PARENTS have been urged to be guiding lights for their children as they navigate the changing world where modernity is posing a threat to religious practices and moral values.
The Head of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Abuja, Dr Musa Olaofe, gave the advice at the 18th annual Ramadan lecture/iftar of the Abuja chapter of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) which was held on Wednesday in Abuja. The theme of the programme was ‘Sustaining Faith in a Fast-changing World: Islam and the Challenges of Modernity’.
Olaofe, who is also the Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Mosque, Maitama, Abuja, noted that one of the challenges before Muslims in the modern era is how they would strive to balance their commitment to Islamic principles and the demands of modernity.
The cleric stated that while modernity has brought advancement, it has also created an environment where religion is often viewed as secondary to material progress which he said had led to moral decadence and craze for worldly acquisitions at all costs among youths.
To navigate the challenges of modernity, Olaofe urged Muslims to cultivate critical thinking and discernment as encouraged by Prophet Muhammad. According to him, the faithful should embrace education and innovation while upholding Islamic principles.
“The modern world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, bringing both opportunities and challenges for religious communities. As technological advancements, scientific discoveries and socio-political changes reshape human civilisation, religious traditions, including Islam, face the task of maintaining their core principles while adapting to new realities
“Faith, which has historically served as a guiding light for Muslims, is now confronted with the pressure of secularism, individualism and globalisation. Modernity is characterised by industrialisation, technological innovation, globalisation and secularism. It has led to a shift from traditional religious authority to a society where science and rationalism often take precedence,” the don said.
He listed strengthening religious education, adoption of Islamic values, leveraging on technology for Islamic learning and da’wah and promoting Islamic scholarship as some of the strategies to sustain faith in a modern world.
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“Sustaining faith in a fast-changing world requires a deep understanding of Islam principles, critical thinking and a commitment to staying connected to the Qur’an and Sunnah (prophetic teachings). Islam’s ability to adapt while preserving its core values ensures its relevance in the modern era. While secularism, scientific advancements and globalisation present challenges, Islam provides a resilient framework for faith and ethics,” Dr Olaofe added.
In separate remarks at the event, the chairman of the occasion and the chairman of UNIFEMGA, Abuja chapter, Justice Abeeb Wale Abiru and Alhaji Ismail Okunlola, respectively, called on youths to take positives from social media in order to secure success in this life and the next.
The chairman of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Kaduna branch, Alhaji Saburideen Adeyemi, in his asked members of the society and Muslims in general to imbibe the fear of Allah and be fair in whatever they do.
According to Adeyemi, it is the only way to be true to the teachings of Allah and the tradition of the Prophet.
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