Lekki chief imam urges clerics, others to shun fetish practices

The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Shaykh Ridwan Jamiu, has called on imams and Islamic scholars to avoid engaging in fetish or ritual practices, describing such acts as un-Islamic and aligned with satanic influence. Speaking at the annual Imams’ Conference organised by the Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU), themed “Imams, the Youths and the Law,” […]

The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Shaykh Ridwan Jamiu, has called on imams and Islamic scholars to avoid engaging in fetish or ritual practices, describing such acts as un-Islamic and aligned with satanic influence.

Speaking at the annual Imams’ Conference organised by the Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU), themed “Imams, the Youths and the Law,” Shaykh Jamiu stressed the vital role of imams in promoting peace, moral integrity and youth development.

He said no responsibility is greater than that of an imam, who serves as a moral compass for the community.

He urged imams to understand the language, mindset and challenges facing the youth to more effectively guide them within the framework of Islam.

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Referencing the recent case of Abdulrahman Bello, who allegedly murdered Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student in Ilorin, Jamiu said the act contradicts the expected conduct of anyone claiming religious leadership.

He said, “We need to let the Imams know that they need to change their methods, not changing it to what is haram but changing it to make it appealing to what obtains today so that whatever they deliver can be captivating and this can be carried along.

“We have been emphasizing on ethics of Da’Awah, they should be positive in whatever they do. For example if you want to condemn something, you may criticize a particular statement or action but that does not mean that you should criticize the person himself or castigating the person from whom that action was done…We should be positive in our approach to Da’Awah so that it can be effective and acceptable to the people especially the youths.”

On the issue of ritual activities by some clerics, he stated that any ritual that cannot be traced to Islam should be avoided.

“Because if you are not careful you would be seeking help from the demons…So many of these clerics need to properly understand the concept of Taoheed in Islam (oneness of Allah). They should know the implication of this.

“Every Muslim is expected to understand his religion. We need to understand the fundamentals of the religion. Immediately a cleric makes a mistake or he is a ritualist you will know it. So nobody has any excuse and that some people are misguiding others shouldn’t be an excuse because Allah would not listen to that.”

In his keynote presentation, Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, spoke on “Imams and the Youth: Urgent Need for Synergy,” noting that being an imam extends beyond leading prayers.

He urged imams to stay informed about societal issues and continually enhance their skills to deliver relevant, impactful sermons.

Dr Shuaib also identified growing disconnect between youth and religious leaders, driven by communication gaps, cultural shifts and lack of inclusion.

He advised that Juma’at sermons be tailored to address contemporary issues affecting the community.