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Tag: muslim clerics

  • Muslim clerics appeal for calm, urge trust in Tinubu’s economic reform

    Muslim clerics appeal for calm, urge trust in Tinubu’s economic reform

    The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta has called on Nigerians to stay calm and have faith in President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, despite the current challenges facing the country.

    The Islamic leaders encouraged citizens to remain patient and understanding, emphasizing that the President’s economic policies are aimed at fostering growth and prosperity.

    Speaking in Ibadan ahead of a three-day Conference of Muslim Monarchs, Imams, and Islamic Scholars scheduled for October 7 to 9 in Ijebu-Ode, the conference’s media committee head, Sheikh Taofeek Akewugbagold, along with the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Imam Yunus Ayilara, acknowledged the difficulties Nigerians are experiencing but expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to steer the nation through these tough times.

    In his remarks, Ayilara highlighted that Islam teaches perseverance and trust in leadership. He urged Nigerians to pray for President Tinubu and his administration, seeking divine guidance and wisdom.

    He also called on Muslims to support the government’s efforts to rebuild the economy, emphasizing that national progress depends on collective responsibility and cooperation.

    He said: “We should be patient, we should realise that Rome was not built in a day, this government began in one year and some months ago, the government still has more than two years in office, let us trust the capacity of President Tinubu.

    “When he was a governor of Lagos State, the situation was not easy then, in fact, some people didn’t understand his policies, but today, the state is enjoying the foundation he laid down. Let’s be patient with him and understand that he is also a human being like us, I believe there will be solutions to all the economic challenges

    “Though we believe and have trust that President Tinubu has policies capable of ameliorating sufferings of Nigerians, he should review some of those policies to cushion hardship in the nation.”

    Speaking about the forthcoming Conference, Akewugbagold said the conference will bridge the gap between all Muslims Kings in the Southwest, Islamic scholars, and Imams across the country, adding that it will also dissect immediate and remote causes of crises within and among various sects of Islamic organisation with a view in finding a solution to several indifferences.

    Read Also: Imamship tussle: Muslim clerics appeal to Adeleke to respect court order

    He noted that the conference will also look into ways to protect the honors and legacies of the past and present greater Islamic scholars living and dead for their contributions towards the development of Islam, adding that the conference will also organise special prayer for Tinubu for guardiance towards restoring the country lost glory and peace.

    He lamented the extent to which religion is drifting people in Southwest apart, saying religion as a way of life should be practised in such a way that will bring development to the Yoruba race in particular and Nigeria in general.

    He stated that there is a need to foster Islamic unity within various sects as they believe in worshipping one God, (Allah) with a view of bringing progress to the entire Yoruba race.

    “We appeal to various sects within Islamic organisations to apply the reference points in fostering and strengthening Islamic unity, particularly within Yoruba race rather than applying same in causing confusion, chaos and destabilizing the polity.”

  • Muslim clerics trained on anti-corruption skills

    A group, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, has organized a training on anti-corruption methods for Muslim clerics in Lagos.

    The training, which was held at Excellence Hotel in Ogba, was supported by the Mac Arthur Foundation, an international charity organisation.

    Executive Director of the group, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, said the event was the third in the series for imams and Muslim scholars in the country.

    “This is an ongoing project that would last for three years by God’s grace. We are doing this programme in conjunction with the Mac Arthur Foundation. We started in March this year, and this is the third one we are doing in Lagos State. We had an advocacy programme in April when we came to Lagos and met with religious and opinion leaders and we sensitised them about corruption and what can be done to curb it. Two months later, we came back to Lagos to organise an anti-corruption training programme for imams and Muslim clerics in Alausa, Ikeja.

    ”This edition is called ‘Train The Trainers (TOT),’ and we are training participants so they can also train others in the society. We have done similar programmes in Kebbi, Abuja, Kaduna, Osun, Niger and Kogi states.”

  • No man has right to a woman he’s not lawfully married to – Muslim clerics

    According to Alhaji Al-Imam Yunus Abdulkabir of Aranse Oluwatobiloba Mosque, Jakande Estate, Isolo, “It is very wrong to rape a woman, no matter who you are. The prophet said before you can have anything to do with a woman, you should marry her. Quoting a portion of the Quran, he said “anybody that wants to get a woman must first marry her in accordance with Islam.” So whoever is involved in rape in Islam has committed a great sin according to the prophetic tradition.

    Another thing that the Quran said about marriage is that you should marry the best among the women. So if anybody illegally sleeps with a woman, that one will be punished by Almighty Allah himself, even if nobody sees him because it is a grave sin. The Quran chapter 4, verse 5 said “Only a woman’s parents can give permission to a man to take their daughter, and that is after they have married in accordance with Islam.”

    Explaining further, Abdulkabir said, “Even when you commit adultery or fornication with a woman, as long as you don’t have permission from her parents, you are a rapist. And as for those who forcibly have sex with women either by threatening them with a gun or any form of weapon, are even worse sinner.

    “Also, if a lady comes to you for assistance and you ask her to lie with you; you are a rapist; because that thing may not come from the bottom of her heart. Another example is the lecturers in schools. If a lady fails your course and you tell her to sleep with you before she can pass, you are a rapist.”

    He concluded that a real clergyman cannot rape because he knows what Almighty Allah says about having sex with a woman or girl that her parents have not married to him. Any alfa (clergyman) who is doing such is definitely not an alfa (clergyman) but a sinner. Maybe he is just going by that title as a nickname.”

  • I was released on Tompolo’s order, Clark’s son

    Ebikeme Clark, son of Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who was kidnapped last Wednesday, has regained his freedom from hostage.

    Ebi, as he is fondly called, reportedly got his freedom from his kidnappers at about 12am on Sunday unconditionally.

    Narrating how his freedom came about, Ebi told the Nation in Warri on  Sunday  that it took the intervention of ex-militant leader, Tompolo and one Chief Boro Opudu, for the kidnappers to release him.

    He said  his experience while he was kept a hostage was not pleasant, adding that he was kept in a community near Bayelsa state.

    “They were ordered by their leader, Chief Tompolo to free me and one Chief Boro Opudu. I was freed 12 mid night today ( Sunday). No ransom was paid. They have people they listen to or they lose their lives. I can’t give you full details now.

    “It couldn’t have been pleasant. All I know is that they have people in the community aiding them to keep people. You eat anything you are given and you don’t expect it to be good enough. I was taken to a community somewhere near Bayelsa State”, Ebi said.

    Spokesman of Chief Clark,  Dickson Bekederemo, also said Ebikeme got his freedom without payment of ransom.

    He said  he accompanied  the Delta Waterways Security to pick the released Ebi where his kidnappers dropped him.

    “He was released at about midnight and they gave him N5000 to transport himself out of the community in Bomadi where they dropped him. He was released unconditionally and he is good health”, Bekederemo said.

  • Anti-Mohammed film: US Embassy meets Muslim clerics

    Anti-Mohammed film: US Embassy meets Muslim clerics

    The leadership of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Lagos State has held a meeting with officials of the United States Embassy led by the Consul-General Mr Jeffrey Hawkins on the global protests triggered by a film, Innocence of Muslims, against Prophet Mohammed.

    The meeting, according to CIO Coordinator, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, was to promote better understanding between Muslims in Nigeria and the government and people of US.

    He said the meeting looked at measures to prevent a recurrence of attempt to misrepresent Prophet Muhammad.

    He said Hawkins acknowledged the constructive dialogue approach adopted by the CIO and most Muslims in Nigeria to handle the issue.

    Speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Beleke Smith Memorial Central Mosque Hall, Surulere, Lagos mainland, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, who spoke on behalf of the CIO, commended the US government for the effort to seek the views of Muslims on how to promote better relations between the Muslim world and the US.

    He condemned the film and described the producers and promoters as pathological haters, enemies of international peace and security.

    He said though Muslims were enraged by the film, majority of them were cautious in their reactions by the teachings of the Prophet.

    He said: “There can never be a more effective guarantee of international peace and security than justice, equity, reciprocal respect and mutual understanding.

    “Muslims will never accept that the symbols of Islam, such as the creator, Allah, Prophet Muhammad and all other prophets sent by God, the Qur’an, and places of worship subjected to ridicule, insult and attack in the name of freedom of expression.”

    Amid the watchful eyes of the officials of State Security Service (SSS) and other security agents, many Muslims youth carried placards, expressing their disgust to the film.

    Flanked by various Islamic scholars, Sheikh Ahmad said Islam abhors the taking of lives of innocents.

    “That is why all well-meaning Muslims and members of CIO condemn, unequivocally, the deplorable death of the US Ambassador to Libya and three other US Embassy staff. This has no place in Islam. One very important lesson that we can all take from this is that it is absolutely wrong to judge a country or a people by the deeds of the minority of bad people in that country,” he said.

    He said no human freedom can be absolute.

    “We, therefore, urge the US government to provide legal guarantees that prevent people from infringing on the rights, honours and freedom of others while exercising their rights to freedom of expression.”