The Executive Director of Muslims’ Initiatives for Rectitude and Rectification (MIREC), Imam (Barr.) Idris Ibrahim Alao, has declared that Ilorin Ultra-Modern Central Mosque is the rallying point and site of learning for Muslims in Ilorin Emirate.
The Executive Director made this known in reaction to a recent viral documentary on the Mosque by TVC News Nigeria some days ago, titled; “Explore Ilorin Central Mosque Unique Design and Its Significants to Residents”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 2nd August) by MIREC, Imam (Barr.) Idris Ibrahim Alao recounts a number of circles of religious learning that once took place in the mosque some years back but wonders why the mosque is now under lock, except during Jumu’ah hours.
The statement reads in part; “The TVC documentary seeks to extol the architectural design, interior and exterior decor of the Mosque as admired by Ilorin people, tourists and visitors. In simple language, the documentary depicts our Ilorin Ultra-Modern Central Mosque as our rallying point and a site of learning. Although the documentary is beautiful and lovely, it however shows not even a single scene of circle of religious learning.”
“Since its remodeling in 2012 (now ten years ago), our Ilorin Ultra-Modern Mosque has become a site of attraction for tourists from different parts of the globe, who storm the mosque to catch a glimpse. While this is a welcome development, MIREC is sad to experience silence around the mosque vicinity except on Fridays; the like of which one experiences at the graveyard.
“Even the Prophet (SAW) warned us against an unconscious attempt of making our homes graveyard for failing to observe prayers and supplications therein. How much more of a mosque of the magnitude of Ilorin Ultra-Modern Mosque?”
“The mosque is only opened on Fridays and after the Jumu’ah, it is closed. How do we bring about positive change in the lives of vast majority of our people when the central mosque, which is our rallying point and site of learning, is perpetually under lock? The claim is that the cost of maintenance is huge but MIREC holds the view that putting the mosque into purposeful use wil attract donations from far and near. But to continually lock the masjid, when a larger percentage of our people still lack the indepth understanding of Islam, maybe a great disservice to Islam and we hope Allah will not hold us to account for this on the day of judgement.”
“Prior to its remodeling and reconstruction, the mosque has always been a home for Islamic learning. MIREC recalls a number of programmes that took place at the Central Mosque such as the five daily prayers led by Shaykh Muhammad Jamiu Agaka (father of a renowned woman Arabic scholar, Ustadha Hafsat Jamiu), Qur’an memorization, post jumu’ah sermon by Harakatul Islamiyyah (Muslim Ummah), Muslim Sisters’ Organization programme every Saturday, MSSN Ilorin Area Council Sunday Ta’aleem, the learning circle of Ustadh Sayouti Ganmo and Ramadan night soul-inspiring lectures of the duo of Shaykh Abdulraheem Aminullahi Oniwasi Agbaye and Shaykh Hammad Folorunsho Fagba. Sadly, virtually all the above no longer take place.”
“The Ilorin culture that is rooted in Islamic culture is being threatened on a daily basis by wave of westernization, moral decadence, yahoo yahoo, money rituals and whatnots. We cannot afford to keep our arms akimbo and allow things become incurably bad. Up till this moment, MIREC is not aware of any concrete plan or step by several groups of Islamic scholars to arrest the situation from getting worse, as it is bad already. We therefore call on all important stakeholders to take every legitimate steps at revitalizing the central mosque with life-impacting activities, especially those that affect the spiritual domain.”
“There are other efficient purposes, outside worship and learning, that the Mosque can serve. In Islamic history, we learnt about how the Prophetic Mosque in Madinah served numerous purposes like place of worship, centre of learning, court, medical centre, hospitable reception, venue for distribution of Zakat and Sadaqat as well as Waqf administration. In this connection therefore, MIREC is using this medium to call on Majlis for Sadaqat, Zakat and Waqf (MASAZAWAQ), Kwara State, inaugurated last April by Maimartaba, the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-gambari CFR, to come up with income generating Waqf initiatives for Ilorin Ultra-Modern Mosque”. The statement concluded.
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