Religion

Ramadan: Gov. Makinde Congratulates Muslims

By Web News 658

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has congratulated Muslims in the state on the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fasting.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa says Governor Makinde regretted that Muslims in the state and across the country could not observe Eid-el-Fitri prayer this year the usual way.

The governor said the situation should be seen as part of the sacrifice everyone has to make this time.

He expressed gratitude to Muslims and residents of the state for remaining steadfast despite the situation imposed on the state by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor equally urged them to use the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri to pray for the state and Nigeria as a whole.

Governor Makinde called for the continued support and cooperation of the Muslim Ummah and all residents of the state in adhering to the COVID-19 protocol.

He promised to continue to make life more meaningful to all residents of the state, reiterating his administration’s commitment to the socio-economic transformation and the infrastructural revolution currently going on in the state.

Iyabo Adebisi

Religion

Ramadan: Cleric Urges Faithful to Maximize Remaining Period

By Web News 755

Muslim faithful have been told to maximize the remaining nights of Ramadan for Lailatul Qodri which is capable of addressing Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

A renowned Islamic scholar Sheik Muideen Ajani Bello stated this during 2020 ramadan lecture organized by Radio Nigeria Ibadan.

According to Sheik Ajani Bello, Muslims should avoid sleeping too much at night at this important period as prayers said during the period could bring an end to covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan, Alhaji Mohammed Bello said to comply with government’s directive to contain the spread of coronavirus, the public lecture was limited to Studio One, while the lecture would later be broadcast.

Alhaji Bello urged all to continue to adhere to safety health practices at this challenging period.

Click to listen

Lilian Akinlosotu

Lifestyle

Mrs Makinde Distributes Palliatives to Muslim Women

By Web News 1621

Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunomini Makinde has distributed palliatives to Muslim women in Oyo State.

Presenting the palliatives, Mrs Makinde said the gesture was borne out of the need to felicitate with Muslims during the Ramadan.

Represented by the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, Mrs Makinde said women were the most affected and vulnerable in the Ramadan and covid-19 pandemic, hence the need for the packages.

In a remark, President, Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria, Bushrah Olosho, said the gesture was laudable, urging other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the goodwill by giving to the society.

Two of the beneficiaries, Iyabode Idowu and Bosede Akanbi commended the wife of the governor and called other philanthropists to follow suit.

Items distributed were rice, garri, pasta and vegetable oil.

PFM/Lara Ayoade

Religion

Ramadan: Cleric Tasks Faithful on Attitudinal Change

By Web News 602

Chief Imam of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, Alhaji Bashir Olarenwaju has called for attitudinal change among Muslims during Ramadan.

Alhaji Olanrewaju stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria.

He noted that apart from refraining from foods and drinks from dawn till sunset, faithful should shun any immoral act that might jeopardize the benefits of the Ramadan fast.

Alhaji Olarenwaju stated further that Ramadan fast offers different benefits, handling physical, spiritual and social benefits, hence the need for the faithful to observe it diligently to achieve it purpose.

The cleric therefore called on Muslims to specially use the month to pray Allah to end the Coronavirus ravaging the world.

Rasheeda Makinde

Religion

Ramadan: Makinde Felicitates with Oyo Muslims

By Web News 652

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has felicitated with Muslims in the state for witnessing the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, he urges Islamic faithful to pray relentlessly during the fasting period and specifically ask the Almighty Allah to show mercy on the people.

Governor Makinde said Muslims must embrace the piety demanded of them during the Ramadan and ask Allah to put an end to Covid-19, which is ravaging the whole world. 

He also enjoined Muslims in the state to use the month-long fasting period to pray for the peace of the state and the country at large.

The statement reminds Muslim across the state not to gather for Tafsir, Iftar and Tarawih prayers during the Ramadan, due to the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He enjoined Muslim to use the opportunity of this month of blessings to seek Allah’s forgiveness to make the pandemic a thing of the past.

He also admonished Muslims to tune their minds to the messages of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence inherent in the messages of the Holy Prophet, while also being their brothers’ keepers.

Iyabo Adebisi

Religion

Ramadan: Islamic Clerics Dissect Impact of Coronavirus

By Web News 673

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims faithful are mandated by Allah to engage in thirty days of obligatory fasting.

Some public spiritual engagements which usually characterized the fasting period such as Tarawih, open lecture, Tafsir among others have however been confined to be held indoors due to the ravaging Coronavirus disease which has shut down social and religious activities in many countries across the world.

Correspondent, Quasim Yahaya in this report sought the view of some clerics on the implications of the lockdown on the spiritual exercise as this year’s Ramadan begins.

Quasim Yahaya

Economy

Ramadan: Markets Deserted in Ogun Amidst Lockdown

By Web News 814

Roads and market stalls in Abeokuta the Ogun state capital are deserted with few persons on essential duties moving while the markets are empty following the lockdown been observed twenty-four hours to the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

However, some dignitaries including former governor Ibikunle Amosun have started another round of empowerment to assist Muslims and other residents to cope with the harsh economic situation caused by the lockdown to combat COVID-19.

Correspondent Wale Oluokun has the details.

Wale Oluokun

Religion

Coronavirus: Ramadan Preparations at Low Ebb in Akure

By Web News 673

Few days to this year Ramadan the usual preparation ahead of religious obligation such as renovation of mosques, electrical gadgets for call to prayers, pre and Ramadan lectures, stocking homes with food stuffs have been missing among Muslim folks in Ondo State.

This is due to the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19 which has affected prices of goods and services.

Though markets in Akure the state capital opened partially, markets in Akokoland had become shadow of what they used to be with scanty number of people.

Prices of grains such as maize, millet beans and rice have gone up.

A resident, Hajia Nimotalahi Sarumi said a bowl of garri earlier sold for 1500 naira was now 3000 naira, a kongo of guinea corn rose from 250 naira to 350 with rice selling between 20,000 naira and 30,000naira per bag.

The chairman, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area, Sheik Basiru Aminu reminded Muslims of the need to adhere strictly with the directive from Saudi Arabia and that of the Islamic leadership in Nigeria that faithful should stay at home for this year Ramadan prayers to check the spread of Covid-19.

Another Muslim cleric, the Chief Imam Zumurat Islamiyah Supare-Akoko, Sheik Amusa Lawal urged Muslims to abide by all the directives on personal hygiene before, during and after Ramadan.

He, however, asked the state government to grant Muslims the use of calls to prayers early in the mornings as reminder to the faithful otherwise many would sleep off.

The cleric called on all Muslims to dedicate the Ramadan to fervent prayers against coronavirus so that normalcy would return to the country.

Dupe Isename

Religion

MUSWEN Calls for Palliative Measures over Sit-At-Home Order

By Web News 762

Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN has joined in the call on governments to provide palliative measures to cushion the effects of stay-at-home order on the citizens.

This is contained in a statement in Ibadan by Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Professor Muslih Yahya.

Professor Yahya noted that it will be justified on the part of the governments to punish any violation of stay-at-home rules provided palliative measures were put in place for all citizens staying off their means of livelihood.

“The governments are implored to provide palliative measures to cushion the attendant economic hardships as a result of citizens staying off their works and means of livelihood. Only then may the governments be well advised to adequately punish any violation of “quarantine” or stay-at-home rules”.

He also called on the governments to provide adequate protection for healthcare and other service providers while on their duty of saving lives.

“The governments must also provide adequate protection for health care and other service providers while on their duties of saving lives”.

“We pray to Almighty Allah to save the world from the deadly virus that threatens our existence”.

The MUSWEN Executive Secretary said the sacrifice of suspending congregational prayers is inevitable and in line with Islamic ethics while such should not be allowed to, in any way cause any division within the Muslim community.

“The Muslim Ummah all over the world is particularly hard-hit by the social distancing measures necessitated by the pandemic because the congregation is a very important and highly rewarding aspect of the Islamic worship”. “Consequently, it is creating serious division within the Ummah. Understandably, some believers do not want to accept that anything, whatsoever, should hinder congregational prayers especially on Friday, the Eid days and the Tawaf and other pilgrimage related congregations”. “Unfortunately, the reality of the situation created by the presence of Coronavirus and its mode and rate of spreading in most parts of the world is such that the “sacrifice” of having to suspend large assemblies, for now, is, in most cases, inevitable.  Such suspension would fall squarely within the clear injunction of Allah in Surah al-Baqarah: …and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction… (Quran, 2:195) as well as highly popular guidelines given by the Prophet (SAW) for handling of epidemics or pandemic situations. Therefore, it is essential that the issue of suspending large congregational prayers is not allowed to, in any way cause any division within the Ummah. The Unity of the Ummah is always more important than any trivial points of differences of opinion, for Allah warns against consequences of disunity of the Ummah in, among others Surah al-Anfal, (Quran 8:46)”.

He emphasized that the current situation should be seen by Muslims as an opportunity to be closer to Allah by spending the stay-at-home times in engaging in spiritual activities like the recitation of Quran, supplications, fasting in this month of Shaban, which precedes Ramadan. 

“This current situation should be seen as an opportunity to be closer to our God by spending our isolation and stay-at-home times in engaging in spiritual activities like tilawatul Quran, adhkar, supplications, fasting, etc especially in this holy month of Shaban”.

Professor Yahya explained that MUSWEN, which is an umbrella for all Islamic communities and organisations in the Southwest region has as well aligned with the government’s directives in line with the current reality of COVID-19. 

“MUSWEN has taken steps along the line of social distancing by terminating or postponing parts of its scheduled important activities and suspending decision or further action on others while monitoring the situation”. 

“The Secretariat Staff have been compelled to work from home in observance of the stay-at-home measures”. “A MUSWENs Health NGO, Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria Health Care Givers Society had, weeks ago released a statement, a leaflet on Covid-19 educating the populace about, and giving admonition on, the prevention of the deadly virus”.

He lauded the efforts of governments at both the federal and states at curbing the spread of the virus and enjoined to do more to halt the disease while imploring the people to support the governments to achieve the feat.

“MUSWEN commends the efforts of governments at all levels in the country at curtailing the spread of the virus. We declare our total support and pledge compliance with all measures recommended by experts and relevant authorities and directives of the governments aimed at stopping the spread”.

“Nigeria is not yet close enough to such an improving situation. This means there is still much more that needs to be done both by the Government and the populace. The spread of the virus can only be through human to human transmission. Therefore curtailing its spread can only be by avoiding close contacts with individuals who have it. We salute the citizens who diligently obeyed the authorities’ directives which include the maintenance of the rules of hygiene, social distancing and staying indoors. Others are further implored to comply with the directives though difficult in the face of economic hardship. The truth remains that the more strictly we adhere to the preventive measures the faster we go on the path of curtailing the spread and subsequently eradicating the virus and getting back to our normal healthy patterns of social, spiritual and economic life”. 

“However, Alhamdulillah, there is good news: the pandemic, Coronavirus is, after all, not totally uncontrollable as some countries including China where it all began, is beginning to get out of the worst situations in which they had been. They are successfully curtailing the spread and they are sustaining the improved situation”.

Ridwan Fasasi