Foundation seeks unity among Muslim Ummah

A group, Ahlu-l-Faedah Global Peace and Leadership Foundation has called for unity among Muslims saying it is only by doing so that the world would be at peace.

An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Mohammed Sanni Sulaiman Alele, stated this at the 3rd Annual Convergence of the Lovers of Sheik Ahmad Tijani Ibrahim Niasse organised by the Abuja chapter of the Foundation on Thursday at the Conference Hall of the National Mosque, Abuja.

Alele, in an interview with Tribune Online, said the program was organised to bring every Tijaniyyah (followers of Sheik Ibrahim Niasse) together as one family and to continue his legacies which centred around love for humanity. He called on Muslims not to discriminate against one another and also against non-Muslims.

“The Foundation came into being about two years ago and this is the third year of its existence of the Murid (followers) of Maulana Ahmad Tijani Ibrahim Niasse. And as you can see, each and every one of us here is happy because we were privileged to have met the nobleman during his lifetime. We are still enjoying his teachings and the wisdom we got interacting with him during his lifetime.

“The essence of the program is to bring the Tijaniyyah brotherhood together from wherever they are across the globe to become one and one family. This is what our great father was doing during his lifetime and in that respect standing here with you I don’t look for any accommodation or transportation or feeding wherever I go in the world once I have my identity card for being a Murid of Sheik Islam, Ibrahim Niasse. Everything has been made easier for us if only we can make it easier for ourselves.

“We (Muslims) have one single identity, which is accepting Almighty Allah as our God and that Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is Allah’s messenger. That is the identity of each and every Muslim. We have one book which is Al Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH). So, unity is Islam is very important. We do not discriminate against any human being from any religion because that is the teaching of Islam. The unity is what we try to teach people to know how to unite. For long as you see me in you and you in me, my problem becomes your problem, your own happiness becomes my happiness then I think we are united,” he said.

The chairman of the occasion, Fadilat Shaykh Dr Abdur-Rahman Abdul Azeez, who is also the Chief Imam of Ilobu in Osun State, admonished the gathering to come together under umbrella, work together to achieve the aims and objectives of the father, founder and leader of Toriqotu-Tijaniyyah all over the world, Sheikh Ahmad bn Muhammad Sālim Atijjani and Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, leader and mentor of the movement who has always encouraged and advocated for unity.

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Represented by Sheikh Akinyera Lukman, the chairman said, “The Tijaniyyah Movement in Nigeria is perceived to be stagnant and that very powerful and consistent steps needed to be taken in order to rally all Tijaniyyah into one group without bias for leadership ambitions or monetary gains. It was aimed at bringing under one umbrella all Muridīs and Muridāt irrespective of their leaders, Muqodams, Khalifah, Sheikh or affinities, provided we have the understanding and teachings of our leader, our guide-Maolana Sheikh Ahmad ibn Muhammad Sālim Attijani (RTA) who said that he is the only sheikh for every muridi in the toriqotu-Tijaniyyah.

“Unless the Tijaniyyah heed this call and work in unison, it may be a mirage for us to achieve what other groups either within or outside our religion have achieved. We must borrow a leaf from other societies like Ansarudeen, Ahmadiyyah, Ansarul-Islam, and Nawarudeen, up to the modern gatherings like NASFAT, Qoreeb and many more who are able to not only establish educational institutions, medical centres and even beyond that individuals we find it difficult to venture into. By coming together as one, putting our heads together, putting resources together, the Tijaniyyah will achieve even better than those aforementioned groups.