Sunday, April 6, 2014

Nigeria: Jama'at Ahmadiyya marks 125th anniversary


“We need those who can pray and invoke God’s power to change the affairs and install good leadership and good governance to get rid of terrorism, civil wars and violent crimes.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Sunday News Watch
By Tayo Salami | April 4, 2014

Muslims from all walks of life gathered at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos  Akoka , last Sunday, March 30th, 2014 to rejoice with members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria on the celebration of the 125 years of  the organisations  existence worldwide .

The event was a memorable one as members of the organisation and guests who attended the event throughout the world participated fully in the commemoration.

In the keynote address delivered by the Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria on ‘the advent of the promised  Messiah or second advent of the Messiah, Son of Mary: When, how and what are the signs?’, Dr. Mashuud Adenrele Fashola said the reason religion has led the world to violence and terrorism is because there are so many religious scholars and leaders who have adulterated or falsified religious doctrines in order to promote segregation of mankind, violence, hatred and oppose freedom of worship and indoctrinate the youth, inciting them to violence for selfish interests in acquiring power and health.

Speaking further, he said the religious leaders have united with politicians to politicize religion and divide mankind into hostile camps. He stated that, “Messiah Jesus spoke of false Prophets who will come to you in sheep’s clothing ,  but inside they  are  ravening wolves. The Holy Prophet Muhammad prophesied that many Muslim scholars of the latter days will generally be the worst creature under heaven as corruption will emanate from them and end with them. We are all witnesses to the horrible religious leaders of today both in Christendom and Islam.”

Fashola noted that while religion teaches taking care of the poor and the orphans, millions of people are suffering from excruciating poverty in Muslims and Christian nations where their leaders are involved in unbridled corruption and immorality,’’ he noted.

In addition, he said, religious leaders have all failed the masses of the helpless and hopeless Nigerians despite that all religions teach selfless service. Adding that,     “Muslims and Christians have co-operated in Nigeria to loot the nation’s treasury and neglect the masses so much that we have millions of jobless youths, scores of millions living below poverty line, dysfunctional education system,  inadequate medical care, epileptic power supply, chaotic transportation system and inability to develop efficient modern railways.”

He identified various interpretations of prophecies and scriptural terms as the major source of religious and sectarian conflicts.

He therefore urged  Nigerians to come together and engage in peaceful dialogue towards the pursuit of truth and social justice.

“We need those who can pray and invoke God’s power to change the affairs and install good leadership and good governance to get rid of terrorism, civil wars and violent crimes such as kidnapping, raping of minors, ritual murders, growing drug addiction, murderous drug cartels, unbridled corruption and widespread poverty and disease.

In the lecture of   Missioner Muhammad Rabiu Uthman on ‘the prophecies of Second Advent of the son of Mary, the promised Messiah and their fulfillment  , said all the religions in the world are expecting the second coming of Jesus Christ , saying that  the prophecies of each religion about the second coming is the will of Allah.

Dr. Saeed Timehin while delivering his lecture on ‘Moral, ethical and spiritual reformation of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam, the Promised Messiah’ said, the attitude an individual posses would determine the type of personality he or she is.

‘People should desist from ungodly acts, hypocrisy, cheating, they should pray five times daily, they should have mercies towards fellow human beings and also desist from friends that can lure them into devilish acts, he noted.”

Missioner   Muhammad Qasim Oyekola in his welcome address , described Ahmadiyya Muslim community  as  a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam .

To this end, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believed that God sent Ahmad like Jesus to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.

Oyekola added that, “Over a century ago, Ahmad emphatically declared that an aggressive jihad by the sword has no place in Islam. In its place, Ahmad taught his followers to wage intellectual war to defend Islam.”

In the Eastern part of Nigeria, the anniversary was celebrated with gaiety as members of the organization came out in their best regalia despite the incident that led to the burning of their mosque in Benin by  Irate youths.

The chief host, Brother Tajudeen Onabanjo, the Benin Circuit President welcomed all participants and appreciated the Jama’at members in the circuit for marking Masih Maoud day.

Also, Muallim Nuhu while speaking on, ‘the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah(AS)’  said, ‘ the Holy Qur’an and Hadith described Jesus (AS) as the first Messiah, who is distinct from Imam Mahdi adding that, Jesus (AS) was specifically sent to the lost sheep of Israel.

He made copious references to the Holy Qur’an and Hadith to prove the truthfulness of the advent of Imam Mahdi, in person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS).

In relation to that, Barrister Rizwan Muhammed spoke about the Prophecies about the Promised Messiah (AS) in previous books. He made some references to Tadhkirah, that the advent of Imam Mahdi was previously spoken about by all religions. He said, “In the Bible, Jesus (AS) said, “I’ll come like a thief in the night”, in reference to his unexpected return to the world in his second coming.

He also referred to the Jewish scripture Talmud which states that, “When the Messiah shall come, his kingdom shall descend onto his children and grandchildren, as currently fulfilled by the Ahmaddiyya Khillafat that resides solely in the house of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), except the first Khalifa.”

In a related development, thousands of Muslims gathered at the United Kingdom’s largest mosque to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at over the weekend.

At a service in the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden on Friday, March 21, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the international leader of the Ahmadiyya community, delivered a sermon broadcast to millions of followers in 204 countries around the world.

London has become the centre of the Ahmadiyya community, with thousands of members fleeing Asian, African and Arabic countries where they have faced persecution for their belief in the second prophet.

The current leader, who is the fifth successor to the community’s founder, has lived at the London mosque in Southfields since 2003, when he was elected to rule and exiled from his native Pakistan.

In his sermon attended by 4,000 people and delivered in Urdu, Masroor Ahmad spoke about the signs foretold by the prophet Muhammad about the coming of the Messiah which members believed and verified the authenticity of their founder.  He however, enjoined the members to pray for peace in war-torn countries like Syria and Ukraine.

It is worthy to note that  over the years, Ahmadiyya Muslim community has built over 15, 000 mosques, over 500 schools and over 30 hospitals. It has translated the Holy Qur’an into 71 languages.

It propagates the true teachings of Islam and the message of peace and tolerance through a twenty four hour satellite television.


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