The Lagos State chapter of Al-Muminaat (The Believing Women) Organisation has concluded its week-long programme of activities with and an informative and educative finale tagged, ‘Women/Unity Day’.
The event which marked the climax of the Al-Muminaat Week held at the expansive Da’wah Centre, Ijesha, Lagos on Saturday, with active representation across 21 local government areas of the state in attendance.
In strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols, no fewer than 800 members of the Muslim Women Organisation attended the event, along with representation from sister organisations, NASFAT, Asalatu groups among others.
It will be recalled that series of activities were lined up to mark the Week, ranging from Special Jum’ah services held at different Central Mosques across the state, Humanitarian visit, Special Mosque Cleaning/Clinic across various local governments, commissioning of a community project, media tour to selected media houses, including the office of Rawshield PR Media, the Publishers of Muslim News Nigeria in Lagos on the eve of the finale.
The theme was “Home pillar; Society reformer” which was aimed at gearing all women on their primary responsibilities that Allah has bestowed on them.
‘Women have the largest roles to play in societal reformation’ – Hajiah Khadijah Yusuf
Speaking on the topic of the event, ‘Muslimah and Her Roles in Societal Reformation’, the guest speaker, Hajiah Khadijah Yusuf Awayewaserere, posited that women have the largest roles to play in societal reformation. She said the alarming trend of social vices among youths in present times suggests that women have not been playing their roles effectively at home.
“As women, we have important roles to play in societal development. The children outside there are a representation of the kind of upbringing they had. The alarming state of social vices in the present time only goes to show that women have not been playing their roles very well at home.
“It is therefore important for us to play our part. Let us inculcate good morals in these children. The moral bankruptcy in the present day is on a large scale because our children are now exposed to what we parents had no opportunities to be exposed to. Only collective efforts can help tackle the situation,” she said.
“Internet fraud known as Yahoo Yahoo is now a norm. More pathetic is that some mothers are also backing this abnormality. We have Association of Yahoo Yahoo Mothers. Betting is now locally and internationally recognized and legalized. Do all these reflect a sane society? May Allah intervene.”
Hajiah Yusuf, who had served as Business Officer of Al-Muminaat at the local, state and national levels explained that women share the largest role in reforming the society because they are the closest to the children, whose actions and inactions affect the society.
She urged them to see their husbands as partners in training the children and building the home, cautioning against alienating the children and pitting them against their fathers.
“The reason women play the larger part when it comes to child upbringing and societal reformation is that we are the closest to the children. Let’s start from when these children were right in our wombs; we nurtured them up till the time of birth. At the time of birth, the woman is at a crossroads: of death and survival. The situation is even alarming these days as we have seen a lot.
“Following this stage, the mother also breastfeeds the child. This naturally transfers love, affection between the two parties. Women also spend most time with the children: in tendering them, training them, educating them and so on. That’s why women are ‘jack of all trades’ so to speak. We are the nurse, teacher, tailor, manager, supervisor.
“However, I always urge women to be very careful in going about these roles, because child upbringing is not only the duty of the mother. It’s just that they play the larger part. So, fathers should not be totally alienated from the process. Some women will be sick and the home will almost collapse because the fathers cannot do anything. Let’s show our husbands how to do some little things.
“As we are pillars of support to our children, so also are we to our husbands. When our husbands want to make major decisions, we should be involved. Don’t say you were not called. Be involved. There are some women who pollute the minds of their children against their husbands. That’s bad. I have an instance of a woman who pitted the children against their father, just because the father planned to get a second wife. Let’s desist from all these.”
Hajiah Khadijah, the wife of the renowned Islamic Scholar and best-selling Author, Ustadh Abdurrazaq AbdusSalam, who later spoke to Muslim News on the sidelines of the event advised parents to take a cue from past experience, just as she admonished children to listen to their parents.
“My advice to all parents, especially mothers and of course the children is to learn from experience. Look at the case of Cynthia who came all the way from Abuja in search of a boyfriend in Lagos, only to be killed by the same boyfriend. These are everyday realities. We should learn from them.
“More so, children should listen to their parents and heed their cautious admonitions. Above all, we should step up our Ibaadah (worship). Let’s ensure that we have a good and clear intention towards our children. Some parents will go to herbalists to seek the success of their children. That is a wrong way of going about it; Allah alone should suffice. Look at Naira Marley, Hushpuppi, they are all purportedly Muslims. In fact, Naira Marley as I have learnt went to Quranic school, but it had no impact on him. Let’s give our children the best of trainings and have good intentions.”
‘Create more time for your children’ – Dr. Ayoade
In her goodwill message, the Special Guest of Honour, and Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Mutawakilat Ayoade craved the indulgence of mothers to create time for their children as this is key in curbing the ills of the society.
According to her, “As mothers, we have neglected our primary role in taking care of the home and children in our quest to further our career and get more money. However, we need to look inwards and see how we can manage the home better because it’s these homes that are breeding these children.
“When you hear about all these big names that are doing bad things in the society, most of them have Muslim names. So, it is the failure of us as women, that we are not looking after our children properly. I enjoin us as parents to create more time for our children.”
Speaking further, she said, “It’s a very important topic in this present day. It’s very critical because all these things we are seeing such as Yahoo Yahoo boys, kidnappers, gunmen, etc are effects of bad home training. If a child is well trained, he won’t grow to become any of the above mentioned.
“In this age of social media, our children are exposed to all sorts of ills. They want to get rich quicker, they don’t want to work, they don’t want to go to school. So, we as mothers should go inward, talk to our children, have time for them so that we can reform the society one home at a time, in shaa Allah.”
How to be career women and manage home front – NASFAT women representatives
In their respective contributions to the discussion, the representatives of NASFAT Amirah, Hajiah Suwaibat Kupolati, Alhaja Kudiratu Akeju and Hajia Halimat Momoh, applauded the organisers for the wonderful event, advising participants to put into practice all they have learnt.
According to Alhaja Akeju, Women of today have neglected their roles in the pursuit of material things and if women don’t perform their roles as expected, being the first point of contact of the children, it will tell on their upbringing. Child neglect results in a lot of negative behaviours as we can see in our society today. Mothers are no longer there for their children in the name of career.
Alhaja Akeju suggested exclusive breastfeeding and sex education as some of the factors that aid child development, saying it’s our responsibility as parents to give them.
She said, “To our parents at this function, let’s give our children exclusive breastfeeding. It aids child development and a well breastfed child will love the mother and obey her. Also a well breastfed child will become intelligent and knowledgeable.
“Apart from breastfeeding, a child with good upbringing is aware of the happenings in the society. Parents shouldn’t deny their children sex education on the basis that they are kids. Then, parents should censor their children’s activities on social media and let them know the wisdom behind the censoring in order to reduce moral decadence in the society.
Alhaja Akeju also argued that it is possible for women to be at the forefront of their careers and also manage their homes well, depending on the type of job.
She said, “A woman has to consider a lot of things before choosing a job. I do advice women to take up jobs that will make them have time for their husbands and children. A job that will take a woman’s time for almost 24 hours a day is not good enough. Children should not be left at the mercy of the school and private lesson teachers”, she emphasised.
Also speaking, Hajiah Momoh said, “I’m delighted about this programme organised by our sisters, may Allah continue to support them. It is not about coming to listen alone, but putting what we heard into practice. This is not the first time we are hearing this type of lecture, but the most important thing is putting it into practice, which will make an impact on the society. If we put into practice what we have learnt today, our society will be better.
“We should do away with the “I don’t care attitude”. It has not gotten us anywhere. if something is wrong with your neighbour, it is as well wrong with you. Mothers of today are evidently lacking and we should not pass this to our children, but rectify it. May Allah assist us”, she advised.
Why we addressed ‘muslim women role in societal reformation’ – Amirah
Amirah, Al-Muminaat, Lagos, Hajiah Bushrah Adeagbo-Jubril while welcoming guests and participants, said the topic “Muslimah and her roles in Societal Reformation” has been carefully chosen to corroborate the theme of the Week.
She said, “To some, the home is just a house – a place where an individual lays his or her head. But to us as Muslimahs, it is the pillar of the society where strong personalities (physically spiritually and morally) are moulded. Without the home, there won’t be a society. Hence, the need for us to stabilise the home and make it the tool for the societal reformation.”
Hajiah Adeagbo-Jubril urged all parents to grab all halal (lawful) opportunities to reform the society, adding that, “It’ll will decrease the number of crimes, youth restlessness and involvement in all social vices.
“Let us all hold unto the rope of Allah together, as no one survives on their own. It falls upon all believers to stand up to this responsibility of Unity amongst the Muslims. Remember, United we stand, divided we fall. May Allah continue to keep our hearts united on His deen, Aamin”, she added.
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