AHMADIYYA OPENS ULTRA-MODERN MOSQUE IN APATA
– Lays foundation of two others in Ogun State It was a historic week for the Nigeria Branch of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Worldwide as its National Head (Amir), Barr. Alatoye Folorunso Azeez commissioned a newly built ultra-modern Mosque in Apata (Oyo State) and a newly renovated one in Ilaro (Ogun State) respectively. The Apata Mosque was single-handedly sponsored by a family. It is a two-storey building with the ground floor set aside for ablution area and car park. It will be recalled that the foundation laying stone of the ultra-modern mosque was done in 21st March 2021, barely six months ago. At a go, the Mosque could accommodate about 500 worshippers. The same donor also completed the building of a mission house at Jankata (Apata) branch of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria. It is a well-structured three-bedroom (ensuite) apartment meant for a would-be missionary for the branch. Similarly, the National Head also commissioned a newly renovated Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Central Mosque at Igbogidi, Ilaro, Ogun State. The foundation stone of the Mosque was laid in 2001 after the plot of land was donated by Late Pa Ajayi in the year 2000. Prominent members of the Ahmadiyya Community in Ilaro contributed immensely to the successful construction of the place of worship. Barr. Alatoye, after praying fervently for the donors emphasized the importance of building mosques and mission houses, stressing that spiritual blessings and everlasting rewards from Almighty God are attached to the noble initiative. He said: “It’s more rewarding if we strive to build houses for Allah than constructing so much flats for worldly financial gains. Let us follow the footsteps of companions of the Holy Prophet who constructed buildings for the sake of Allah. We should also ensure that our Mosques are well structured and attractive than even our personal houses. “The roles of the youths in recent times towards the building of the Mosques and Mission Houses can not be over-emphasized. They are proving to be the backbone of the Ahmadiyya Community. May Allah continue to shower blessings on them.” FOUNDATION STONE LAYING OF TWO MOSQUES AT OGUN STATE In the same vein, the foundation stones of two ultra-modern Mosques were laid at Iyesi-Ijaba and Iju-Onibukun (Ogun State) branches of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Amir enjoined members of the Islamic body to put their trust in Almighty God alone and strive to complete the projects in no time, not minding the economic challenges facing the nation. “It is a known fact that the nation is presently facing serious economic challenges, but we should not be bothered. We are only experiencing trying times. Almighty Allah will always pave way for his people. Let us have the mindset of completing these projects soon,” Barr. Alatoye advised. AMIR INSPECTS ONGOING MISSION HOUSE PROJECT AT SABO, ILARO On the way back to the National Secretariat in Lagos State, the National President and his entourage inspected the ongoing mission house project at Sabo-Ilaro. The project is a storey-building. The Amir led a special prayer at the site. WORKING VISITS TO EDE, EJIGBO The National Head further made short trips to Ede and Ejigbo branches of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria to inspect landed properties, ongoing projects and familiarise with members of the community. In his address, Barrister Alatoye urged all and sundry to always display the good qualities of Ahmadi members and serve as role models to non-members in a bid to win more souls into the religious body. “Let me use this medium to request our teeming members to exhibit true teachings of Islam. We must work on our morals and characters such that outsiders will be willing to join the Ahmadiyya train. Let us convert people with the best of behaviors and good neighborliness,” the Amir posited. WORKING VISITS TO EJIGBO
AHMADIYYA CONTINUES TO RECORD GIANT STRIDES FOR ISLAM AS WORLD KHALIFA OF THE COMMUNITY GIVES 2021 ANNUAL GLOBAL REPORT OF ACHIEVEMENTS
The Khalifatul Masih V and Supreme World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has delivered a faith-inspiring address in which his holiness reported the annual progress and achievements of the Community on August 7th, the second day of the ongoing Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) UK 2021. At around 5pm, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (aa) arrived at the main Jalsa Gah (Convention ground) mounted the podium and conveyed his salaam to everyone. He then delivered his historic address where he highlighted the milestones of the global achievements recorded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Addressing the thousands of members of the Community at the convention, his holiness said, ‘in this session, I usually recount some of the blessings of Allah the Exalted upon the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, that we see and experience throughout the year. Despite only summaries being prepared of these blessings, I will only be able to present a portion of some of the facts and figures. Establishment of new Chapters [Jamaats]: By the grace of Allah the Exalted, this year, apart from Pakistan, 403 new chapters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were established. In addition to these new Jamaats, the seed of Ahmadiyyat was planted in 829 locations for the first time, which means that a few or a couple of Ahmadis have entered the Jamaat in those locations. Nigeria is on top of the list of those countries where new Jamaats have been established. There, 89 new Jamaats have been established over the past years. Then, there are other countries of Africa and Europe. With relation to incidents of the establishment of new Jamaats, the missionary-in-charge of São Tomé reports that only three Islands of the country of São Tomé are inhabited. Jamaats have been established in the Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and mosques have also been constructed there. By the Grace of Allah, this year, the Jamaat was also established on the third Island by the grace of Allah. Our missionaries went there. They preached and as a result of their preaching, ten Christians converted to Islam Ahmadiyyat. It is a small island with a population of less than a hundred. The missionary in Tanzania writes that some of our missionaries went to one of the villages of the country and they preached and propagated the faith. The people in the locality listened to the message of the Community very attentively and 60 people entered the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Upon this, the local imam phoned them and said that your people are coming here and creating disorder and people from amongst my community are entering the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The imam started arguing with the local Ahmadi missionary and he said, what are you doing, trying to convert people from my locality? Because of course, the Muslim clerics are always concerned about losing their people as they earn their bread through those people. So, our Ahmadi missionary started preaching to that imam. As a result of the debate with the local imam, the people gathered there and started listening to the debate and thirty further people entered into the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. That Sunni imam is sitting in his mosque idle because only a handful of people come to his mosque, whereas hundred or close to hundred people have formed a new chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on that area and the nizam of the Community is established. In Guinea Conakry, the clerics of the Islamic League had threatened the local people of a village with regard to Ahmadis, saying that Ahmadis were disbelievers, God forbid. They said that Ahmadis did not have any relation with Islam and so people should not listen to them. However, when the message of the Promised Messiah (as) was preached to them and they were told of the prophecies related to the Latter-Day Messiah and Imam Mahdi, the entire village along with the local imam accepted Ahmadiyyat. The system of the Jamaat has now been established there. However the clerics of the Islamic organisation kept threatening the local villagers, they said that they had found new pleasure in their prayers, which they were unaware of before accepting Ahmadiyyat and that they would remain steadfast on this path. Establishment of new Mosques: In terms of the establishment of new mosques, which includes mosques that the Jamaat constructed as well as those that came into the possession of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during the year, their number is 211. Ghana is on top of the list with most mosques being constructed there. Then, there are also other countries. In Belize, the first Ahmadiyya mosque has been constructed, which spans over an area of two acres and has a capacity of 220 worshippers. Its foundation was laid in December 2019. It is a very beautiful mosque. It has a mission house, the missionary’s office, a library as well as a guest room. There are two highways that go out from Belize City, one going towards Mexico and the other one towards Guatemala. This Noor Mosque is located on the highway that goes towards Guatemala. It is located at a distance of two miles from the city’s centre. After the mosque in Guatemala, this is the second purpose-built mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Central America. For the construction of this mosque, three brothers from Canada went there to volunteer. They also participated considerably in the construction of another mosque in Canada. These are Mansoor Sahib, Manzoor Sahib, Fareed Sahib and Mudassir Sahib. In any case, they went to Belize and worked towards the construction of the mosque. At first, the construction was estimated to cost 2.5 million US dollars. In the end, it only cost 125,000 US dollars as a result of these voluteers’ efforts. The local people also offered significant sacrifices for this project. In Zion, in the United States of America, there was a plan to construct a monument. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Zion wanted to make a
Ahmadiyya New Clinic in Kano Underway
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria has commenced the building of another Clinic in Kano for more improved health care services to the people of the State. The foundation laying ceremony was performed by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano, the Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, and the representative of Kano state Governor, the Commissioner of Health at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at complex along Zaria Road opposite the Kano Economic City. Once the new Clinic is completed, kano state will have three medical facilities and two schools for the overall benefit of the populace. Historically, the Foundation stone of the first Ahmadiyya Clinic in Kano was laid by late Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero on 28 Dec 1968. It has now been upgraded to Ahmadiyya Hospital Kano. Before that, on 14 October 1967, Alhaji Aminu Kano; who was then the Federal Commissioner for Telecommunication visited Ahmadiyya Dispensary Apapa under the management of Retried Lt. Col Dr. M Y Shah described the activities of the Dispensary as “Wonderful work for humanity and peace.” On 19 February 1974, His Excellency, Alhaji Audu Bako, the Executive Governor of Kano State laid the foundation of Ahmadiyya College in Kano when Maulana Ajmal Shaid was the Amir of Nigeria. He was present at the occasion. This Secondary School has attracted many local and international awards to Kano through academic and sports laurels. Ahmadiyya Understanding of Islam The Amir, Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria, Barrister Alatoye Folorunso Azeez used the occasion to reiterate the essence of understanding Islam from the perspective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to the effect of service to humanity in all ramifications. He stated that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believed that Almighty Allah sends the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mercy unto mankind. Therefore, in addition to upholding the five pillars of Islam and six articles of faith, a Muslim preoccupation is to be a mercy unto mankind by making life easier for them, to serve Allah in an atmosphere of peace. Accordingly, the Jamaat has a Non-Governmental Organization called Humanity First whose preoccupation include: 1. Global Health for all by building Hospitals and Clinics 2. Knowledge for All by building Schools 3. Orphanage Care 4. Water for life 5. Gift of Sight 6. Food security 7. Refugee Resettlement 8. Community Care; and 9. Disaster Relief. He noted that Humanity First through the present Medical Director of Ahmadiyya Hospital Kano has treated thousands of people on the “Gift of Sight “ scheme free of charge. Similarly, through the Principal of Ahmadiyya College Kano, Humanity First had sunk many boreholes in the suburb of Kano metropolis to provide drinkable water to those environments. Barrister Alatoye equally said that the Founder of Ahmadiyya Community laid emphasis on Islam as a religion of peace, hence the current Khalifa, spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community globally is preoccupied with how the world will achieve global peace and has made several tours before the Covid 19. Nigeria was one of the countries on the list before the outbreak, hence the visit was halted. His key message during the tours is how the world will embrace justice and peace and he has written many books on this. The Amir appreciated the cordial relationship among the Palace, the Kano State at large, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat for the realization of sustainable developments through the provisions of a Hospital, equipped with ultra-modern facilities, unique primary and secondary schools, and now a new clinic in Kano alone. Both the Emir of Kano and the Kano state government equally appreciated the gestures of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria.
2021 EID-UL-ADHA MESSAGE: OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF ALLAH – THE PEAK OF SACRIFICE
Ashhadu anlaa ilaha illallah wahdahu laasharikalahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Abduhu warasuluhu. Ama’bad fauzubilliahi minashaitaani rajeem, bismillahi Rahmani Raheem. What is Eid-ul-Adha Eid-ul-Adha is a “feast of sacrifice” or submission to the wishes or will of Allah celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja or the 12 Lunar month. It means total submission to what Allah wants or wishes or will or directs. It has two components. The smaller component is the sacrifice or killing of ram. This smaller one reminds us annually or points to a bigger sacrifice. The bigger sacrifice is the sacrifice of one wishes, will, passion, ego, and pride for the wish of Allah which is very difficult. To surrender one’s disobedient tendencies, passion for greed, or selfishness for the instructions of Allah is very difficult except for the righteous or God-fearing. Elements of Sacrifices All praise belongs to Almighty Allah who has made us witness the 2021 Eid-ul-Adha or feast of sacrifice amidst various global and national challenges. This requires a high level of spirit of obedience to Allah. Without the spirit of respect, the spirit of obedience would not work. Without the spirit of humility, neither spirit of respect nor obedience will work. And without the spirit of righteousness or godliness, one cannot be humble. These are essential components of sacrifice. You cannot offer acceptable sacrifice without being righteous. Allah will not accept it. It is not all sacrifices that Allah accepts. In Suratul Maidah 5. 28 – Almighty Allah says that: ‘………….Allah accepts only from the righteous.” اِنَّمَا یَتَقَبَّلُ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الۡمُتَّقِیۡنَ…. Origin of Eid-ul-Adha Sacrifice Eid-ul-Adha or the festival of Sacrifice commemorates the obedience of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and his son Hazrat Ismail(as) to the commandment of Allah. Hazrat Ibrahim(as) had a series of dreams in which he saw himself sacrificing his eldest son Ismail. He inferred that it was perhaps the will of God that he should sacrifice the life of his son. Hazrat Ibrahim(as), being most obedient to God, was about to sacrifice the life of his son Ismail, when God commanded him to stop and gave him the good news that he had indeed fulfilled His command. God was so pleased with Ibrahim because of his obedience that He multiplied his progeny into billions. He was also given the great honour of being the forefather of the Holy Prophet of Islam(sa). Those who are able to offer the sacrifice should remember the significance of doing so, as succinctly stated in chapter 22:38 of the Holy Qur’an: Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him. Thus has He subjected them to you, that you may glorify Allah for His guiding you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.” The act of sacrifice is symbolically reminding the person who offers it that as the animal is inferior to him so he, also, is inferior to God and should, therefore, be ready to sacrifice himself and all his personal interests and inclinations for the sake of God when he is required to do so. The same applies to a Muslim who desired to offer the sacrifice but could not, for economic reasons. The attainment of righteousness should be the goal of every Muslim. The Holy Quran further states: Verily the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most righteous among you. (49:40) Eid-ul-Adha is an occasion on which Muslims everywhere are encouraged to renew their commitment to making every kind of sacrifice for the spiritual, moral, social, and economic uplift of mankind and especially their own. If they make it a common cause and strive to manifest in themselves the attributes of God in accordance with the teachings and guidance of the Holy Quran and teachings of the Holy Prophet then, indeed, the message of Eid-ul-Adha would have borne fruit. Referring to attaining Taqwa and excelling in spirituality, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Promised Messiah(as) said that we should love Allah as if we have died in His way. Just as we slaughter animals, we should consider ourselves slaughtered in the way of Allah. When anyone’s Taqwa is less than this, then it is not a sufficient level of Taqwa. The significance of Eid-ul-Adha is obedience to the will of Allah and killing or suppression of one passion or greed. The current World-wide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in His Message of Eid-ul Adha said that “It is a reminder that one should sacrifice oneself for a greater good. This greater good that a Muslim should always be ready to sacrifice oneself for is the Almighty God, by way of sacrificing their time, wealth, honour, and life.” He further said “Understanding the true spirit of sacrifice is even more important in this day and age where some nations are usurping the rights of others; where the blood of human beings is being wasted for minor worldly goals. On the Eid Day – Remembrance and Gratitude – Eid Ground and Covid-19 Remembrance of Allah and gratitude to Him is the hallmark of that day. There is the exaltation of Allah to and from the Eid praying ground. One significant aspect of Eid-ul-Adha is the slaughtering of animals. On the day of Eid those Muslims who can afford to sacrifice an animal are enjoined to do so after Eid Prayer. However, this aspect should not be taken as a do-or-die affair. The offering of animal as a sacrifice is only incumbent upon those who can afford to do so. With the prevailing increase in prices of all consumables including animals, many Muslims may not be able to buy rams for the Eid. The Almighty Allah knows our individual capacity and does not burden us beyond it. No Muslim should resort to un-Islamic means to offer this sacrifice. We are grateful to Allah who out of His infinite mercy has given us the privilege to witness this year’s Eid-ul-Adha. We are
AHMADIYYA GRADUATES NINE MISSIONARIES
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Nigeria Branch has graduated nine (9) Missionaries at its School of Theology (Jamiatul-Mubashireen) located at Ilaro, Ogun State. The graduands who had successfully completed their four-year programmes comprised of five (5) Nigerians, three (3) Beninoise, and one Cameroonian. Their names are Adeyemi Habeebullah (Nigeria), Apooyin Abdulroqeeb (Nigeria), Gongola Abbas (Nigeria), Badrudeen Abdul Azeez (Nigeria); Ajakaye Mujtaba (Nigeria); Hafiz Ayeroumi Abdul Kabir (Benin Republic); Hafiz Ibrahim Shafii’ (Benin Republic); Isa Alabi Mustapha (Benin Republic) and Nuhu Yusuf Baba (Cameroon). Alhaji Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, the National Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria who was the Chairman of Convocation Ceremony enjoined the newly graduated Missionaries to live up to expectation by displaying attributes and characters of a true reformer. Barrister Alatoye also urged the new Missionaries to always upgrade themselves morally and educationally by making researches and professing solutions to world crises. He added that it can only be possible through fervent prayers. “Today, I congratulate you all on your well-deserved convocation ceremony after four years of rigorous training at Jamiatul-Mubashireen. You have all chose to be reformers, therefore you should always display good attributes of reformers. Your work is a blessed and professional one. It has both worldly and divine rewards. You are on the track to teach the people to be Godly.” “Missionaries are researchers. You are expected to research on lasting solutions to the challenges facing the world. You must then support your solutions with prayers.” “You must preach with the goodness of your behaviors. Also train and retrain yourselves to be better. Always follow the right path and guard against evils from money and women. Above all, go to the field to reform the people with good characters and prayers,” the Amir stated. The National Head also sounded a note of warning to Jamia students generally in respect to the rules and regulations of the institution. His word: “The aim of the institution is to produce reformers of good repute and proud ambassadors of Ahmadiyya Community. Any candidate coming to Jamia must be steadfast, God-fearing and upright. We can’t afford to produce unfit missionaries to the society.” “When you are opportuned to be in Jamiatul-Mubashireen, do not attempt to violate the rules and regulations, the punishment is very stiff. Please follow all the rules guiding the institution.” The Acting Missionary Incharge, Maulvi Abid Abdul Waasi enjoined graduands to always request His Holiness for prayers and seek for his guidance on all their daily routines. Certificates of Excellence were later given to the graduating students. Academic and sporting event prizes were also presented to outstanding students. Prominent among the guests include the National leader Majlis Ansarullah Ahmadiyya Nigeria (Elders’ Forum of Ahmadiyya Community), Alhaji Abdul Waheed Adeoye and National leader Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Nigeria (Youth Wing), Dr. Sanni Taofeeq.
REMINISCING MY QADIAN JALSA EXPERIENCE
Maulvi Nurudeen Okubena By the special grace and mercy of the Almighty Allah, I was privileged to attend the 2018 Jalsa Salana Qadian, India. It was actually my first presence and experience in Qadian, the birthplace of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah and founder of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. As an African Missionary leaving the shores of Africa for the first time, I was filled with happiness and a great aspiration to see Qadian. On arriving at Qadian after a journey of several hours on road from New Delhi, and despite witnessing such cold weather for the first time in my life, the sight of Qadian was indeed pleasing and I was more pleased when I saw more than thirty (30) fellow Africans at the Conference with a very high spirit and great enthusiasm to participate in all the Jalsa proceedings. I was exceptionally marvelled with the spirit of brotherhood at the Jalsa and, most especially, with the high spirit of sacrifice displayed by the workers at the Convention. Both the young and old were always ready to offer every sacrifice for the comfort of the guests of the Promised Messiah (as). The volunteers on security duties were always there at every moment, even in the extreme cold of the night. May Allah reward them all abundantly. One great thing about Qadian was that everyone meets each other with cheerfulness and happiness. Most especially when some of our Indian/Pakistani brothers realised that an African Missionary, like myself, could speak and understand the language of the Promised Messiah (as); they all showed great love and affection. Another wonderful scenario I witnessed at Qadian was that, despite the extreme cold weather, you would find people very early in the dawn trooping in large numbers to participate in the Tahajjud (the supererogatory night Prayer). I could remember that while there, I tried on so many occasions to observe prayers at the Mubarak Mosque but, on every occasion, I was told the place is filled up. However, I eventually had the opportunity to do so. Alhamdulillāh! It was indeed pleasing to have the opportunity to pray at Baitu Dua, Baitul fikr and several other rooms of the Promised Messiah (as). One surprising fact is the enthusiasm and zeal in every attendee to get an opportunity to pray in these holy rooms, and one could see a feeling of contentment and conviction of acceptance of prayers in the countenance of everyone who had had the opportunity of praying there. While in Qadian, considering the distance we traversed to reach there, one thing that always struck my mind was how the message of the Promised Messiah (as) was able to spread from such a remote village to the entire world. This, therefore, further strengthened my conviction that he, indeed, was a Chosen One of the Almighty Allah. Another striking thing about Qadian is the feeling of tranquillity one experiences while there. One always feels secured in Qadian. And, even, adherents of other faiths who live nearby do how high level of love and affection to all Jalsa attendees. Also, witnessing the presence of the attendees at Jalsa who have traveled from different parts of the world, I could see the fulfilment of the prophecy vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah that: يأتيك من كل فج عميق That is, “He shall come to you from every far region.” I was able to meet people from virtually all the continents of the world and everyone displayed a great level of love for the other. I was extremely pleased with the various speeches at the event. The facilitators were versatile and learned and the speeches were really soul inspiring. Qadian is a place to be visited by all, to experience the bounty and favours bestowed by Allah to the Imam of the Age. May the Almighty Allah give us all the grace to do so. Aameen Maulvi Nurudeen Okubena Head of Programming, MTA Africa, Nigeria Studios
AHMADIYYA NIGERIA HEAD BAGS GLOBAL AWARD
By Aliyu Usman The International Chartered World Learned Society, a worldwide independent organization, self-governing, pan-discipline educational charity with one of its aims to provides public benefits including expert scholars’ advice on a variety of public issues related to sciences, engineering, health sciences, arts, humanities, social sciences and so on has seen Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez the current Leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaát in Nigeria as worthy of its international award. Alatoye Folorunso Azeez was honoured with the Golden Award as “the most Notable and Top Distinguished Leader of the 21st Century” by the International Chartered World Learned Society, a United States-based organization, with offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. He has also been conferred with the Life Fellowship of the Society in the field of Law, Accounting, and Taxation. While conferring the award on Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, the World Grand President of the Society, UNESCO Laureate Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, noted that the recognitions were based on Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez’s immense contributions to the global knowledge industry in particular in the area of Law, Accounting, Taxation and religion of Peace. The insignia of the awards included certificates, Golden Frame, a muffler, a golden medal, a plaque and other instruments of the Society which were presented in recognition of “the avocation, enthusiasm, and reputation” of the honouree. While congratulating Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez on behalf of the World Grand Board of Directors, ICWLS, including Prof. Sir Sarfraz Lloyd of Oceania, Prof. Sir Abhiram Kukshreshtha of Asia, Prof. Sir M. Howard Pilley of Europe and Prof. Sir Luis Emilio Abad of the Americas, Prof. Aremu urged the recipient not to relent in his efforts of adding value to humanity. According to Fellow of Cambridge Scholar Publishing, UK, the UNESCO Laureate, Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, who is also the Vice Chancellor Crown University Int’l Chartered Inc, Santa Cruz, Argentina, world partners, and constituent campuses and online programs described Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez as a shining example of diligence, excellence, and competence from whom the present and future generations will continue to draw inspiration and emulate as well. While responding to the presentation of awards, Alh (Barr) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez appreciated the World Grand President and the ICWLS World Grand Board of Directors for deeming him worthy of the honour. He stressed that he considered the honour on behalf of his family, Muslim, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide that he is currently serving as one their Leader in Nigeria apart from being Lawyer and Chartered Accountant. He also expressed willingness to leverage the membership of the consortium in achieving the tripartite mandate of his new incoming university (Proposed Minaret University in Nigeria ) viz teaching, research, and community service. Prof. Aremu said, “Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, HND, BL, LLB, FCTI, FCA, FNIM. FSM, ACIArb, is the Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria from 1 July 2019 to date. Prior to that, he was the Naib Amir, South West Region of Nigeria. “He had served in various positions such as the National Secretary Maal, National Internal Auditor, National Ameen. He had also served as the Vice-Chairman, Humanity First Nigeria, Naib Jalsa Officer, and Secretary Nusrat Jehan Board Nigeria at one time or the other. “Azeez Alatoye is a Senior Partner of Ascension Consulting Services. He has responsibility for the Business Development, Operational Excellence, and Practice Management of the Firm. Azeez is a: “Barrister & Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria & member of the Nigerian Bar Association. Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria & A Chartered Tax Practitioner Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management); and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. Bachelor of Law Degree holder from the University of Bradford UK Holder of Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. Ordinary National Diploma, Polytechnic of Ibadan. “He trained with Z.O. Ososanya (HLB International) in 1993 before joining Coopers & Lybrand (C&L) in 1994. With the merger of C&L & Pricewaterhouse in 1998, Azeez joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in July 1998 and rose to the level of Senior Manager in July 2005. “In September 2005, He joined Akintola Williams Deloitte where he worked as a Senior Manager in the Oil & Gas, Tax Advisory & Regulatory Services, West African Operations until 30 June 2007. “In July 2007, Azeez was admitted as a Partner in Ernst & Young to head the Energy, Chemical & Utilities Tax Sub Unit & Business Tax Compliance Services for West Africa. This he did up to June 2009. “On 1 July 2009, Azeez, with two other senior colleagues co-founded Saffron Professional Services where he was the Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Oil & Gas and Solid Minerals Tax Partner, the position he held up to 31 July 2012, with any others”, he said. Prof. Aremu said, ” Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, HND, BL, LLB, FCTI, FCA, FNIM. FSM, ACIArb, is the Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria from 1 July 2019 to date. Prior to that, he was the Naib Amir, South West Region of Nigeria. “He had served in various positions such as the National Secretary Maal, National Internal Auditor, National Ameen. He had also served as the Vice-Chairman, Humanity First Nigeria, Naib Jalsa Officer, and Secretary Nusrat Jehan Board Nigeria at one time or the other. “Azeez Alatoye is a Senior Partner of Ascension Consulting Services. He has responsibility for the Business Development, Operational Excellence, and Practice Management of the Firm. Azeez is a: “Barrister & Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria & member of the Nigerian Bar Association Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria & A Chartered Tax Practitioner Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management); and Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. Bachelor of Law Degree holder from the University of Bradford UK Holder of Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, Kwara State
“Guide Us In The Right Course, O God!” – The Right Prayer for those at the Crossroads
Al-Hafiz Yunus Omotayo Often, at different points in the course of life, we find ourselves at the crossroads of taking critical decisions that can make or mar the prosperity of our present or the prospect of our future. Sometimes, it happens that less or more than four good options surface before us and, although each of them is characterized by respective positivity, we are yet required or obliged to choose the better of the good or the best out of the better. Conversely, at other time, certain options having ominous consequences would conjur up themselves before us and we are faced with the puzzle of choosing, unavoidably, the one that is of lesser evil or less grave in consequence. Every human life, in all its ramifications – whether personal or societal, individual or collective, mundane or spiritual, singular or marital, casual or professional, formal or informal, academic or non-academic, private or corporate, local or national and international, has had and will always have to experience this scenario in the course of its destiny. However, the clue here is that, to be able to navigate successfully to the shore of the destination of our destinies, we’ve got to deploy some means at our disposal. To subsume, submerge and subvert our challenges and drive safely out of such critical crossroads, we’ve got to always make the right choice and take the best option. And to do this, we, of course, often deploy the power of our knowledge, experience and skills. Notably, however, experience has shown that deploying only these means doesn’t always guarantee us the best result. One more important means has to be brought to bear for prosperity of our lives and destinies. Expediently, since humans are cognitively limited in knowledge, longitudinally and latitudinally shortsighted, potentially weak in nature, trans-physically deficient in insight, we inevitably need to always connect the transhuman essence that is within us with, and get guidance from, the Omnific God, Whose Insight is Transcendental, Whose Knowledge is Omniscientific, Whose Wisdom is Consummate and Whose Power is Absolute. In other words, as depicted in the graphic attached to this short piece, when we get stuck at the crossroads of life where, for instance, we are obliged to decide who should be allowed to first drive pass, when a presidential car, a fire engine, an ambulance and a police car get stuck together at a crossroads , we would, surely, hit the right decision if we combine our knowledge, experience and skills with supplication, using the efficacious Divine Prayer revealed in the famous Al-Fātihah – the opening Chapter of the Qur’ān: Guide us in the right course, O God! Ihdinas-sirātal-mustaqīm! ~Al-Hafiz Yunus Omotayo
WORLD CHILDREN DAY: CHILDREN IN THE EYES OF THE HOLY QUR’ĀN
Al-Hafiz Yunus Omotayo ☑️ The Holy Qur’an guarantees the best of children rights e.g. right to life, right to education, right to proper social, moral, and spiritual upbringing and right to self honour and dignity etc. All this can be deduced from the verses which prohibit Muslim parents from destroying children’s life because or for fear of poverty. The verses say: ‘Kill not your children for fear of poverty.’ (Q. 6:152) ‘Losers indeed are they who kill their children foolishly for lack of knowledge.’ (Q. 6:141) And the Holy Prophet (saw) instructs thus: ‘Respect your children and bring them up in a good manner.’ (63)‘Train your children in respect of three things: love of the Prophet, his household and recitation of the Qur’an.’ (64) ☑️ The Qur’an bestows precious well-wishing, blessings and prayer on children by teaching us the prayer thus: ‘And those who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us of our spouses and children the delight of our eyes and make each of us a leader of the righteous.’ (Q. 25:75) And, although, the Qur’an has offered the following prayer specifically to the two noble prophets – Isa (as) and Yahya (as) – but it, in fact, contains the best of well-wishing and blessings which Qur’an desires for every Muslim child in his life. It reads thus: ‘And peace is on him the day he was born, the day he shall die and the day he shall be raised to life again.’ (Q. 19:16) ☑️The Holy Qur’an offers children the best of advice by following which can guarantee them peaceful, successful, fulfilled and realistic life. It says: ‘And We have enjoined on man to be good to his parents. His mother bears him with pain, and brings him forth with pain. And the bearing of him and his weaning takes thirty months, till, when he attains his full maturity and reaches the age of forty years, he says, ‘ My Lord, grant me the power that I may be grateful for thy favour which Thou hast bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do such good works as may please Thee. And make my seed righteous for me. I do turn to Thee; and, truly, I am of those who submit to Thee. Those are they from whom We accept their good works and overlook their ill deeds. They shall be among the inmates of the Garden, in fulfillment of the true promise which was made to them.’ (Q. 46:16-17) ☑️ The Holy Qur’an relates to children the most soul-inspiring stories of the past prophets so as to share from some of the moral and spiritual aspects of their lives. For instance, about Prophet Yahya’s (as) childhood, the Holy Qur’an relates how he was commanded by God thus: ‘O Yahya, hold fast the Book.’ It goes further to say thus: ‘And We gave him wisdom while yet a child, and tenderness of heart from Ourself, and purity. And he was pious. And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not haughty and rebellious. And peace was on him the day he was born, and the day he died, and peace there will be on him the day he will be raised to life again.’ (Q.19:13-16) Again, here is the story of Luqman and his little child whose name is said to be Tharan according to a narration of Al-Suhailiyy.(65) Qur’an tells that Luqman was a man upon whom Allah bestowed great wisdom. He however was not only grateful for this blessing of Allah but also used it wisely by teaching the wisdom to his child. Thus he taught his child to worship Allah and warned him against idol worship. He taught him spiritual ways and trained him in moral behaviours. Below is a glimpse of his wisdom as preserved in the Qur’an for the benefit of Muslim children. The Holy Qur’an calls our attention thus: ‘And remember when Luqman said to his son while exhorting him, ‘O my dear son! Associate not partners with Allah. Surely, associating partners with God is a grievous wrong.’ (Q. 31:14) ‘O my dear son! Even though it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and even though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will surely bring it out; verily Allah is the Knower of all subtleties, All-Aware.’ ‘O my dear son! Observe Prayer, and enjoin good, and forbid evil, and endure patiently whatever may befall thee. Surely this is of those matters which require firm resolve. And turn not thy cheek away from men in pride nor walk in the earth haughtily; surely, Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. And walk thou at a moderate pace, and lower thy voice; verily, the most disagreeable of voices is the voice of the ass.’(Q. 31:17-20) (An excerpt from my book titled: Memorization of the Holy Qur’an – Merits and Methods, p. 31-33) May Allāh make our children the true delight of our eyes and grant them the most blessed and best of lives and destinies in this world and the Hereafter. Āmīn!
THE ELUSIVE GLOBAL CALIPHATE: Why Mainstream Muslims have Failed to Re-establish Khilafat and the only Two Prophetically Recommended Options for Them
Al-Hafiz Yunus Omotayo The Holy Quran (24: verse 56) aptly christens the necessity of Khilafat as an indispensable divine leadership institution that must necessarily succeed the institution of prophethood to ensure continuity of the world edification of the faithful, their global unity, peace and security, the establishment of the monotheistic worship of Allah and entrenchment of His monotheistic world order on earth. In the same vein, an authentic Muhammadan Prophetic Tradition recognizes the necessity of Khilafat as it declares that: “Prophethood [nubuwwah] is always followed by the institution of successorship [khilafat] (Kanzul Ummal, vol. 11, No. 32246, p.470). In the light of this perspective, Prophet Muhammad (saw) also predicted the trajectory of leadership after him in the Muslim world as follows: Prophethood shall remain among you for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. Then a caliphate will be established in the precept of prophethood which will last for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. Despotic Kingship will follow. Its rule will last for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. After this tyrannical monarchies will follow. Their rule will last for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. The caliphate will again be re-instituted on the precept of prophethood. Thereafter the Holy Prophet [saw] became silent. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 5, p. 342, No. 17939) The noble Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) understood and recognized the necessity of Khilafat which was why, in the event of the demise of the Holy Prophet (saw), they saw to it that the day did not pass by before they had successfully established the institution of Khilafat on the precept of prophethood, which conferred the mantle of leadership upon Abu Bakar (ra), followed by Umar bn Khattab (ra), then Uthman bn Affan (ra) and, finally, Ali bn Abi Talib (ra). However, the ensuing political turmoil caused by some elements that lacked the understanding of the necessity of Khilafat led to the assignation of Ali (ra) in 661 and the establishment of the monarchical dynasty of the Umayyad in Damascus from 661 to 750. This was followed by the epochs of the major dynasties of the Abbasids in Baghdad [750-1258], the Sultanates of the Mamluks in Egypt [1260-1517] and including a number of relatively regional dynasties of the Ummayads in Spain [929-1036], the Fatimids in Egypt [end 1171], the Safavids in Persia [began 1501], the Seljuks [ended 1194], the Ayyubis [began 1171] and the Mughals in India [ended 1857]. However, with the 1924 abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate in Turkey by Mustafa Kamal Ata Turk, (a dynasty that had started since the 13 century and enjoyed leadership hegemony over vast sections of the Muslim world) the mainstream Muslim world met with an appalling fate of a global body with no global head to unite their diversity, protect the sanctity of their common Islamic faith and jurisprudence and their practice, inspire their visions, steer their affairs, settle their crises and conflicts and harmonise, coordinate their global agendas and continuously put them on the pedestal of sustainable global brotherhood, peace, development and progress. As a result, the contemporary Muslim world has since been bedevilled by instances of intra and inter-state conflicts and warfare, political upheavals, intra-religious conflicts, extremism, fanaticism and terrorism all of which have rained catastrophic consequences upon the lives and lands of the Muslims. Though, as available evidences show, there is reason to believe that the contemporary mainstream Muslims have very much realised the necessity of Khilafat. This is evident in the fact that, following the event of 1924, Muslim leaders and scholars have since been making successive efforts at re-establishing the Khilafat (unsuccessfully though) through appeals via books and articles as well as conveyance of ad-hoc conferences and establishment of movement for the re-institution of khilafat, like the Khilafat Movement established in Karachi, India in the 1940s. Notably, Professor Hans Hung, while speaking about such khilafat conferences which he referred to as Pan-Islamic conferences, noted that, in response to the 1924 abolition of the Khilafat, “Five Pan-Islamic conferences of religious scholars followed: in Mecca (1924), Cairo (1926), Mecca (1926), Jerusalem (1931) and Geneva (1935)—all without tangible results. After the Second World War, Pan-Islamism received fresh impetus with the foundation in 1949 of the Islamic World Congress in Karachi, in 1962 of the World Muslim League in Mecca and in 1970 of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Jeddah as an umbrella organization for Islamic governments. However, none of these organizations was able to integrate the national liberation movements in the individual Islamic countries. In 1947, after the partition of India, Pakistan became the first independent Islamic state; others followed. The Islamic movements and conferences could at best spread the idea of solidarity among Muslims and warn of the need for a common solution to economic and social problems. But to the present day, the creation of an Islamic federation remains a daydream. (Hans Hung, Islam – Past, Present and Future, 2007, One World Publications, England, p. 456-457) Curiously, the recent notorious birth and death of the terrorist caliphate that saw Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi enthroned by the ISIS terrorists does not only reveal an unbridled idiosyncrasy and desperation of some overzealous opportunists and a sheer attempt at misrepresenting the sanctified office of a true Khilafat before the global public, but further demonstrate the lingering failure of the mainstream Muslim public to deepen the scope of their conviction beyond their mere realization of the necessity of Khilafat in this age to their ultimate realization of the particular Khilafat that is of necessity for the contemporary time. It is worthwhile, and, in fact, interesting to note that, while the mainstream Muslims have continued to meet with failure in their almost hundred-year-struggle to re-establish a global caliphate, the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has, however, been divinely and seamlessly blessed with the re-institution of global Khilafat based on the footstep of prophethood, exactly, as prophesied
