Ahmadiyya Calls For Resuscitation Of Value System To Grow Nigeria
By Sulaimon Salau
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, has urged Nigerians both the leadership and followership to resuscitate the values of patience, tolerance and prayerfulness as part of the lessons derived from the Eid-ul-Adha.
Amir (National Head), Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, in his message for Eid al Adha 1445AH/2024CE, stressed the need to apply the spirit of good governance, transparency and accountability as a common value towards Resuscitating the Nigerian project.
Alatoye felicitates Nigerian Muslims as they join the rest of the faithful across the world to mark this year’s festival of sacrifice, commemorating the great sacrifice made by our Patriarch, Prophet Ibrahim (as), his wife, Hazrat Hajar and his illustrious son (as), Prophet Ismail.
According to him: This incident is captured in the Holy Qur’an thus:
“So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing son. And when he was old enough to work with him, he said, ‘O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering thee. So consider, what thou thinkest of it!’ He replied, ‘O my father, do as thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if Allah please, of those who are patient.’ And when they both submitted to the Will of God, and he laid him on the ground face down, We called to him: ‘O Abraham, ‘Thou hast indeed fulfilled the dream.’ Thus, indeed do We reward those who do good. That surely was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. And We left for him a good name among the following generations. ‘Peace be upon Abraham!’ Thus, do We reward those who do good. (Qur’an, Ch. 37 verses 102 – 111)
I’m the spirit of Eid -el-Kabir, Alatoye called enjoined Nigeria to obey Allah, saying “Obedience to Allah is rewarding”
He said: “There is no doubt that the faithfulness, sacrifice and obedience of Ibrahim, the submission, forbearance and patience of Ismail and the sacrifice and fortitude of Hajar all combine to form profound manual of values, standards of virtues and model of personal and national development for humanity at all times. It is now evident that obedience to the rule of law is fundamental to self, family and national development by extension.
He also called for exhibition of wisdom and knowledge, saying: “It takes a wise person to fear Allah. Only the Knowledgeable fears him. By knowledge, I mean doing the will of Allah and moving away from what He does not want. This is with a clear understanding that the future belongs to Allah alone. Hazrat Ibrahim, Hazrat Hajar and Hazrat Ishmail are all men and woman of wisdom and knowledge.
“The ignoramus will believe that they have escaped Allah by their lack of obedience thinking they can escape judgment,” he stated
The Ahmadiyya leader urges obedience to the rule of law. He said: “The world is governed by the rule of natural law and positive laws. Where laws are obeyed by individuals, families and nation, there will abound justice, freedom, peace, progress and prosperity,”
Also, he said, dignity, shamefulness and fulfilment of pledge is key to a friendly environment.
Alatoye said “Hazrat Ibrahim demonstrated the highest level of dignity, shamefulness and fulfilment of pledge. These qualities are fading out in our society on a daily basis.
“The Holy Qur’an enjoins that: “And fulfil the covenant of Allah when you have made; and break not the oaths after making them firm, while you have made Allah your surety. Certainly, Allah knows what you do.” (Qur’an, Ch. 16 verse 92)”
He also calls for Loyalty and Patriotism, truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, good governance, transparency and accountability as a common value.
Alatoye said: “Applying all these to our current difficult state of affairs characterizing our individual and national social, economic and political existence, it is compelling that all of us, from the leaders to the followers, men and women, males and females, must leverage on these Abrahamic standards and model with a view to resuscitating our value system for the emancipation and development of ourselves and our nation.
“More so, as millions of Nigerians sacrifice animals today, it is necessary to bear in our minds the Qur’anic declaration that: ‘Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him. Thus, has He subjected them to you, that you may glorify Allah for His guiding you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.’ (The Holy Qur’an, 22:38)” he stated.
He added that Nigerians, the political class and the governed, should resuscitate the true spirit of sacrifice, selflessness, righteousness and fear of God in all our dealings at interpersonal, corporate and national levels.
“At interpersonal level, today, Nigerians are passing through a tough economic time but the political class are displaying wealth and arrogance across the land.
“These wrong values should stop. Nigerians deserves respect, care and love from the political class. Government at all levels must ensure that palliatives get across to citizens as a stop gap to poverty alleviation programmes.
“Within the corporate world, all forms of cheating, fraudulent practices and corruption which culminate in losses to the corporate world and the national economy should stop and fresh ones nip in the bud.
“In the national, state and local governments, profligacy and excessive spending in the areas of purchase of exotic or luxurious SUV cars by the executive and legislative Arms should stop.
“This has sent wrong signals to the populace that these arms of governments are stinkingly rich but do not care for the welfare of the citizens but themselves.
“Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) further elaborated that: “Allah thus explains that Taqwa is the actual essence of this sacrifice. One should be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah. One should be ready to sacrifice a small thing to attain a much more exalted goal; one should be ready to follow God’s commands always. Through this sacrifice, one should realize that faith must be given precedence above worldly affairs”.
“Huzoor(aa) explained that “if this Eid of sacrifice does not draw our attention towards our responsibilities and obligations, then it is no more than a festival and is not a means of attaining the higher ranks of Taqwa. This Eid should take us to our actual purpose and we should not just be happy in consuming meat and feeding it to others.” he stated.
