Cleric stresses importance of knowledge for Muslims

THE Deputy Chief Imam of the Muslim Community Centre Juma’a Mosque, Wuse, Abuja, Sheikh Tamim Yusuf Alhasan, has urged Muslims to seek knowledge to worship Allah appropriately and overcome challenges.

Sheikh Alhasan made the call on Sunday at the Afemai Islamic Movement (AIM) annual Ramadan lecture with the theme ‘The Importance of Knowledge and Evil of Ignorance’. 

“Islam is religion of knowledge. The first thing to have been revealed in the glorious Qur’an is a command to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek knowledge. So, we are here to serve Allah the Most High and there is no way you can serve Allah if you do not know Him.

“The only way you can know Allah is through knowledge, the knowledge of the Qur’an, the knowledge of the Hadith and the knowledge of other sources of Islamic knowledge. 

“Ignorance has so many implications and one of them is that there is no way you can worship Allah when you are ignorant. And somebody may be worshiping Allah thinking that he is doing the right thing while he is doing the wrong thing. And even the prayer we observe on a daily basis, he who does not know will continue to pray while his prayer will not be accepted,” Alhasan said.

The Amir (President) of AIM, Alhaji Ismail Abdul Qadir Danesi, said any good act is rewarded by Allah in manifold and seeking knowledge is goodness.

Danesi said: “You will agree with me that this is a very important topic, especially looking at the situation we find ourselves in today. We really need to sit down to learn the Holy Qur’an, to reflect on the Qur’an, and to imbibe the culture of Qur’an and to put it into practice.”

“Because we believe that is the only way that we can be free, we can be emancipated from the challenges of the current situation in Nigeria and globally. So, Qur’an is the key, the ultimate, the knowledge that Allah has sent to us through Prophet Muhammad.” 

‘Don’t commit illegality because of economic hardship’ 

In a related development, the principal of  Zinaria International School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Ustaz Idris Al-Hassan, has called on Muslims against being tempted to meet their financial and other needs with illegal resources but seek Allah’s help and work for legitimate needs.

Al-Hassan made the call during the sixth annual Ramadan lecture of the Forum for Islamic Guidance (FIG), with the theme ‘Trusting Allah in Times of Economic Hardship’.

He said many prophets of Allah were  tested and they overcame their challenges and even gained more with trust in Allah. 

Uztaz Al-Hassan also urged Muslims to diversify their sources of income and shun wasteful spending and extravagant lifestyle.

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Earlier, the FIG Amir, Dr Busari Issa Zubair, said the theme of the lecture was apt as it resonated with the challenges of the present time.

“We live in an era when economic uncertainties, inflation, job losses and financial constraints have become common struggles for many individuals and families. It is during such trying times that we are reminded of the profound importance of Tawakkul, that is, absolute trust in and reliance on Allah.

“Economic hardship should not lead us to despair or resort to unethical means but rather should strengthen our dependence on Allah and our commitment to honesty, patience and perseverance. We are not alone in our struggles. Economic challenges come and go, but Allah remains constant in His mercy, guidance, and provision,” Zubair said.