Ramadan: Muslims told to seek knowledge to overcome challenges

As Muslims continue to observe this year’s Ramadan fasts, the deputy chief imam of the Muslim Community Center Jumu’ah Mosque, Wuse Abuja, Sheikh Tamim Yusuf Alhasan, has urged Muslims to seek for knowledge, even at old age, to overcome their challenges and be able to worship Allah better. He made the call on Sunday in […]

As Muslims continue to observe this year’s Ramadan fasts, the deputy chief imam of the Muslim Community Center Jumu’ah Mosque, Wuse Abuja, Sheikh Tamim Yusuf Alhasan, has urged Muslims to seek for knowledge, even at old age, to overcome their challenges and be able to worship Allah better.

He made the call on Sunday in Abuja at the Afemai Islamic Movement (AIM) annual Ramadan Lecture, with the theme, ‘The Importance of Knowledge and Evil of Ignorance’.

“Islam is the religion of knowledge, the first thing to have been revealed in the glorious Quran is a command to the Prophet Muhammad to seek for knowledge. So we are here to serve Allah the Most High, and there is no way you can serve Allah if you do not know him.

“The only way you can know Allah is through knowledge. Knowledge of the Quran, knowledge of the Hadith, and knowledge of other sources of Islamic knowledge. So, ignorance has so many implications, and some such implications is that there is no way you can worship Allah when you are ignorant.

“And somebody may be worshiping Allah thinking that he is doing the right thing while he is doing the wrong thing. And even the prayer we observe on daily basis, he who does not know will continue to pray while his prayer will not be accepted, right from the point of purification,” Alhasan said.

He urged parents to ensure that if they miss the opportunity of learning so much about Islam, they should ensure that their children learn a lot of the Qur’an because Muslims are blessed with so many schools that combine education of Islam and the Western education, thus there is no excuse for a Muslim to be ignorant.

Also, Alhaji Ismail Abdul Qadir Danesi, the Amir (President) of the Afemai Islamic Movement, said any act of goodness is rewarded by Allah in manifold and seeking knowledge is one of the greatness goodness.

“So for this year, we have the importance of knowledge and the evil of ignorance. You will agree with me that, this is a very important topic, especially looking at the situation we find ourselves today, where we really need to sit down to learn the Holy Qur’an, to reflect on the Qur’an, and to imbibe the culture of Qur’an, and to put it into practice.

“Because we believe that is the only way that we can be free, we can be emancipated from the challenges of the current situation in Nigeria and globally. So Qur’an is the key, the ultimate, the knowledge that Allah has sent to us through Prophet Muhammad,” Danesi said.

Also, the AIM Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman, Alhaji Momodu Aliu Kadiri, said that it was important to continue to seek knowledge, from cradle to the grave and that his coming for the lecture, apart from other forms of seeking education and knowledge shows that despite economic challenges, Muslims must create time to further their knowledge in Islam and other endeavours.

In another development, the Principal of the Zinaria International School, Ustaz Idris Al-Hassan, has urged Muslims against being tempted to meet their financial and other needs with illegal resources, but seek Allah’s help and work for legitimate needs.

He made the call on Saturday at Mararaba, Karu Local Government during the 6th Annual Ramadan Lecture of the Forum for Islamic Guidance (FIG), with the theme, ‘Trusting Allah in Times of Economic Hardship’.

He recalled that many prophets of Allah were known to be tested and they overcome their challenges and even gain more with trust in Allah and not resorting to sins.

He also urged Muslims to diversify their sources of income and cut wasteful spending and extravagant lives.

Speaking earlier, Dr. Busari Issa Zubair, the Amir (President) Forum for Islamic Guidance, said that the theme of the lecture, ‘Trusting Allah in Times of Economic Hardship’, is one that resonates deeply with the challenges of the present time.

“We live in an era where economic uncertainties, inflation, job losses, and financial constraints have become common struggles for many individuals and families. It is during such trying times that we are reminded of the profound importance of Tawakkul-absolute trust and reliance on Allah.

“Economic hardship should not lead us to despair or resort to unethical means, but rather, it should strengthen our dependence on Allah and our commitment to honesty, patience, and perseverance. We are not alone in our struggles. Economic challenges come and go, but Allah remains constant in His mercy, guidance, and provision,” Zubair said.