* Uphold teaching of Qur’an – College Imam
The 21 Young Muslim graduates of the LUTH/CMUL Madrasah and Muslims in entirety have been urged to leverage their knowledge of Qur’an to strive for excellence in their studies, deen (religion) and mundane life.
The charge came from Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salis (SAS) representing Ogun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly during the 10th Walimatu-l-Qur’an Ceremony of the LUTH/CMUL Muslim Community School of Arabic and Islamic Studies held on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, at the Madrasah premises, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Muslim News gathered that the occasion was attended by former NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Dhikrullah Hassan; and former Permanent Secretary/Tutor General, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Alhaja Shareefah Adejoke Yusuf, among other distinguished personalities.
While congratulating the twenty-one (21) graduate students for the completion of recitation of the Qur’an, Senator Salis also charged them to lead exemplary lives, worthy of emulation.

He said: “Hearty congratulations to the graduands. Now that they have familiarised themselves with the Qur’an, they must not stop from learning. They should also strive to excel in their academics, other forms of education, and in life generally. They must also be conscious of the fact that the world looks up to them.
“I’ll also implore them to start seeing themselves as leaders. They should know that the Qur’an they’ve been taught will propel them towards excellence. They should build upon what they’ve learnt, and follow the legacies of Muslims who have excelled and risen to the peak of their careers. A very good example is Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. He is the epitome of uprightness, and he has risen through the system.”
Senator Salis, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cybercrimes, stressed the relevance of Islamic knowledge in the life of Muslims.
He said: “Without the knowledge of the Qur’an and Islam, you are not learned. I am an example. I wouldn’t have become all I became without the knowledge of the Qur’an. The more adept you are in the understanding of Islam, the farther you’ll go in life.
He recounted that knowledge of the Qur’an used to be a scarce commodity, pointed out the fact that the narratives are changing, and sermonised parents of the graduands to treat the children with reverence.

“Alhamdulillah for the Muslim Ummah today. There was a time in 80s when people were made Imams just because they knew as much as Suratul Ikhlas, but today, you find the knowledge of the Qur’an in almost every Muslim household.
“These children have learnt and known the Qur’an, as such, they deserve some honour. It is, therefore, imperative that every parent accords due respect to the Qur’an which dwells in them. Learn to respect these children from now on.”
He then prayed for the graduands and wished them the best in their endeavours afterwards. He concluded by asking each of the graduands to appreciate their parents’ sacrifices and donated handsomely to the cause.
Uphold Qu’ran prestige, teaching: College Imam
In his lecture, the Chief Imam LUTH/CMUL Muslim Community, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul-Lateef also tasked the graduands to uphold the pristine teachings of the Qur’an and Islam.
He thanked Allah for the graduates who have underwent the rudiments of learning the Qur’an and different aspects of Islamic knowledge during their intensive studies at the Madrasah.
He said, “My message to them is that they should uphold the ethics cum teachings of Qur’an and Islam. The Qur’an is a divine revelation and guidebook for mankind, and they should treat it as such.
“They have gone through the Qur’an and tafseer among others. They must continually read the Qur’an, memorize, revise it, relate with it, and live by its message.”
Dr. Abdul-Lateef urged parents and guardians to ensure that the graduating students become Islamic scholars who would propagate Islam and invite people unto the path of righteousness
“As for their parents, they should give thanks to Allah for making the children submissive to the teachings of the Qur’an. Not every child trained in this way becomes successful. It is the rahmah of Allah that has made it possible.
“They should also realise that the work has just begun. They must ensure that the children come back here to advance their knowledge of the Qur’an learn other aspects of Islamic teachings. The must ensure that the children graduating today become Islamic scholars who would propagate Islam and invite people unto the path of righteousness.”
Graduands express joy
The graduands could not contain their ecstasy as they expressed their gratitude to Allah.

One of them, Khaashiah Oshifuye, said: “It feels very nice to finish this course because learning Arabic isn’t really an easy task, especially for someone like me who wasn’t exposed to it beforehand.”
Khaashiah told Muslim News she is ready to set foot into the next phase of her journey in life.
Another graduand, Faiz Hassan, said: “I’ve worked really hard to get here today. Alhamdulillah!”
He aspires to commit the complete Qur’an to memory in the nearest future.

Parents also rejoice with their children
Mrs Mutiat Bamgbola, whose daughter was among the graduands, was delighted, stressing the importance of educating a girl-child in the way of the Qur’an and Islam.
“What you don’t have, you can’t give. It is, therefore, important to avail a Muslim girl of Islamic knowledge, as she will become a mother someday.”