By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Director-General of Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako, has urged Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the spread of the virus.

He spoke during the 16th Ramadan lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Community (UMC) at UMC Auditorium, Akoka, Lagos.

Prof Salako, who chairman event, said: “When people refuse to be vaccinated, that simply means Nigeria will not reach herd immunity. When we do not reach herd immunity, it means that the infection will raid on and if an infection continues to rage, it means people will continue to die.

“If you refuse to take the vaccine you are not only doing a disservice to yourself, but you are also doing a disservice to the rest of us in the community,” he said.

He condemned the false COVID-19 vaccine claims trending on social media.

“…for every new drug, there will be a side effect. There is no perfect drug. In fact, all drugs are poison and they should not be taken unless it is absolutely necessary. Even the common paracetamol that we take has side effects, but your chances of living longer are much better than the side effect that you are going to get,” Prof Salako said.

Chairman of UMC, Prof. Lai Olurode, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to combat and control the menace of COVID-19.

Coronavirus, Prof Olurode said, has affected the Ummah in a variety of ways.

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, said the pandemic has proven to the world that all power and might belong to Allah.

He said: “This coronavirus has proven to the entire world that we are nothing. Had it been those that said they have the power to heal really have the power they ought to go to the isolation center to heal those who are infected with the virus”.

He urged Muslims to pray and be patient in the face of the current pandemic.

“Muslims should, therefore, pray for Allah’s help and protection, and obey Allah, His Prophet, adhere to government instructions.

“The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: ‘If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place.

“It has been widely recognised that preparing for a pandemic is a community effort that we should all take part to reduce the impact of this virus in our communities and the world,” he said.

He added that this is not the first time the world has witnessed a pandemic, noting that COVID-19 was only more severe and deadly than the previous epidemics.

An Abuja-based Islamic Cleric, Imam Yahya Al-Yolawi, has urged Muslims to increase act of worship and devotion to Allah to maximize reward in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan.

Al-Yolawi, who is the Chief Imam of Area 10 Garki Abuja Jumma’at Mosque, gave the advice while delivering jumma’at sermon titled, “Last 10 Days of Ramadan,” on Friday in Abuja.

He explained that the last 10 days of Ramadan are special days in the lifetime of every Muslim, adding that they are the most blessed days in the month of Ramadan.

According to him, scholars say that, although the Prophet’s sins are forgiven, he is to devote himself even more in worship during these last 10 days, hoping to become closer to Allah.

“The Prophet used to tighten his waist belt and used to pray all night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.

“For Muslims, the last 10 days should be a period to perfect one’s fasting and avoid anything that may break it. It is also a time to give more charity and to settle disputes and forgive one another.

“It is also a time for soul searching, evaluating one’s life, supplicating, and asking for forgiveness.

“This should be done sincerely because if Allah accepts one’s supplications, the reward is the expiation of one’s sins.”

Al-Yolawi, therefore, enjoined Muslims to reactivate themselves in the last 10 blessed days of Ramadan, noting that Muslims must not miss the great opportunity, “otherwise they will regret it forever.

“We should strive to seek out the night of destiny, that is hidden in one of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, particularly in the odd-numbered nights.”

“Witnessing that night in worship is better than 1,000 months or 83 years six months of worship,” he said.

The cleric advised Muslims to observe mid-night prayers, adding that whoever prays at night in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins would be forgiven.

By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has urged Muslims to use the last 10 days of Ramadan to intensify prayers for peace and prosperity in the country.

The JNI made the appeal in a statement issued in Kaduna by its Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Aliyu.

The JNI also implored Muslims to fervently engage in supplications and dedication to the worship of Allah, amidst the daunting challenges and uncertainties bedevilling the country.

It said the government should be more alive to its primary responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.

“We must individually and collectively strive more to earn Allah’s forgiveness and mercy in this blessed month.

“Thus, the Nigerian Muslims are called upon to sustain the tempo of worshiping Allah and maximize these last days by reciting more of the Glorious Qur’an.

“More importantly, we should pray for an end to the myriad of security imbroglio in Nigeria.”

It further urged Muslims to support the poor, the needy and orphans in the society, “especially now that many families are finding it very unbearable as a result of biting economic challenges bedevilling the country.”

“We call on the Muslim faithful to intensify prayers for the Ummah against all manner of misfortunes, relief and succour for the myriads of economic and security challenges hampering the nation,” it added.

The JNI advised Muslims not to return to abominable acts after Ramadan, “as the Lord of Ramadan remains the Lord of the Worlds and He takes account of all our actions”.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Fourteenth Moon Foundation has distributed food items to Muslim teachers in Lagos State for Iftar and Sahur.

The foundation said about 33 teachers benefitting from the food distribution.

Among the schools whose teachers benefitted from the gesture are MIMS Nursery and Primary School, An-Nur Nursery and Primary school, MIMS Comprehensive College, Anuoluwapo Nursery and Primary, Virile Kids and Epitome Nursery and Primary School.

Founder of the Fourteenth Moon Foundation, Qasim Badrudeen, said the food items were sponsored by Jaiz Foundation.

Badrudeen explained that the distribution was to assist the teachers, who have been affected by COVID-19 and the harsh economic situation.

The founder, however, appealed to beneficiaries to make judicious use of the food items given to them.

He also commended Jaiz Foundation for partnering with the foundation, urging more organisations to do the same.

Badrudeen said: “Today, we have been able to give food items to private school Muslim teachers with the support of the Jaiz Foundation. You can see that the joy in the teachers knew no bounds. A lot of Muslims need to be supported but we have very limited resources.

“This distribution is the first phase for this Ramadan, we intend to share more things. I appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to tap from the reward of feeding fasting Muslims. It is a very beneficial project in the sight of Allah.”

A non-governmental organisation, Sesi Whingan Foundation, has distributed food items to over 1,000 Muslims in Badagry, Lagos State, for breaking of fast and early morning food during Ramadan.

Its  Founder, Mr Sesinu Whingan, said the foundation believed in helping the society during and after festive periods.

Whingan said the foundation donated bags of rice to many Muslims in the three local government areas of Badagry.

“Apart from individuals who benefitted directly from the scheme, all central mosques in all towns and villages in the three council areas in Badagry were given a certain number of the packaged food items to distribute to  their members.

“Also, some notable political leaders who are Muslims benefitted from the scheme,” he said.

He said that during distribution, the beneficiaries could not hide their joy and  were full of praises and prayers for the foundation and the founder.

The Chief Imam of Cross River Central Mosque, Alhaji Kabir Olowolayemo, said the Ramadan is a period of self-restraint, control and discipline, as well as spiritual transformation for all Muslims.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, Olowolayemo said that in spite of the enormous bounties of the Ramadan period, only those willing and ready to be transformed benefit from the bounties.

According to him, it was only when people refuse to heed the commands of God that tragedies occurred.

The Imam said all concerned must move away from iniquities and use the period to seek for Allah’s forgiveness.

“It is a show of shame that in the Ramadan, we still hear cases of kidnapping and different forms of insecurity. It is sad that today, the issue of insecurity has become something everyone should be worried about; Ramadan should be used to emphasise the importance of maintaining peace in the society,” he added.

Olowolaiyemo said every Nigerian, including religious leaders, should work to solve the problem of insecurity affecting the nation.

“We must stop living like hypocrites who do things that will later affect them in the long run and follow the dictates of Allah through the Holy Qur’an while ensuring a peaceful coexistence in the nation,” he added.

The Imam explained that Ramadan was not just about fasting and staying away from certain things, but also about feeling for others, including those hungry and homeless.

He appealed to every Nigerian to allow peace to reign and be representatives of God anywhere they find themselves.

By Lateefat Raji and Toyosi Olufemi

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has enjoined Muslims to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocol during the I’tikaf.

I’tikat is a period starting from 20th Ramadan where Muslims seclude in the mosque in search for Lailatul Qadr (Night of Majesty).

NSCIA, in a statement by the Director of Administration, Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, the Council under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, said: “In states where I’tikaf is permitted, Muslims are allowed to perform it while observing necessary safety measures and where it is not, Muslims are encouraged to refrain from it.

“Whichever case obtains in one’s state, the directives of state governments and health authorities on COVID-19 should be complied with”.

By Femi Abbas

Children are Allah’s greatest gift to legitimate couples. Their presence in a home is blessing. Their contribution to matrimonial security is immense. As the cynosures of their parents’ lives, those are children for you. They can sometimes act as teachers just as they can be available as students. They learn fast. They teach fast. They are a major security factor for parents in any given environment.

Whether in Ramadan or outside it, children have both temporal and spiritual roles to play in a matrimonial home. And with such roles, they sometimes create hope for humanity and sometimes, they signal despair. They are the greatest asset in the possession of parents in times of peace or those of danger. They are also the greatest weapon for their parents against the forces of Satan.

THEIR INNOCENCE

Sometimes, because of their innocence, they pave way for Allah’s forgiveness and quick acceptance of prayers. And, most importantly, children guarantee the continuity of human existence on earth. It is only with them that the fulfilment of today’s promise is possible tomorrow.

CHILDREN IN THE QUR’AN

In the Qur’an, children are mentioned many times and, most often, with reverence. They are treated in that glorious book as a major issue in the life of couples. As orphans, they do not only have a role to play, they also compel some adults without children to play a role relating to them.

AS HEIRS

As heirs to their parents, they have substantial shares in inheritance. Muslim children are like lion cubs. They follow the footstep of their parents or guardians very scrupulously to the admiration of the latter. Muslim children are often with their parents during the five daily prayers. They watch their parents as the latter give charity to the poor. They accompany them to public lectures and Islamic social gatherings.

And, in Ramadan, children are part of the Muslims’ total spiritual package. They wake up with them at night. They fast with them in the day. They break the fast with them at sunset. They join their parents at Tafsir and night lectures. They participate in observance of Tarawih and Laylatul Qadr and in giving Zakatul Fitr to the poor.

In all these activities, they are supposed to be encouraged. Therefore, at the tender age of seven, they should be guided and encouraged to fast even if for half a day. And when they reach the age of 10 they should be strengthened in faith and in religious deeds through fasting. They should be provided with necessities of life both on the temporal and spiritual grounds. With these, they will grow up to become the fulfilment of their parents’ dreams.

It must be noted that most children grow up as good or bad citizens by emulating their parents. A child is therefore what his parents make him/her. If advantage of Ramadan is not taken by parents to mould their children into good Muslims what other platform will be used? Your child is your sun. Make hey with it while it shines. RAMADAN KARIM!

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State, Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 preventive measures were adopted from Islam.

Speaking during the University of Lagos Muslim Community (UMC) 16th Ramadan lecture, Abdul-Hameed, said the world has adopted the Muslim practice of quarantines in the form of lockdown, self-isolation and physical distance.

The Rector said: “Some precautionary steps highlighted by the WHO such as the washing of hands, isolation and travel ban, among others, were practiced by Muslims long before establishing WHO. For a devoted Muslim who observes prayer regularly, you must wash your hand at least 15 times in a day.

“WHO isolation preventive method is a common hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ‘When you are sick, don’t go to another country and when you hear there is epidemic in a country, don’t go there,”  he noted.

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He added that this is not the first time the world has witnessed a pandemic, noting that COVID-19 was only more severe and deadly than the previous epidemics.

Director-General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako, who chaired the event, urged Muslims to take the COVID-19 vaccine serious.

“If you refuse to take the vaccine, you are not only doing a disservice to yourself, you are doing a disservice to the rest of us,” he said.

He condemned the false COVID-19 vaccine claims trending on social media.

“… for every new drug, there will be a side effect. No perfect drug. In fact all drugs are poison and it should not be taken unless it is necessary. Even the common paracetamol has side effects, but your chances of living longer are much better than the side effect that you are going to get,” Salako said.

UMC Chairman, Prof. Lai Olurode, said all hands should be on deck to combat COVID-19.

Coronavirus, Prof Olurode said, has affected the Ummah in a variety of ways.