Imo Muslims hold End-of-Ramadan lecture, harp on loyalty
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
The Imo State Muslim Council, ISMC, has held a lecture for Muslims in the state as part of activities slated to mark end of this year’s Ramadan with a call on the Ummah to make loyalty to Allah and constituted authorities, a priority during and after the Ramadan .
Chairman of Imo State Muslim Council, His Eminence, Prince Basheer Mohammed Uwakwe, gave the charge in his welcome address Sunday at the End of Ramadan Lecture held at the Central Mosque, Owerri by the Imo State Muslim Council.
Uwakwe who emphasized that loyalty to constituted authorities is ordained by Allah admonished the Ummah to adhere fervently to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an.
He said, “I know there were other more competent Muslims to lead the IMuslim Ummah. The Ummah would have been selective in electing the executive of Muslim Ummah to take over the helms of affairs and day to day running of the Ummah affairs in the state.
” But the General Assembly chooses to elect the crop of Muslim Council Executive which Insha Allah am the chairman, believing that we will be loyal towards discharging all responsibilities of the Ummah placed on our shoulders.
“And to that, I assure the Ummah we will remain loyal to Allah and the service of Islam in Imo state and Nigeria.
“Allow me as your Chairman to emphasize on loyalty. Loyalty is ordained by Allah (SWT). Loyalty can be defined as mutual respect among brothers and sisters in Islam, therefore, we expect that the leaders and the led should reciprocate with mutual respect and loyalty, for those that do not know, loyalty means everything.
“In life, Ibadah, Muamalat, be it business marriage, politics and even in the Heavens without loyalty, leadership would be ineffective thus leading to strife and confusion. Therefore, you must marry leadership and wisdom together to achieve the desired objectives.”
Prince Uwakwe noted that the theme of the lecture, “Virtues of Ramadan Within And After the Month of Ramadan” was chosen to remind Muslims that the acts of fasting and prayer, almsgiving, charity and piety were not meant only for the Ramadan season but for daily living as Muslims.
Resource persons who rendered the lectures included: Sheikh Ibrahim Bello who presented the lectures in English and Yoruba, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh in Hausa and Sheikh Imam Aliyu Uche in Igbo.
The Sheikhs message centred on the theme of the lecture which harped on the need for Muslims to imbibe and sustain the virtues of Ramadan, before, during and after the Ramadan.
The lecturers condemned in unmistakable terms, idolatry, immorality, criminality and disloyalty to Allah and constituted authorities by the Ummmah as well as urged them to pray for the nation’s leaders at all levels.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Sarkin Hausawa of Imo State, HRH Alh. Auwal B. Suleiman, Maj. Shehu Harande, Brigade Imam of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Leader of the Yoruba Community in Imo, HRH Oba Oladeji Musibau and the state Coordinator of Imo State Muslim Women, Hajiyah Rekiah Ahmed Omokairo, prayed Allah to continue to guide leaders of Nigeria at all levels.
They urged Muslims to endeavour to uphold the pillars and tenets of Islam both in private and public life bearing in mind that Allah will bring every action of man to judgement one day.
