THE need for all Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s government on the current economic hardship was emphasised at the 2024 Mawlid Nabiyy of the Lagos State chapter of Aljamahatul Qadiriyyah Islamic Movement.
The event which took place at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, attracted prominent Muslim personalities from different walks of life, including politics, business and academia.
It was also graced by Islamic scholars from within and outside Nigeria.
Those who spoke at the event, which was attended by thousands of members of Quadiriyah, one of the influential Sufi orders in Africa, passed a universal message to Nigerians, suing for calm and increased prayers in the face of challenges.
An Islamic newspaper, Muslim News, reported that guests at the annual Mawlid Nabbiy and prayer for the nation expressed hope that the country will overcome the current economic challenges as they appealed for patience.
The Chief Missioner and founder of Al-Abrar Foundation, Sheikh Adam Muhammad Raji Adebayo, called on Muslims to return to Allah as a way out of the current hardship in the country.
“The antidote to this hardship is for us to go back to our Creator. We should pray to Almighty Allah because whatever is happening is His decree. So, if truly we believe in destiny, we should all go back to our Creator, pray to Him and seek His assistance. Importantly, we should seek His forgiveness because all of us have committed sins one way or the other,” he said.
The scholar also charged Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammad in their deeds and words.
He said Mawlid Nabiyy celebration offers a platform for members of the Qadiriyyah movement to bond together.
“In whatever we do, there must be sincerity. There is a difference between saying something and putting what you are saying into practice. I implore all Muslims to act in accordance with the Qur’an and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“We are using this Mawlid Nabiyy forum to build unity among the Qadriyyah movement. We want our members to know one another better. Our people have cause to move across the country. They should be able to meet like-minded people in the movement and relate with them.
“This kind of celebration offers that platform. So, it is about building brotherhood and looking into the challenges our members are facing in their domains to see how we can unite to assist. It is really beyond Maulid Nabbiy celebration,” he said.
In his own speech, the Grand Khalifa of Tijaniyya for Lagos State, Sheikh Aminullah Abd’Salam Akoshile, described the hardship as a test from Allah, saying Muslims and indeed all Nigerians should be patient and prayerful.
Sheikh Akoshile said: “The reality with us currently is that we have hunger ravaging the country and there is hardship. But it is part of the test of Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an that He will occasionally test us with hunger and other things, and there will be glad tidings for those who are patient.
“We should continue to pray for our leaders and our country. We will come out of this.”
The chief host and Khalifah Qadiriyyah, Lagos, Sheikh Soliu Jamiu Amasa, said Nigerians have a role to play in tackling the hardship.
He said: “We should pray for our nation. We should pray for our leaders. When we support our leaders with prayer, they will get it right and everything will be okay.
“The government cannot do everything. So, at our level, we should be our brother’s keeper to see through this current economic downturn. On security, we should assist the security agencies with relevant information. We all need to be security-conscious in our various communities.”
The Khalifah Qadriyyah urged Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammad as the perfect embodiment of good character and “learn to tolerate ourselves and live in harmony.”
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim, former chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), commended the movement for bringing thousands of Muslims together for the annual Mawlid Nabiyy, saying the celebration was unprecedented.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, who represented the deputy governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, commended the movement, saying the state acknowledged its activities which promote peace and development.
“On behalf of the Lagos State government, I congratulate the Qadriyyah movement on this important occasion. As a group, we have seen a lot of great activities the Qadriyyah movement has done in the state. We thank you for your efforts.
“As a government, we will continue to support organisations that are promoting peace and development in our state. We will extend our various welfare and society safety programmes to members of your group as an integral part of the state,” he stated.
The commissioner said the government was working to ease things for people as soon as possible, calling for more understanding and patience.
“I urge parents here to continue to educate and talk to their wards, They should appeal to them to be calm and understanding with the government. Things will get better soon.
“Our religious scholars should also help us to include this appeal in their sermons.
“We understand there is economic downturn, and it is everywhere across the world. The rate may differ. The government is working round the clock to address the issue and bring succour to our people. Let’s try and understand with the government,” Layode added.
Also present at the event was the Iyaloja General of Lagos State and President Tinubu’s daughter, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who was accompanied by her friends and supporters.
Her presence at the venue of the event was one of the highlights of the gathering.
Alhaja Tinubu-Ojo was turbaned Iya Adinni of Qadiriyyah in Nigeria and Africa for her contributions to the development of Islam through the Sufi movement.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the event, the president’s daughter also called for patience, charging Nigerians to keep hope alive that everything would be better very soon.
The event featured prayers for the nation led by Islamic scholars. They recited various portions of the Qur’an, seeking guidance for the leaders and the best for the country.
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