“Muslims should hold their religion firmly, so as to be a great community.”

~ Sheikh Harun Ibrahim

Sheikh Harun Ibrahim made this remark while speaking at the lecture titled “Al-Jama’atu Rahma”⸺a Weekly summon organized by Qafilatul Mahabbah, Abuja Chapter, under the guidance of Sheikh Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Maqari, the Imam of National Mosque Abuja, which took place at Wuse Juma’at Mosque, Zone 5, Abuja.

Being the guest speaker at the lecture, Sheik Ibrahim maintained that Muslims should hold their religion firmly so that the greatness of Muslim community in terms of its purity, nobility and integrity could not be jeopardized. The Imam holds on to his position from the Holy Qur’an saying:

وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and (thus) lose courage and (then) your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (Q8:46).

The Sheikh sampled out the illustrious character of a leant traditionalist, a scholar, a grand Mufti and indeed, a Mufassir, Sheikh Shareef Ibrahim Saleh (may Allah be pleased with him) whose daily emphasis on three basic principles: cooperation, love and consistency in obligations and devotion to Allah, clearly spelt out the need for unity and its significance among Muslims.

He also outlined the meaning and message contained in verse (3:110) of the Glorious Qur’an:

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًۭا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
“You are the best nation produced (as an example) for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.” (Q3:110).

Sheikh Harun Ibrahim also stipulated that when people unite themselves, Allah offers His help upon them, but if they are divided, they will encounter problems. He buttressed this position with the Hadith of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him):

Time reaches very soon when communities start calling each other for attacks on/against you (Muslims), just as those who are hungry people call each other over the food plate. The companions then asked the Prophet: ‘is it because we are not many at the time?’ The Prophet replied: ‘No, it’s because you are like an iceberg.

Another Hadith in respect to this position reportedly had our beloved Prophet saying: “I left you on the straight path, the one unto which there is no hidden thing on it”. This recommends Muslim community to keep going the path of righteousness.

The Sheikh not only bewailed on the challenges facing the Muslim community but also lamented the current state of our nation, and urged the youths to follow the Islamic teachings, principles and ideals of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). He cautions youth not to sell out or confer their religious sanctity to any political manifesto. Patriotism, he recommends, is what they should ought to have held tight in safeguarding their religious faith.

He also called on the citizens to thank Almighty Allah for granting them a sustained health and ability and recognize the wisdom of Allah on the improving security situation of our country. He once again called on the youths, indeed the entire Muslims as a whole, to soften their hearts and purify their Imaan as well as maintain good and avoid evil in every aspect of their life, assuring that peace and security could be attained by sincere repentance and total submission to Allah, for He is the Most Merciful and Most Forgiven.

Sheikh Harun finally enjoined the Muslim community to offer prayers in day time and night, seek salvation from Allah against all forms of Saytanic spirits residing in our human souls; our engendering instincts, our evil manifestations, for the common good of all of us, miserable sinners! He added that we should submit to Him, The All-Knowing, our choice for any political candidate, for He knows better and his choice we should desire to accept and owe allegiance from, ahead of the country’s 2023 General Elections.

Lastly, the Sheikh could not escape acknowledging the contributions of some Islamic scholars whose indelible marks on the field of contemporary religious discourse, exceedingly impacted on the psychology and philosophy of our youths and of course, dearly deradicalized their sensitivities hitherto could have materialised into violent extremism, as reflected too often in some other sectarian Islamism. The holistic efforts, safer and softer, indeed even more enlightening approaches of the likes of Sheikh Shareef Ibrahim Saleh, Sheikh Ɗahiru Uthman Bauchi, Sheikh Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Maqari among host of others, in serving humanity and deradicalizing extreme Islamic views and conspiratorial renditions, have been far more appealing to the sustenance of peace and harmony among Muslims in Nigeria, Africa and elsewhere in the World.

In a remark, Sheikh Munir Koza expressed appreciation on how Qafilatul Mahabbah is picking gold from the sand, gathering prominent Sheikhs, civil servants and business tycoons, all to pay listening ears to amiable and indeed, eminent scholars of universal excellence. He added that Qafilatul Mahabbah is strongly recommended for Muslim community. Sheikh Munir finally thanked the Almighty Allah for making him to be part of the journey.

The lecture was attended by some important dignitaries; Sheikh Mustapha Adinga (also a part of the organizing committee), Imam Ibrahim Adam, Sheikh Abdurrazaƙ, Alhaji Sani Gombe, Alhaji Suleman Hamis amongst various others.

S M Zaruuk Naik reporting for Qafilatul Mahabbah.