The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment in building the society by enlightening and empowering the scholars with the needed roles and responsibilities.
The functions of spiritual upliftment, moral perfection and societal reformation were emphasised by Alhaji AbdulLateef Ekundayo at a day seminar organised by the Lagos council organising committee of the organization over the weekend at Isolo.
No fewer than 500 members of the society from 37 local government across the state attended the seminar with the theme, General Administration, Financial Management & Investment and Mode of Dawah in the Society.
Alhaji Ekundayo is the missioner of the society in Fadeyi area of Lagos and presented a paper on the roles of the Missioners in the Society.
He described the “missioners” as the heirs of the Prophet (Muhammad) adding that, “they are expected to seek beneficial and sound knowledge, assimilate and embody them, then teach them to members of the society and the community at large.
Alhaji Ekundayo said, “there is no doubt that scholars play a vital role in Society. Their duties include but not limited to keenness to teach people their religion and nurture their faith, morality and Islamic etiquette.
“Being a good model for people to emulate by abiding by the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions. Indeed, role models play vital role in guiding people to the straight path. They should treat people with modesty and humility and strive to help them with their needs to the best of their abilities,” he said.
The scholar noted that the functions also include enjoining good and forbidding evil and avoiding grudges and discord among Muslims, striving to meet the needs of their fellow Muslims like visiting the sick, reaching disputes between parties and similar acts of goodness and kindness.
He also advised the Muslim scholars on the need for time consciousness and management, cooperation, uniformity and self reliance.
Taking the participants on a walk down memory lane, he buttressed the aims and objectives the Ansar-ud-Deen society mission board seeks to achieve upon its establishment.
According to him, “Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria initiated a Mission Board in 1926 which had two prominent members, Alhaji Mustafa Ekemode (who subsequently became the Chief Imam and head of Mission) and Pa. M.A. Okunnu.
“The Board was tasked with organizing religious related activities such as open-air prayer, celebration of important Islamic dates, child naming ceremonies and fund raising activities. In the case of its social related activities, such as marriages and child naming ceremonies, the group introduced modern approaches to the events.
“By the 1940s, the group had expanded into other Yoruba towns and cities and an emerging issue of coordinating the expansion arose. Alhaji Mustafa Ekemode was called on to be the Chief Missioner with a Salary paid by the Society. He was the Society’s first salaried member.
“In 1955, Alhaji Ekemode joined the then Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria, and was involved with producing and presenting Radio programmes while talking on radio with a distinctive style in Quranic recitations. The style was admired by many Yoruba’s at the time.
His Eminence, Sheikh Kharazim Ishola Idowu Alaaya, became the National Missioner after the demise of Papa Ekemode, Baba Alaaya dedicated his life and everything he had to the cause of Ansar-Ud-Deen and Islam until his demise, and was succeeded by the current National Missioner Sheikh Abdur Rahman Olanrewaju Ahmad .”
He further called on the administrative arm of the society to pay utmost attention to the welfare of the missioners of the society.
