Muslims at prayer

Professor  AbdulHafiz Oladosu of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, has called on world leaders not to judge Islam from the negative attitude of some Muslims.

Oladosu made the call at the formal opening of the 100th edition of the Annual Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) held at IVC permanent site, kilometre 30, Lagos/Ibadan Express way.

At the event, organised by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Southern Zone, the Don said that the misbehaviour of some Muslims should not be used as the basis for judging what Islam really stands for.

“It’s not Islam that should be held responsible for the misbehaviour of some Muslims. The same way you don’t hold a car responsible when it has an accident; you need to question the driver and owner of the car.

“Allah gave the religion of Islam to the Muslims; it is we the Muslims that are misrepresenting the gift from Allah. The world should try to read about Islam and not about Muslims,’’ Oladosu said.

He called on Muslims to find their way back to the teachings of Islam so as not to allow the public to stigmatise Islam as a religion of trouble makers rather than religion of peace.

In his remark, Malam Muhammad Jameel, National President of MSSN, urged the Federal Government to disregard the banning of Islamic dress in the name of security as such would lead to denial of fundamental right to practice one’s religion.

He also called on government to urgently address the myriad of problems facing the country.

“It is pertinent to call on our leaders to make concerted efforts to cushion the harsh socio-economic and education realities of today.

“These range from poverty, inflation, fuel scarcity to falling standard of education, among others,’’ Jameel said.

Highlights of the occasion were the recitation of the Holy Qur’an and presentation of award of appreciation to dignitaries for their contributions to the development of the MSSN and Islam.

Those given the awards include; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; the Executive-Secretary of Muslim Ummah of South Western Nigeria, Prof. Daud Noibi, and the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye.

Others are; Alhaji Kunle Sanni, Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Community; Dr Daud Amoo-Alaga, a renowned Islamic preacher, and Malam Yusuf Ali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), among others.