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Tag: muslims

  • RAMADAN: Buhari warns Muslims to avoid congregational prayers amid Covid-19 fears

    RAMADAN: Buhari warns Muslims to avoid congregational prayers amid Covid-19 fears

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has warned Muslims in the country to shun all forms of congregational prayers and group meals as Ramadan begins on Friday in a bid to avert spreading the deadly Coronavirus.

    Buhari, in a statement on Thursday, also wished Muslims well as they begin this year’s 30-day fast, following the sighting of the moon.

    “I congratulate all Muslims as they commence this year’s Ramadan fast which is depicted by self-denial, universal brotherhood, austerity and helping relatives and needy people,” said the President.

    Buhari described Ramadan 2020 as a challenge, falling as it is in the period of the global pandemic, which has spread to more than 200 nations, with virtually all countries advising citizens to avoid large gatherings and have their prayers and meals (suhoor and iftar) individually or with family at home.

    “In this Ramadan period, the kind of socializing you are used to now risks spreading the Coronavirus,” the President cautions Muslims, while enjoining them to refrain from those Ramadan rituals and traditions such as group meals and congregational prayers that have been put on hold by Muslim religious authorities all over the world.

    Buhari urged Muslims to endure and not to use the Coronavirus as an excuse not to participate in the Ramadan fast, unless such abstention is warranted by the excuses clearly outlined by health and religious authorities.

    He wished Muslims in the country and the world over all the blessings of the holy month.

  • Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to put Hajj plans on hold

    Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to put Hajj plans on hold

    Saudi Arabia wants Muslims to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the minister for Hajj and Umrah said on state TV on Tuesday.

    Some 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world usually flock to the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long ritual, which is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim and a major source of income for the kingdom.

    The largest annual gathering of Muslims is scheduled to begin in late July, but the coronavirus outbreak has raised questions about whether it can, or should, go ahead given the risk of spreading the disease further in large gatherings.

    Saudi Arabia has already suspended the smaller, year-round Umrah pilgrimage until further notice, halted all international passenger flights indefinitely and last week blocked entry and exit to several cities, including Mecca and Medina.

    The kingdom has reported 10 deaths among 1,563 cases of coronavirus, which has infected some 800,000 people globally and killed more than 38,000.

    Pilgrimage is big business for Saudi Arabia and the backbone of plans to expand visitor numbers under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic reform agenda.

    Cancelling the Hajj would be unprecedented in modern times, but curbing attendance from high-risk areas has happened before, including in recent years during the Ebola outbreak.

  • US Air Force approves hijab, beard for Muslims

    US Air Force approves hijab, beard for Muslims

    Sikhs and Muslim officers in the United States Air Force can now wear turban and hijab as part of their military uniforms.

    Officers are now also permitted to keep beards, according to the Air Force updated dress code reported by CNN.

    Under the new guidelines, which were finalised last week, Sikhs and Muslims can seek a religious accommodation to wear turbans, beards, unshorn hair and hijabs, and expect to be approved as long as their appearance is “neat and conservative,” except under extremely limited circumstances.

    The final review for the accommodation must take place within 30 days for cases in the United States, and 60 days for all other cases, according to the guidelines.

    And for the most part, airmen can expect the religious accommodation to follow them through their career.

    Previously, Sikhs and Muslims serving in the Air Force individually requested religious accommodations that were granted on a case-by-case basis, but the approval process could be lengthy.

    This update standardises that process and outlines a formal timeline for approval.

  • Muslims end Ramadan fast, celebrate Eid-el-fitr today

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Tuesday June 4, as the Eid-el-Fitr day marking the end of Ramadan fast.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sultan announced the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal in a radio and television broadcast in Sokoto on Monday.

    Abubakar said that the new moon was sighted in Kaduna, Kebbi, Yobe, Borno, Jigawa and Sokoto State among others.

    He said: ”In accordance with Islamic law, we have the honour and pleasure to announce that today, Monday, the 29th day of Ramadan,1440 AH, which is equivalent of June 3, 2019 marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the new month of Shawwal.

    ”Reliable reports of moon sighting were received from Muslim leaders and religious organisations across the country, which were duly verified and authenticated by us, states and the National Moon Sighting Committee.

    ”Consequent upon this, tomorrow, Tuesday June 4, 2019 becomes the first day of Shawwal,1440 AH and is therefore declared the Sallah day for 2019 Eid-el-Fitr, ” he said.

    The Sultan urged the Muslim Ummah to sustain fervent prayers for the nation’s leaders
    for sustainable peace and unity in the country and beyond.

    The Sultan also urged Nigerians to continue to live in peace irrespective of religious, ethnic and cultural differences.

  • Sultan directs Muslims to watch out for new moon

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has directed Muslims in the country to watch out for the new lunar month of Safar 1440 A.H. from Tuesday.
    Mr Abubakar gave the directive in a statement by Sambo Junaidu, the chairman of Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto on Monday in Sokoto.
    He said: “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Tuesday Oct. 9, equivalent to 29th day of Muharram 1440A.H. shall be the day to look for the new moon of Safar 1440AH.
    “Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan.”
    The Sultan prayed for Allah’s help for Muslims to discharge of their religious obligations.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Safar is the second month on the Islamic Calendar. (NAN)

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari salutes Muslims, vows not to back track on anti-corruption war

    Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari salutes Muslims, vows not to back track on anti-corruption war

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday facilitated with Muslims on the 2018 edition of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    He also used the occasion to sound his untiring commitment to the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

    Buhari said this in a Sallah message to Nigerians.

    The President Buhari urged all Muslims to use the occasion for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values

    He reminded Muslims that this felicitous occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.

    “We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the president declared.

    Buhari explained that religion is a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and actions.

    He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption have overwhelmed human souls to the extent that people abandon their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

    The president stressed that fighting corruption is a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians who are the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.

    He said surrendering to corruption is not an option because it destroys society and progress of nations.

    According to President Buhari, “Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust.”

    On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the president reassured that such are temporary because the welfare of the people is the main thrust of the change agenda of the administration.

    To buttress this point, Mr Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme (SIP) among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered stolen funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Saraki, Atiku felicitate with Muslims, preach love, peaceful co-existence

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Monday felicitated with Muslim faithful on the 2018 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations which comes up on Tuesday (tomorrow).

    Saraki and Atiku made the felicitations in their Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslim faithful in the country

    Saraki enjoined Nigerians to increase their efforts in charitable endeavours, perseverance and spiritual intercession for the nation. The Senate President urged Nigerians to further devote their prayers at the Eid praying grounds to the call on Allah to restore peace in all parts of the country, strengthen the unity and rebuild the economy.

    Saraki also congratulated Muslims on the celebration of the 2018 Eid el-Kabir festival and described the special occasion as “a period that honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to show submission to Allah’s command”.

    “As we have read from the Glorious Qur’an, just when Ibrahim was about to kill his son Ishmael, Almighty Allah (SWT) put a sheep in its place. Muslims use Eid el-Kabir to celebrate Prophet Ibrahim’s complete obedience to the will of Allah and as a reminder of our own willingness to make sacrifices in obedience to Allah,” he stated.

    Atiku in a similar vein advised Muslims across the country to take the center stage in promoting and spreading love among fellow Nigerians in order to consolidate our unity.

    He explained that diversity is not the cause of Nigeria’s problems, but blamed the attitude of Nigerians towards one another instead.

    According to him, “the common interests that unite Nigerians are by far stronger than those petty factors that divide us,” adding that diversity can be used to advantage.

    Atiku said intolerance, extremism and bigotry, if unchecked, could threaten peace and unity in any country.

    He noted that peace and unity are the greatest assets that should not be taken for granted by Nigerians.

    According to him, interfaith dialogue would not go far enough if bigotry is allowed to defeat human reason and wisdom.

    The former Vice President explained that all religions preach love of mankind, and urged Muslims to promote the beauty of their faith through positive personal conducts.

    Atiku noted that societies founded on hate and bigotry are always exposed to conflicts, and said these negative emotions can only be defeated by the power of love.

    While wishing Muslims successful Sallah celebration, the Waziri Adamawa advised Muslims to remain vigilant against the influence of violent extremism which has been used by misguided elements to portray Islam in bad light.

    Recall that the federal government had earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays for the celebrations.

     

  • Muslims are victims of senseless killings too, MURIC tells CAN

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to see ongoing attacks by suspected herdsmen as not a sectional issue but a tragedy that befalls every body in the country.

    The group made this remark in reaction to last week’s call by the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Christians across the country to hold demonstrations after church service on Sunday over killings in the Middle Belt and other regions of the country.

    Last Sunday Christians in states like Lagos, Akure, Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti held peaceful protests in response to the directive of the CAN chairman.

    MURIC’s director, Ishaq Akintola, said as much as his group respects the feelings of the Christians in the country concerning the development in the Middle Belt, CAN should also understand that Muslims are also direct victims of the herdsmen’s violence.

    “…We reaffirm our earlier position that Christians have not been the only victims of the killings around the country,” he said.

    He added that “Muslims are losing hundreds of faithfuls on a monthly basis in the North East as Boko Haram unleashes terror on the predominantly Muslim populace.

    Citing recent examples of communal violence as reference point, th MURIC boss said “36 Muslims were killed in Birane Village in Zurmi Local Council, Zamfara State on February 16, 2018.

    “Six Muslims were killed in Jidari Polo area of Maiduguri on April 26, 2018.

    “Even yesterday, Sunday 29th April, 2018, another 15 Muslims were killed in Bawon-Daji village, in Anka District of Zamfara. Again, more than 12 Muslims were waylaid and killed in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when the corpses of the two priests killed in the Benue church attack were brought to the city. These are verifiable attacks by those free of the ‘lazymania’ virus.

    “So the question arises: why kill innocent Muslim travellers when peaceful protests were already being planned?

    “The pointable point is that we are all victims. Both Christians and Muslims have lost their members to criminals and blood-thirsty elements of our country.
    Professor Akintola however pointed out that rather than the CAN calling for a one-sided protest rally, it would have made more impact had both of the two religious groups had a joint protest.

    “Meaningful impact could have been made if both Christians and Muslims held a joint protest against the failure of government to stem the tide of killings.

    “That would make it impossible for observers to read meanings into yesterday’s protest. It would stop questions like, “Why are they demonstrating now? Is it because Buhari is a Muslim? Why didn’t they protest when Jonathan was in power? Were there no killings in Jonathan’s time? Do they want to bring Buhari’s government down?”.

     

  • BREAKING: Muslims protest as reps postpones hearing on Hijab saga indefinitely

    The House of Representatives joint committee on Justice and Judiciary has adjourned its public hearing on the hijab controversy between the Nigerian Law School and a law school graduate, Miss. Firdaus Amasa, due to a court injunction.

    This decision by the lawmaker according to witnesses outraged the Muslim faithful at the hearing as a protest broke out; spearheaded by the president of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ishaq Akintola.Akintola said his organization will resist any attempt to stop hijabs in Law School as an injury to one of them is an injury to all Muslims in the country.

    It was learnt that hundreds of Muslims who stormed the green chamber on Wednesday, were again disappointed that the public hearing scheduled to hold has been postponed indefinitely.

    Among others who joined the protest is the President Muslim Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MMPAN) Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun.

    One of the anxious members of one of the groups that went from Lagos for the hearing said many were surprised that they had travelled long distance to attend the postponed hearing.

    He said, “As at 10.30am, the public hearing did not commence as participants were only seated inside room 236, New Wing, Federal House of Representatives, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

    “The cancellation announcement was made few minutes past 11 o’clock.”

    He said that the postponement may be as a result of a ruling of Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, 28th February.

    He said, “The Justice had ordered that the public hearing be suspended pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

    The source hinted that the two clerks of the public hearing joint committee, Mr. Idris Mora and Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana confirmed the postponement.

    He quoted Mora as follows, “There is a court order served on the National Assembly restraining us. Nevertheless, those who are already around will be informed.

    He added that Ogunlana said, “Yes, court order.”

  • We lost over 5,247 Muslims to Boko Haram’s rampage in Adamawa – Muslim Council

    The Adamawa State chapter of Muslim Council has said at least 5,247 Muslims have been killed in the Boko Haram violence in seven local government areas of the state in the past five years (2013 to 2017).

    The council, which comprises all Islamic organisations in Adamawa, said it compiled the report from its various local chapters.

    The affected local governments are Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong and Gombi.

    A report on the crisis signed by the Adamawa branch chairman of the council, Abubakar Magaji, and Secretary General, Ismaila Umaru, indicates that another 5,161 Muslims sustained various degrees of injuries.

    The report indicated that 12,732 properties belonging to Muslims in the councils, including houses, mosques, livestock and farm produce – worth N81.6 billion – were destroyed.

    The report stated that Madagali Local Government Area has the highest number of dead victims with 2,500 people while Hong has the least with 68.

    Muslims in Michika Local Government Area suffered the highest amount of losses with property worth N23.3 billion destroyed in the council while Maiha has the least with N157 million worth of properties.

    The report which was presented to the Governor of Adamawa, Muhammadu Bindow, recommended among others support for the victims by the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative and reconstruction of places of worship and Islamic schools destroyed.

    It also recommended an increase in security personnel and financial support to local vigilante groups assisting the military in the fight against the insurgency.