As Muslims continue to observe this year’s Ramadan fast, the deputy chief imam of the Muslim Community Centre Juma’ah Mosque, Wuse Abuja, Sheikh Tamim Yusuf Alhasan, has urged Muslims to seek knowledge, even at old age, to overcome their challenges and worship Allah better.
He made the call on Sunday in Abuja at the Afemai Islamic Movement (AIM) annual Ramadan Lecture, with the theme, ‘The Importance of Knowledge and Evil of Ignorance’.
“Islam is the religion of knowledge, the first thing to have been revealed in the glorious Qur’an is a command to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to seek for 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; knowledge of the Qur’an, knowledge of the Hadith, and knowledge of other sources of Islamic knowledge,” Alhasan said.
He urged parents to ensure that if they miss the opportunity of learning so much about Islam, they should ensure that their children learn a lot of the Qur’an because Muslims are blessed with so many schools that combine education of Islam and the Western education, thus there is no excuse for a Muslim to be ignorant.
Also, Alhaji Ismail Abdul Qadir Danesi, the amir (president) of the Afemai Islamic Movement, said any act of goodness is rewarded by Allah manifold and seeking knowledge is one of the greatest of goodness.
Also, the AIM Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman, Alhaji Momodu Aliu Kadiri, said it was important to continue to seek knowledge, from cradle to the grave, and that his coming for the lecture, apart from other forms of seeking education and knowledge shows that despite economic challenges, Muslims must create time to further their knowledge in Islam and other endeavours.
In another development, the principal of the Zinaria International School, Ustaz Idris Al-Hassan, has urged Muslims against being tempted to meet their financial and other needs with illegal resources, but seek Allah’s help and work for legitimate needs.
He made the call on Saturday at Mararaba, Karu Local Government during the 6th Annual Ramadan Lecture of the Forum for Islamic Guidance (FIG), with the theme, ‘Trusting Allah in Times of Economic Hardship’.
He recalled that many prophets of Allah were known to be tested and they overcame their challenges and even gained more with trust in Allah and not resorting to sin.
He also urged Muslims to diversify their sources of income and cut wasteful spending and extravagant lives.
Speaking earlier, Dr Busari Issa Zubair, the amir (president) Forum for Islamic Guidance, said the theme of the lecture, ‘Trusting Allah in Times of Economic Hardship’, is one that resonates deeply with the challenges of the present time.