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Tag: Muslims

  • Eid-el-kabir: Ambode urges Muslims to imbibe values of sacrifice, endurance

    Eid-el-kabir: Ambode urges Muslims to imbibe values of sacrifice, endurance

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday called on Muslims in Nigeria to imbibe the values of sacrifice and endurance as they join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

    In his Sallah message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, Governor Ambode said the period of the celebration is one that calls for every Muslim and other Nigerians to embrace the tenets of sacrifice, patience, humility and brotherly love.

    He explained that the significance of the season should be beyond the festivities, adding that it should be a moment to reflect on why God has united everyone with a common humanity of blood, food and water as these should constitute what binds the people.

    He, therefore, called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to a greater acceptance and internalization of the lessons of piety, faithfulness, dedication, fortitude, obedience, sacrifice and selfless service which are for the benefit of mankind.

    “As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, let us renew our faith in our nation and implore the Almighty God to restore to us those values that place high premium on human life, love of neighbour and sharing even as we ventilate our faith in the unity of our dear country and the possibility of her taking her place in the comity of nations”, the Governor said.

    He said the prevailing economic recession currently taking its toll on Nigerians was only a phase that will pave way for a new dawn in the country, saying the Federal Government is making steady efforts to salvage the situation.

    “This period requires more patience, fortitude, tolerance, endurance, patriotism and a greater willingness to make personal sacrifices for the good of all. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration remains committed to lead the nation in overcoming its current economic and developmental challenges”.

    While wishing all Muslim brothers and sisters in the State a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration, Governor Ambode expressed appreciation for the support given to his administration, urging all Lagosians to continue to embrace peaceful co-existence.

  • Promote tenets of Islam, ACF tells Muslims

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has enjoined Muslims to be steadfast in promoting the tenets of Islam.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Mohammad Ibrahim, said in a statement in Kaduna that the tenets included peaceful coexistence with one another.

    The ACF extended its felicitations and good wishes to Muslims and other Nigerians on the special occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.

    He said the period of sacrifice was a reflection on the significance of the spiritual act.

    ACF called on Nigerians to eschew unnecessary bitterness and hatred on the basis of faith, tribe or even political leanings.

    “We urge Nigerians to unite in prayers, patience and understanding in this period of Eid el Kabir celebration.”

  • NSCDC urges unity, peace among Muslims, Christians

    NSCDC urges unity, peace among Muslims, Christians

     

    The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Muhammadu Gana, has called on Muslims and Christians to live in peace and harmony to ensure national development.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, on Monday in Abuja.

    It said Gana made the call when he hosted the Faith Watch Summit for the two religions – Islam and Christianity, held at the Civil Defence College Academy Hall, Sauka, Abuja.

    He was represented by Acting Deputy Commandant-General, Critical Infrastructure, Dr Emmanuel Adeoye.

    “As a Security Outfit of Government, We in the NSCDC owe it a duty to within the purview of the Law, do everything to ensure security, peace and harmony of the citizenry.

    “This epoch making gathering is an eloquent testimony to this vision.

    “Today, Nigeria as a nation is being plagued by several security threats such as terrorism, armed robbery and kidnapping, religious extremism, vandalism of National Assets and Infrastructure, corruption and impunity and other social vices,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was convened at the instance of the Inter-religious organisations in conjunction with NSCDC to focus on ways to de-escalate the progression of conflicts brought about by religious intolerance, hate sermons and lack of mutual religious respect.

    It said that the principal goal was to enhance the impact of religious understanding for national security and development.

    Speaking at the Occasion, Rev. Yusufu Obaje said peaceful co-existence was a divine imperative planned by God himself.

    “It is a divine decree of the Almighty God that all His creation should live together because the human nature warrants for we depend on each other.

    “We need a culture of spiritual rebirth. God gave us these religions as a means to worship Him, but it should not be turned into tool of destruction,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Malam Ibrahim Jega, the Executive Secretary, National Mosque Management Board, said that once wrong acts were committed, it should not be attributed to either Islam or Christianity.

    Jega said that those acts should be seen from the individual or groups perpetrating those nefarious acts, saying that Boko Haram and other terrorist organisations were all on their own.

    “Understanding is key for Christians and Muslims to enable each other know why each behave the way they do, thus, leading to appreciating each other,’’ he said.

    He urged media organisations to desist from sensational news reporting, and be objective in their reportage.

  • No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    No plan to Islamize Nigeria – Sultan

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III have cleared the air over suspicion of a grand plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic State.

    Sultan stated categorically that, it is not possible for a multi religious nation like Nigeria to either be Islamized or Christianised.

    He stated this Friday, at the commissioning of the International Centre for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony’s office in Kaduna.

    According to Sultan, who is also a Co-Chairman of the centre, no country survives religious war; hence, Christians and Muslims in Nigeria must imbibe the culture of peace and peaceful co-existence.

    He however advised that ethnic and religious crisis in the country should become a thing of the past, adding that, “No country survives war or war stimulated by religious intolerance.”

    According to him, the practice of religion should be voluntary and not by force. “We have seen countries where people are killing one another; obviously, there can be no peace in such countries. Killing is not part of the teachings of the holy book.

    He called on Christians and Muslims across the world to desist from making comments that anybody is out to Islamize Nigeria. “Nigeria has a Muslim president and before him was a Christian president. We must see ourselves as one big family, without that, we cannot have peace. It is not possible to Islamize Nigeria, if God had wanted, He would have created all Christians or all Muslims, we are not secular but a multi-religious state because the people are so religious. We must respect one another and understand the tenets of the two religions,” he stressed.

    Similarly, the Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai decried the series of crises that had erupted in the state; lamenting, that the state has been divided along religious line. He mentioned that religion is no longer a matter of life after death but business; adding that those who operate the religious business make money by promoting division. “We must de-emphasise our differences and promote peace,” he stated.

    While he stressed the importance of the Centre situated in Kaduna, he assured of the state government’s commitment towards ensuring that the message of peace and inter-religious harmony is taken to a higher level.

    Earlier in his remark, the General Secretary of The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Reverend Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Wushishi noted that by nature, religion plays a vital role in purposeful leadership, community building, social justice, law and order among others. “Our obligatory responsibility as faith based community in Nigeria is to respect our religious differences. In our diversity as a nation, we are bound to opt for bonds based on our common humanity,” he added.

  • Sultan: Hijab is a right, not privilege for Muslims

    Sultan: Hijab is a right, not privilege for Muslims

    Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III has canvassed fair treatment for Muslims across the nation.

    According to him, Muslims want nothing but a very peaceful and stable Nigeria.

    The Sultan spoke in Benin City at the General Assembly and Executive National Council Meeting of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

    Muslims, according to him, were not asking for preferential or special treatment but given what they should have.

    He frowned against stereotyping criminals and terrorists as Muslims, saying the bad eggs in the faith would be given fresh orientation to have a change of heart.

    Abubakar praised the Pope for making a very strong statement defending Islam as a religion of peace.

    On the hijab controversy, the Sultan said: “Hijab is our right not a privilege. It is not a favour to us. It is our right.

    “And we hold on to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guarantees freedom of worship.

    “That is why we don’t disturb anybody who wants to go and worship the way he wants.”

    He added: “Nigeria is a multi religious state, not a singular state. And being a multi-religious state, we must allow the various religions to go on but we must not trample on each other’s right, which means I must be allowed to practice my religion the way I believe as ordered me by the Holy Quran and nothing else.

    “So when we get this done, the issue of hijab and so many other things affecting Islam I believe is our right, not a privilege unless the Constitution is changed.”

    On bad elements in Islam, he said:  “Those bad people among us, like in other religions, we should pick them out and teach them the tenets of Islam.

    “If they refuse to change, that is their own problem. We will meet with the creator on the judgement day.

    “In any society, there are many terribly bad people. So many, who are not Muslims but carry out criminal activities with some Muslim organisations in America, France and even in Nigeria.

    “Those people doing negative things should be called criminals or terrorists but not Muslims.

    “I’ve never heard of Christian terrorists but we have heard of so many Christians or followers of other religions who committed heinous crimes against humanity.

    “But they didn’t claim to do it for their religions and we did not hold them against their religions.”

    Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, called for the re-introduction of teaching of religion in schools.

    This, he stated, would help to achieve peace and create a foundation for a fair and just society.

  • Ambode, Aregbesola advise Muslims on virtuous living

    Ambode, Aregbesola advise Muslims on virtuous living

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and Osun State Rauf Aregbesola have urged Muslim faithful to keep on with the principles of the holy month of Ramadan, which are love, peace, kindness, compassion and happy co-existence.

    Ambode spoke in Lagos House, Ikeja, at a special Eid el-Fitri celebration organised by the state government to mark the end of fasting.

    Aregbesola gave his counsel in a message to the adherents that thronged the praying ground for Eid el-Fitri prayer at Oke Baale area of Osogbo.

    Addressing those at the Lagos House, Ambode said it was only when the principles of the season were sustained beyond Ramadan that the fasting period could be given true meaning.

    The governor, who said that this year’s Ramadan was unique in the sense that the 30-day fasting period was fully observed, thanked the Muslim faithful for their prayers and urged them to keep praying for the state and the country.

    He said: “As your governor, I seek for your support and cooperation as we move into the second year of this administration. We must all play our parts and keep relating with this government and we will not fail in making Lagos work for all of us.

    “While thanking everyone that has spared time to join us in this get-together, I enjoin Muslim faithful and indeed all Lagosians to sustain the lessons of Ramadan,” Governor Ambode said.

    Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, thanked God for giving Muslims the strength to complete the fasting, but stressed the need for them to remember the essence of the holy month and the expected renewal of faith and spiritual cleansing of souls.

    She said: “It is important for us to continue with the principles of the Holy Month. Ramadan represents love, peace, kindness, compassion and happy co-existence. The Holy Prophet held these principles in high esteem and lived His whole life around them.

    “Therefore, as brothers, sisters, neighbors, co-workers, we must love one another, show kindness to one another and live together in peace. It is when we do these beyond the fasting period that we give true meaning to the Ramadan,” Mrs. Ambode said.

    But Aregbesola said the essence of Ramadan is for human beings to be reborn spiritually.

    He said fasting teaches virtue, resilience and endurance, which must be upheld by Islamic faithful.

    He urged Muslims not to detract from the part of virtue and righteousness that they observed for 30 days of Ramadan.

    The governor noted that the best thing for Muslims to do after the fasting is not to go back to old ways of sins.

    “Today marks the end of Ramadan. It is without doubt that for 30 days, we endured hunger, thirst and obedience.

    “These are what Allah command of us. During this month, we came together as one. We shared together; we loved ourselves and prayed to God for forgiveness.

    “Fasting teaches the utmost virtuous. The virtues of endurance, tolerance, love, honesty and determination in the face of adversity. It is all these that renewed our beings and made us spiritual.

    “I urge us to hold on to all the qualities. Even though Ramadan has ended, we should not let these good qualities go with Ramadan. We must not depart from this path of virtue again,” Aregbesola said.

    He urged Muslims to live in harmony and extend hands of understanding and love to people of other faiths, saying Islam best exemplifies peace among people of the world.

    He assured the people that better days lie ahead despite the present economic gloom.

    In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Animasahun, emphasised the need to continue to fear God and do the right things after the fasting.

     

  • Pray for Nigeria, Dogara, Lasun urge Muslims

    Pray for Nigeria, Dogara, Lasun urge Muslims

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has congratulated the entire Muslim Ummah across the country on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, the Speaker  urged Muslims to use the period of Eid- el- Fitri to pray for Nigeria to overcome its present challenges.

    The Speaker also charged Muslims to allow the lessons of humility, sacrifice,love and selfless service garnered during the 30-day fast to guide their lives and activities.

    According to him, the holy month of Ramadan afforded Muslims the opportunity to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow men and also advised that they should continue to put smiles on the faces of others beyond the Ramadan period.

    “May I use this opportunity  to urge the faithfuls to use the occasion to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan and continue to imbibe its teachings which are primarily premised on selflessness, sacrifice, patience, modesty and spirituality”, Dogara said.

    The Speaker also called for prayers for the success of the country’s leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari  for God to continue to guide, protect and give him the wisdom to steer the affairs of the state and actualise the change agenda.

    Similarly, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff  in a statement by his Press Secretary, Wole Oladimeji has appealed to Nigerians to love one another irrespective of religious inclination and eschew violence.

    Hon Lasun in his his Eid- el- Fitri message to Nigerians noted that it is in the atmosphere of peace, love and unity that meaningful development could be achieved rather than fighting one another.

    The 30 days of fasting is a period for Muslim faithful to reflect on their behaviors and to make amends,  just like the Christians too have their own period of fasting, therefore, there is need to make good use of the opportunity and be closer to God and eschew violence in our daily activities.

    Lasun also appealed to Nigerians bear with the president in his quest to put the economy of the country on a sound footing so that all could enjoy at the end of the day.

     

     

  • Turkish President greets Muslims at Eid-El-Fitr

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has felicitated with Muslims in Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Fitr.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Erdogan had a telephone conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

    President Erdogan, whose country had recently suffered terror attack at the Atartuk airport, rejoiced with Nigerians on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast despite whatever distractions.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had, last week, in a letter written to the Turkish President, commiserated with him and the entire people of Turkey in the wake of the bombings at the Ataturk airport in Turkey.

    President Buhari had described the incident as a “horrific attack on their soil by evil forces who have nothing to do with Islam despite their warped beliefs.”

  • Eid il-Fitr: Watch out for the moon, Sultan tells Muslims

    The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has asked Muslims to look for the new moon tonight for the Eid el-Fitr.

    Secretary-General of the council, Prof Is-haq Oloyede in a statement yesterday, said the council, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, had put in place a National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) to that effect.

    The Shehu of Borno and NSCIA Deputy President-General is among the 34 eminent Muslims across the country as members of the committee.

    “NMSC has advised the President-General that the crescent of Shawwal should be searched for today equivalent to Ramadan 29.

    “If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Monday night (tonight) and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would declare Tuesday, July 5, (tomorrow) as the first day of Shawwal (Eid day).

    “If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Monday night, Wednesday, July 6, automatically becomes the first of Shawwal 1437 AH (Eid day)’’, Oloyede said.

    Oloyede enjoined Muslims all over the country to be on the lookout for the directive of the President-General of NSCIA on the completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

    He said as soon as the NMSC confirmed the sighting of the crescent, the committee would advise the president-general of the NSCIA, who will announce the completion of Ramadan and the observance of ‘Eid-il-Fitr’ prayer.

  • Embrace insurance, Muslims told

    Muslims have been advised to be serious about insurance as it protects against losses.

    An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Mudashiru A Bada, gave the advice at the Ramadan Tafsir Lecture organised by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend.

    Bada, the Chief Imam of Oluyole Estate Extension, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, noted that since insurance is a risk mitigating tool, it has a place in Islam.

    He said: “Islam did not negate insurance, since it is a form of protection against future loss. Prophet, during his life time, practiced a form of insurance, although he did this as charity, because he never collected any form of money for rendering such service. The difference between then and now is that insurance operators have decided to operate insurance as an entity or a company, where managers get paid for providing insurance services.

    “In some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, citizens are denied certain privileges because of lack of insurance. There is, however, no ambiguity about insurance in Islam. There is the tenets of ‘Utmost Good Faith’ in insurance contract that the insured and the insurer must abide by and this should also be applicable to all human endeavor on earth.

    “If Muslims, Christians and pagans uphold this tenet, people will respect one another and live harmoniously irrespective of their religious differences and this would make the world be in peace.”

    CIIN President, Lady Isioma Chukwuma earlier said professionalism and spirituality are major factors that define us as human beings.

    According to her, the Institute caters for the spiritual needs of its members by organising Christmas Carols and the Ramadhan Tafsir yearly.

    “The Ramadan Tafsir is designed to cater for the spiritual needs of the Muslim faithful in the industry and it provides a unique opportunity to share in the bountiful mercies and blessings that are associated with the Holy month of Ramadan.

    “The month of Ramadhan is a special month in the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which Muslims engage in increased spiritual activities, offer charity and generally involve in acts that bring them closer to Allah. For this year’s programme, the organisers have assembled eminent scholars who will feed us with spiritual diet in the spirit of the month.”

    She stressed that the Institute is charged with the statutory responsibility of determining the standards of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become registered members of the insurance profession in Nigeria which it promotes by conducting professional examinations for its members with the objective of getting them certified.

    CIIN incoming Director-General, Olutayo Borokini, appealed to the participants at the lecture to uphold the teachings of the month of Ramadan to make the society a better place.

    Staco Insurance Plc Managing Director, Sakiru Oyefeso, said the Ramadan Tafsir was an initiative of CIIN, which started four years ago, adding that since then, it has recorded tremendous progress and followers both within and outside insurance industry, promising that the institute will continue to embark on this selfless service yearly.