- Says Muslims Should Do More of Intellectual Jihad,
By Abdul Alli
Muslims in the country have been advised to be law abiding citizen and to equally have total respect to the constituted authority. The Zonal Missioner and Chief Imam of Nasirul-Lahi-Li-Fatih, Society of Nigeria, NASFAT Mosque, Utako, Imam Sharafudeen Abdulsalam Aliagan gave this advice, yesterday at Ramadan 1439 A.H/2018 lecture titled: “Quran and the Rule of Law”.
Imam Aliagan maintained that Islam is a religion of peace, added that no one can be said to be a good Muslim unless he or she has total respect for the rule of law and constituted authority.
“You cannot be a Muslim and disrespect the law of the land; it is incumbent on everyone of us to have a total respect for the rule of law and constituted authority. It is when you abide by the law of the land that you are regarded as a good Muslim and no other way round.”
Making reference to the Glorious Quran, the cleric quotes Quran 4 verse 58 where Almighty Allah commanded justice, respect for the leadership of the state as well as total obedience to the rule of law.
According to him, he says Quran 4v58 reads: “Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those from among you who are invested with authority; and then if you were to dispute among yourselves about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you indeed believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the end.”
The lecturer advised Muslim to do more of intellectual Jihad, saying that there is nothing like war of sword and arrow in the 21st Century. He said no Islamic society as of today is interested in war of confrontation, he said that, the time of such war has gone for good. According to him, “What we need to do Jihad today as Muslims is nothing but intellectualism and application of wisdom in calling people to the way of Allah. As Muslim we have to invest in knowledge acquisition.”
The NASFAT Imam made clearly, the distinction between Al-Quran and Nigerian Constitution, according to him, “Quran is a divine book and it can only make both common and divine sense while Nigeria Constitution can only make common sense and not at all time”, he said, Nigeria Constitution as being subjected to amendment several times while Quran can never be subjected to any amendment today or tomorrow and till the day of judgement it will continue to remain relevant.
He however urged Muslims to take the full advantage of the month of Blessing to pray to Allah and boost our spiritual C. G.P. A, before Allah. He emphasised the importance of Ramadan and the blessing that abound in it. According to him, “It will be too costly for Muslims not to take full advantage of the month of blessing.
While commenting on the uniqueness of the of month Ramadan , the Branch Chairman of the society, NASFAT, Dr Nasir Raji, said Ramadan is a revered month of spiritual growth and development, the month of sober reflection as well as the month that in it, the Night of Majesty, where prayers are accepted.
Dr Raji emphasised that it is expected of Muslims to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is the time Muslims need to support the needy, so that they too can feel better.
On the topic of the lecture, the Branch Chairman maintained that as far Muslims are concerned, it is expected of Muslims to obey Constituted Authority and pray for leaders for guidance. He said only prayer can leads our leaders aright.
He pointed out that NASFAT as an Islamic Centre use to embark on so many activities during the month of Ramadan, ranging from feeding the poor during iftar (breaking of fasting) organising lectures, food bank as well as paying visit to orphanage homes that will increase spiritual lives of Muslim.
Dr Raji enjoins Muslim to eschew violence and make peace not only during Ramadan but also after Ramadan and the rest part of our lives. He added that NASFAT has always been part and parcel of peace advocates in Nigeria, he said so may programmes have been doing to keep Nigeria’s peace here in Abuja and also at the National Headquarters in Lagos. He therefore advised Muslim to shun violence and preach peace that Islam symbolises.
