* Take your spirituality seriously, Hajia AbdulQuadri urges Muslims
The Lagos State Chapter of Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women Organisation) has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to revisit the case of Naheemah Lasisi, a 12-year-old victim of the collapsed mosque at Papa Ajao area of Mushin Local Government, Lagos in late May 2024.
Al-Mu’minaat stated that if necessary supports are not given by the government, the mental health of the innocent child and that of her family is likely to be greatly affected.
The Amirah (leader) of the organisation in Lagos State, Hajia Bilqis Abdullah, made the remarks on Saturday (16th November, 2024), on the sidelines of the Annual Convention which was used to evaluate their activities for the first 12 months of the new administration.
The well attended event by executives of all local governments and branches of the female Muslim organisation was held at the Da’wah Center, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos, with the theme: “Striving without Borders”.
In her review of welfare interventions rendered by the organisation in the state, Hajia Abdullah mentioned the case of the Naheemah whose two legs have been amputated following the mosque building collapse, saying that Al-Mu’minaat is planning to reconnect with her for support after initial hitches.
“Initially, we went to the hospital to check on all the victims (of the mosque collapse). We wrote a condolence letter to the mosque. When we went to the hospital, we came across the girl. We gave moral support and promised to be back with some cash/kind support to assist her. Unfortunately, some issues came up with the family and the management of the hospital. By the time we re-visited the hospital, they said she was no longer available.
“Then, we tried to trace her to her house. They said the father took the child away from the house. So, we couldn’t locate her until recently that her case surfaced again. We will be trying to link up with her again since it’s part of our welfare programme.”
The Amirah said the plan Al-Mu’minaat intended for the girl was still intact, adding they will offer moral support to make her stabilise emotionally.
She appealed to the government of Lagos State to come to the girl’s aid because she is young with a bright future.
“I want to appeal to the Lagos State Government to help this minor. She is a young girl with a bright future. She never expected not to have her legs. Therefore, whatever they can do to help this girl, they should do. If nothing is done, it’s going to affect her mental health. It also going to affect the whole family.
“The government should just please help come to this girl’s aid. This is because she is a young girl. If you hurt an adult, they die with the pain. But if you hurt a youngster, they grow with the pain. We don’t want our society to be filled with people who grew up with pains.”
Other programmes of Al-Mu’minaat
The Amirah went further to speak briefly on other aspects Al-Mu’minaat Lagos has been able to touch in the last one year, emphasising that the believing women organisation has been able to spread her tentacles, especially with the use of social media.
“In the area of education, we’ve been able to educate our people through different programmes, some of which are recurring like the terbiyyah, workshops, etc. Some are new; we brought them up. These include the health seminar, marriage counselling seminar, and so on.
“We have also been able to give moral support, material support to inmates, particularly female inmates in Kirikiri. We are actually part of the correctional facility’s stakeholders. Therefore, we’ve been able to assist. Alhamdulilah, Al-Mu’minaat is recognised for that. Even, we’ve resettled many who were released back to society.
“Our terbiyyah has been going on smoothly. We are both physical at all our branches and local government areas across the state. More importantly, we are active on social media, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook, among others.”
Take your spirituality serious, Hajia AbdulQuadri urges Muslims
For her part, the immediate past National Amirah of the organisation, Hajia Nimotallah AbdulQuadri, commended the Lagos State chapter, noting they have really built on the existing structures of Al-Mu’minaat.
“The way the report of activities in the last one year was presented is different. Unlike those days that the Amirah will have to read the report, we have been given the report to read and make comments so that we can save time,” she noted.
The immediate past National Amirah said Al-Mu’minaat is aware of national security concerns in the country, adding they have been sensitising their members across centres to take the adhkar (supplications) and their spirituality seriously.
According to her, “The cases of kidnapping is raising concerns and creating fear among Nigerian. It’s Allah that guard and protect but we as human must do our part. Even government aren’t left behind. That’s why we encourage our members and the generality of Muslims to take their Ibadah especially adhkar seriously.
“We have a weekly forum where we discuss the spiritual aspects of Islam. It’s called terbiyyah. At that forum, the first thing we do is adhkaar. We train women to encourage their household to do their adhkaar before going out. Saying the adhkaar, bismillahi tawakkaltu ala llah la hawla wa la quwata ila billah, then, reciting ayatul kursiy, among others will protect them from all evils.
“Every Muslim woman should remind their household of the adhkaar to say while going out and while coming home. More so, the Prophet (SAW) taught the Ummah different supplications for different reasons. We should learn it and at Al-Mu’minaat, this is one of our activities,” she said.
Be innovative, strategic on the path of Allah: Hajia Rabiu
Guest lecturer at the event and the immediate past Vice Principal (Hostel Administration) at Vanguards Academy, Hajia Basirat Rabiu, in her presentation, urged Muslims to adopt innovative strategies in striving on the path of Allah, stressing that the tools of the 13th century cannot be used in the 21st century.
“The period we are now, globally, is a challenging period for humanity. As Muslims, we are commanded to strive in the path of Allah (SWT) to save ourselves, to save humanity, and to show to humanity the right way to live.
“By so doing, it means that the striving has no boundaries. It’s a continuous work that we will continue to do as long as we are living. Therefore, we must live up to the time we are in. We cannot use the tool of the 13th century to work in the 21st century. So, we have to use the tool of this time. We have to put up innovations and strategies that are effective in achieving the aims and objectives set up by the organisation,” she said.
Emphasising that women have a lot to do as the bedrock of the society, Hajia Rabiu urged them not to entertain distractions in their roles as home keepers and pillars of the home.
“We have a lot to do. Women are the bedrock of every society. We should not allow unnecessary distractions to take us away from the key responsibilities that the society expects from us. We are the pillars, if we are not there, there is hardly anything the man can do. We own the home, train the children.”
The guest lecturer urged Al-Mu’minaat to come up with economic empowerment programmes and counselling centres for members as part of efforts to combat present-day challenges including depression, suicide, rape, among others.
“Al-Mu’minaat as a women organisation, we should stand where Allah (SWT) placed us, and then collaborate amongst ourselves, stand as pillars to one another to reduce the problems of the present day, like the cases of depression, suicide, rape, and others.
“We can also come up with economic empowerment programmes for our members. I will implore all women organisations to have counselling centres, where people can go in freely to seek solutions to their problems — either family or individual or whatever.”
Current exco deserves commendations – Hajia Adeagbo-Jubril
Also speaking at the event, the former Amirah of Al-Mu’minaat Lagos, Hajia Bushrah Adeagbo-Jubril, lauded the State and branch executives, saying they have fared well despite the prevailing economic challenges.
She charged the executives not to relent, saying it is just the beginning.
“The state has been doing well despite the challenges we are passing though as a nation, they have really fared well. If you look at the current economic situation, it’s enough to be a deterrent, but they have done well in all areas.
“This year’s World Hijab Day, which was part of collaborative effort with other Muslim women organisations, had a new face with the presentation of hijabs to schools. All their programmes have been effective, and they are still going on stronger,” she said.
“We should not rest on our oars. This is just the beginning, we should continue to grow in leaps and bounds. We should adopt innovative strategies as long as they do not negate the Qur’an and Sunnah.”
The former Amirah said the world is moving, and members of Al-Mu’minaat cannot afford to stay stagnant.
“I’m imploring all Al-Mu’minaat members in Lagos State to always employ innovative strategies. The world is moving, and we cannot afford to be stagnant. We are vicegerents as Allah called us. As vicegerents, we cannot stay aloof. We have to be involved. May Allah assist us,” she stated.
