identity of Hakeem Olajuwon’s wife, Dalia Asafi, are still unknown to the public.
Nigerian-American Player Hakeem Marrying a Teenaged Girl Sparked Controversy Back in 1996!
Nigerian-American basketball player Hakeem made headlines in 1996 when he married an 18-year-old woman.
It was a prearranged Islamic marriage, which sparked considerable discussion at the time due to its cultural implications.
Besides the high age difference between them, he shook the whole world with his statements defending Muslim culture to marry young.
In August 1996, the NBA centre tied the knot with his wife, Dalia Asafi, who was just 18 at the time.
Olajuwon, in a public interview, said,
In the Islam faith, it is customary for a girl to marry much younger than they do in America, at age 15 or 16, for instance.
He added, “Dalia may be 18 in terms of age, but because of her background, and religious understanding, she, like many other Islamic young women.“
#TBT: Hakeem Olajuwon makes his debut for the @HoustonRockets in 1984, posting 24 PTS & 9 REB in the win over the Dallas Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/yFDFGGffzB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 27, 2016
The marriage was arranged according to Islamic traditions, often involving families in matchmaking.
The culture was very new to Western nations, and the former athlete’s decision to marry according to the norms sparked discussions.
This matchmaking practice is common in many cultures and reflects deep-rooted values regarding family and community.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Unlike other players, Olajuwon did not start playing basketball until he was 15 years old.
- During his youth in Nigeria, the great basketball center was a sheep herder.
- His nickname, “The Dream,” originated during his college days at the University of Houston.
