*Photo: Dr Ridwan Jamiu, Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque*
The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr Ridwan Jamiu has said Muslim youths should practise Islam based on knowledge.
He stated this on Wednesday, 25 December 2024 at the formal opening of the Da’wah Holiday Programme DHP ‘24 formal opening, held at the Lagos State Model College, Meiran, Lagos.
The program is being organised
by The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, in collaboration with its women and youths’ wings, The Criterion and The Dawn respectively.
Dr Jamiu, who was the guest speaker while speaking to newsmen on the roles Muslim youths play in spreading Islamic education and fostering unity, declared that the young Muslims must seek for knowledge, warning that nobody can claim to be a true Muslim without understanding Islam.
He noted that Boko Haram terrorists claim to be Muslims, but said that they don’t know Islam, saying the faith,“doesn’t teach terrorism, violence and destruction.
The guest speaker who discussed the theme of the DHP ‘24: “Tapestry: Weaving Strong Bonds Across The Ummah” also tasked young Muslims to promote Islam with all resources within their reach.
“Muslim youths should promote Islam with every resource, such as social media, using personal money, influence and power to spread and promote Islam” Dr Jamiu restated.
The Chief Imam stated: “Muslim youths must love one another. If we don’t love ourselves, we can’t be true Muslims. The love will strengthening the bond of Islamic brotherhood, therefore, we will be able to progress as a nation and bring unity to our society and humanity at large”
On youths and the present administration in the country, Dr Jamiu asserted that for any leader to succeed, he needs the support of the people.
He stressed that “The least the youths and others can do is to pray for the leaders. You don’t curse them; stop complaining as complaints don’t solve any problem. What should be done is to devise an effective way in which solutions can be provided to resolve the problem.
“We should not be arm-chair critics. Instead, guide the government through the various means in which the solutions can be communicated to the government.
“Muslim youths should appreciate and commend the good works of the government. The youths in the media and internet users should spread the good things happening in the country and good works done by the present administration and in the country.
The Chairman of the ceremony, Alhaji Muritadha Adeniji enjoined The Dawn members and entire delegates at the 10-day camping to ever be thankful to their parents – for guiding and nurturing them on the path of Islam, stressing that not every child has similar privilege (Islamic training) they have.
Alhaji Adeniji who is the Managing Director, Starlink Global Ideal Limited restated that The Dawn members should take Islam seriously, adding that “there is more than the worldly gains” which they could achieve if they remain on a good path.
He admonished the participants to use the camp training they have received to “become specially dedicated human beings”, adding that they should be in vanguard of spreading the Islamic messages, which fundamentally centre on peace, unity and integrity.
In his welcome address, The Companion National Amir, Engr. Kamil Olalekan pointed out that the theme of DHP ‘24 was carefully choosing in recognition of diversity and multiplicity of Islamic practices across the Ummah both in local and global environment where the proliferation of multiple Islamic ideologies compounded by social media propagation, tend to create gaps and division within the Ummah.
Amir added that “The need to weave a strong bond is therefore a necessity. For this to be attained, the Muslim youth and I dare say Muslims in general must be carefully trained and guided. The choice of the Guest Speaker in the person of Sheikh (Dr) Ridwan Jamiu, the Chief Imam of Lekki Community Central Mosque, was also strategic, given his pedigree and influence and I have complete confidence in his competence to do justice to the theme. I enjoin you all to pay attention to his lecture”.
Engr. Olalekan thanked the parents and guardians who have entrusted their children and wards to the organisers, to provide them with right guidance and training, adding that he was happy to note that participants come from over seven states of the federation including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
“I assure you of their safety and spiritual re-awakening. I also call on the participants not only to obey all camp rules and regulations but also be actively engaged in the programmes that have been designed for them. It is equally worthy of note to mention that the facilitators we have assembled for this year were sourced from different institutions and individually equipped with robust experiences that will be of immense benefit to the delegates. I use this opportunity to welcome and thank our facilitators who have come from near and far to participate in the camping programme” Amir stated.
The Companion leader expressed condolences on the death of many people (including children) in different parts of the country while struggling to collect palliatives.
He admitted that the incident was unfortunate and a wake-up call on governments at all levels to take necessary steps and institute policies to drastically reduce poverty and hunger as well as transportation and food inflation in the country, adding that “It may not be out of place for the Federal Government to consider declaring a state of emergency on food security”.
Engr. Olalekan called on the public spirited individuals and organisations not to be deterred by the unfortunate incidents to stop reaching out to support the less privileged, saying that their philanthropic gestures should continue, but with better arrangement and safety precautions.
While speaking to journalists, former Chairman/ CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikirullahi Kunle Hassan, declared that roles of Muslim organizations in fostering unity in the Ummah should be informed by Allah’s injunctions in the Quran.
He pointed out that this was specified in admonitions that Muslims should be united, because in unity, there is strength.
Algaji Hassan said “We can belong to different persuasions, different schools of thoughts, notwithstanding, we have a duty to excuse our differences and be united”.
The former NAHCON boss affirmed that The Dawn members are up and upcoming, saying that from all indications, they are poised to take the future strongly, so, “I have no doubt that from what has been passed to them through messages and from the feedback from their end, I hope the future is very bright”.
The International Amirah of The Criterion, Alhaja Medinat Akanni reaffirmed that Islam teaches oneness and unity.
While noting that without peace, there won’t be progress and development, Alhaja Akanni called on Muslims to learn what Islam stands for and how to relate with people.
She described: “The world is a golden garden of God. Therefore, the lesson is that human beings should keep nurturing it with love”.
Also fielding questions from journalists, The National Amir of The Dawn, Abdul Ganiyu Abdul Hafeez Aboto responded that through the theme, the group leadership aspires to use DHP ‘24 to remind Muslims that Islam is one, irrespective of different sentiments, groups, organizations, among others, therefore, the Muslims should work together.
Through the theme: “we seek to make the move to be a transformative decision for all Muslims in the Ummah”, Aboto stressed.
After DHP ‘24, Aboto pointed out that The Dawn leadership expected members and delegates to take teachings and lessons learnt in the camp to their various mosques and communities, with respect to entrenching unity and spreading words of love, peace and harmony.