Speakers at the 2023 edition of Sisters’ Da’wah Conference organised by the Sisters’ Circle of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, have advocated for harmony and effective collaboration among Muslim organisations in Nigeria.
The conference took place on Sunday, November 12 at Iponri Central Mosque, Surulere, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeri, with the theme ‘The Harmonious Path’.
In her remarks, one of the guest speakers, Hajia Kudirat Lawal-Adeshina who is the Convener of VGC Islamic Community Teen Talkroom & Parents Seminar said the goal of Muslim organisations is similar.
“The goal is to call to goodness and forbid evil. We need to be in harmony to deliver this goal,” she emphasised.
According to her, “Muslim women will face challenges in this quest for a harmonious path, but we will continue to work towards overcoming them and ensuring that we are doing our best.
“Some of these challenges include criticism, even from within the Ummah. Some people are critical of the female folk and the roles they play in da’wah. Again, as women, we go through phases. We have phases where we go through menstrual pain, pregnancy, and raising children. All of these challenges are present.”
Also speaking, the Amirah, FOMWAN Lagos State Chapter, Alhaja Sherifat Ajagbe, said uniting Muslim women and organisations involves a lot of steps and actions.
“As Muslims, we have to understand what it takes to be in the faith (Islam). Having understood the Qur’an and Sunnah, we should then extend to others to benefit them. We should also extend love to others through our activities. We need to be tolerant and patient so that we can show the beauty of Islam to others,” the Amirah noted.
Muslim News reports that the conference also featured a panel discussion, where women were charged to imbibe discipline and time management skills in juggling between the many responsibilities requiring their attention.
On the panel were Hajia Hafsah Ameen-Ikoyi, Lead Coach, SlimfitU Solutions; Hajia Kafayat Oyewo-Oyelere, Amirah, NASFAT National Youth Wing; and Alhaja Sharifat Adekunle Yusuf-Ajibade, School Head, As-Siddiq Schools, Ketu.
Muslim women should set their priorities, says Ameen-Ikoyi
The Lead Coach of SlimfitU Solutions, Hajia Hafsah Ameen-Ikoyi, urged Muslim women to set their priorities and do away with issues that are not important.
According to her, the Muslim woman has to be at work, and attend Islamic programmes, yet manage the home and do other things.
“So, you have to set your priorities. What do I need to do at what time? What is important? I have to go to work. I have to go for programmes. I have to be at home. Aside from those, are there other places that I should be, which are not necessarily important? Can I do away with those so that at least, there is time for the important ones?
“It’s also about having a good support system. You have to ensure that there is somebody who is helping you to take care of things in the home, be it your sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, nanny, or whoever. You have to ensure that you have that support system that stands in for you, and wherever you are, your mind will be at rest,” she said.
The clinical pharmacist also called for the use of technology by Muslim women to assist in managing their packed responsibilities.
“We should also make use of technology; set reminders for those things that we need to do. We should have a to-do list for those things we need to do. That will be like an organiser that helps you put all the things you need to do and have the time against them. Of course, you also have to be disciplined. Self-discipline is very important. It helps one to be committed.”
Time waits for no one, manage it well– Hajia Yusuf-Ajibade
Another panellist, Alhaja Sharifat Yusuf-Ajibade, School Head, As-Siddiq Schools, Ketu, stressed the importance of time management skills for Muslim women to make success of their careers, homes and da’wah activities.
“Muslim women belong to one organisation or the other doing da’wah. They have a home with their husband and children, and there is a career that also takes them out.
“Da’wah is not usually a fixed thing. The home is fixed. The career path is also fixed in a way. If you don’t know how to manage your time, you are not going to make success of any of it. You will fail in all areas,” she said.
“Discipline is another item that can assist one in following a routine. It’s very important to have a pattern and schedule for doing things and sticking to it. You should not allow extraneous factors to come in to disrupt it.
“As Muslims, our purpose in life is to worship Allah and seek His pleasure. Da’wah, career and home are just means to ride to the destination of Allah’s pleasure.
“We can’t have more than 24 hours, but there will be leisure. No matter how busy we are, there will still be some leisure. How do we use our leisure? It’s important we have a to-do list and assess ourselves at the end of each day to ensure that yesterday is not better than today. If not, it will be difficult to know when we derail. So, we have to keep assessing ourselves, and stick to dua’.”
The conference was attended by representatives from several women’s wings of Islamic organisations in Lagos.
The power of collaboration knows no bound in interconnected world, says Amirah MSSN
Earlier in her welcome speech, the Amirah, MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, Hajia Rofiat Tijani, said the conference marked a significant moment in which the unwavering commitment to collaboration and unity of MSSN is celebrated.
She commended representatives of the various Muslim organisations for sharing in the vision of MSSN.
According to the Amirah, they were able to reach more organisations compared to last year’s edition of the conference.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, the power of collaboration knows no bound. Today, we stand at the precipice of endless possibilities, recognising that when organisations unite with a shared purpose, we become an unstoppable force for positive change. By joining our voices, resources and expertise, we have the opportunity to make profound impact on the challenges we face. Together, we possess an incredible wealth of knowledge, expertise, and skills that, when combined, create a synergy capable of driving transformational change.
“I encourage each representative from other organisations to seize this opportunity to engage, connect and forge meaningful relationships with our team members and fellow organisations present here today. Let us learn from one another, exchange ideas and explore possibilities for future collaborations.”
– By Zaynab Yusuf Eniola
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