Three notable Muslim scholars in Southwest Nigeria have offered Islamic perspectives to raging social issues, particularly the novel COVID-19 and EndSARS protests that have had devastating affects on lives and property in Nigeria and the world at large.
The trio of Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmad, Sh. Dhikrullah Shafii and Sh. Imran Eleha spoke on Wednesday at a seminar organised by the Ulamau Wing of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), held at Rahmatul Islamiyyah Central Mosque, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Conference with the theme; “Towards a Peaceful Society” was also attended by leaders of other Muslim organisations and Imams of central mosques in Lagos States.
Among them were; President, Muslim Community Of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi; Chief Imam of Lagos, His Eminence Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Noola, ably represented by Sheikh Abdul Barii Saba; National Missioner, Rahmat Islamiyyah Association of Nigeria, Sheikh Ishaq Adebayo Tejidini; Proprietor Markaz Salam, Sheikh Moshood Jubril Ramadan.
In his opening remark, Sheikh Ahmad, who chaired the occasion covered by Muslim News, said the programme was necessitated by the troubling times the country and the world at large find themselves at present.
Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the National Missioner, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria noted that Muslims should not be left out when big issues like the COVID-19 pandemic and EndSARS protests that shook the world occur, noting the Islamic perspective must be offered for better understanding of Muslims.
In his words, “The topics of discussion today concern deeply the Muslim Ummah. When issues of great magnitude like the COVID-19 pandemic and EndSARS protests happen, the Muslim Ummah should not be left out in offering the Islamic perspective, and most essentially way-out must be talked out.
“These are troubling and challenging times, and no one is exempt from these raging troubles. We have been told about these period in the tradition of the Prophet. Therefore, Muslims must be equipped with the requisite knowledge to approach it,” he noted.
Sheikh Shafii, who delivered his lecture first, spoke on the topic, “Islamic Understanding of Calamity and Disaster”.
The Grand Mufti of the organisation asserted that, “Challenging times like this have been foretold in the tradition of the Prophet (SAW). According to the Prophet (SAW), when the last hour is approaching, amazing events beyond the comprehension of human would be happening. There would also be trouble in the land. He had indeed warned about this last hour during his lifetime, saying his birth signifies that the last hour is fast approaching.”
His lecture centred on the calamities Muslims are experiencing in the world vis-a-vis the COVID-19 pandemic and EndSARS protests in Nigeria.
According to Sheikh Shafii, it is natural that we experience calamities and disasters, but there is usually a way out which is the fear of Allah, prayers and holding firm to His dictates.
In his own presentation, Sheikh Eleha spoke on the roles of Islamic scholars in societal reformation.
The Director of Daru Nai’m said not everyone qualifies as an Islamic scholar, noting it requires some rare qualities to rise to the exalted position.
“We must first understand the fact that not everyone is an islamic scholar. Some people might be preachers but are not qualified to be called Islamic scholars. Some may be well versed in Arabic but do not qualify as islamic scholars. To identify an islamic scholar, ten qualities must be firmly established,” Sheikh Eleha remarked.
He continued: “Meanwhile, the level at which one possesses these qualities may differ. Thus, if one possesses, say seven, eight or nine out of all these ten qualities, he still qualifies as an islamic scholar. On the contrary, however, when we assess a person and we can barely find one to two of these ten qualities in him, he is no scholar.”
Other notable personalities that graced the occasion were; Chief Imam Jamatul Islamiyyah, Sheikh Muhammad Alfa Nla; Chief Imam Lekki Muslim Ummah, Sheikh M/Jamiu Ridwan; Missioner Nawairudeen Lagos State, Sheikh Abd Majeed Ayinla; National President Rahmat Islamiyyah Association of Nigeria), Alhaji Basheer Ayinla Adeniran and the National Missioner of Qareeb, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Adangba, among others.
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