From Our Correspondent
Ashraaf Islamic Foundation and the Nigerian Armed Forces have called on Nigerian Muslims to always seek ways to balance religious rites, public safety and national security.
They made the call during the seventh Annual Ramadan Lecture and Prayers for the Nation, on Saturday, in Abuja.
TheNewsZenith reports that the theme of the lecture is: “Balancing Religious Rites and Public Safety: The Intersection of Ramadan, Hajj and National Security”.
Chairman of the Foundation, Dr Sharafudeen Aliagan, said the lecture theme reflects what is happening in the country.
Aliagan added that it was wrong for anyone to sit on the fence when things were going wrong.
According to him, public safety and national security are important in the life of every one of us.
“So, we believe in observing religious rites. But we should be conscious of public safety and national security.
“Islam has five pillars as parts of the religious rites; strong belief in the oneness of Allah, belief in the messengers of Allah, Zakat, Fasting in the month of Ramadan and Hajj.
“In observing Ramadan and fasting, we should be conscious of public safety and national security. A fasting Muslim would not think of perpetrating evil.
“He or she would be conscious of Allah along the spirit of Ramadan as a Holy Month, and it is worthy of note that, the Holy Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan.
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“So all these will inform the consciousness of a fasting Muslim that Public safety and national security is important. And without them, we can’t have progress in this country,” Aliagan said.
According to him, a Muslim should not go to Hajj with an evil mind because “Islam is peace, harmony and tranquillity.” And in going to Hajj, one has to be conscious of these three.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, urged Muslims to pray for Nigeria to overcome its security challenges.
The Director of Support Services at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Olatunji Bello represented the COAS on the occasion.
Musa said he holds the foundation in high esteem. He noted that the Foundation has been hosting lectures and prayers for the nation to overcome insecurity.
“Insecurity has always been in Nigeria and everywhere globally. The only issue here is the social media that amplifies everything.
“The armed forces in the country have been tackling the insecurity. We work assiduously with traditional rulers and others to ensure everyone is safe.
“We keep the nation safe, especially in the spirit of Ramadan. In this period, we are redoubling efforts to ensure absolute security and peace in the land.”
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