Right from the first gate, at the car park, you could hear clearly, the proceedings through a number of gadgets scattered everywhere in the Jamia.
Source/Credit: Vanguard | Nigeria
By Vanguard | January 2, 2015
The 63rd Jalsa Salana (annual conference) of Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Nigeria held in Jamia, Ilaro, Ogun State has now closed. It has been a remarkable gathering, emphasizing throughout the three-day event, aspects of religion in politics, social Justice, and global peace.
islam ahmadiyaThe weather was all that could be desired and a large number of people were present, so much that a toddler could tell you, “the Muslims are gathering in the village.” The commercial vehicles and the popular okada had only one route, Jamia, venue of the Jalsa Salana.
This was my first attendance apart from the South-East Jalsa Tarbiya held a few months back in Warri, Delta State.
Right from the first gate, at the car park, you could hear clearly, the proceedings through a number of gadgets scattered everywhere in the Jamia.
With the assistance of a guard, I had to walk down about 300meters to the main conference ground. By the right, some few meters after the car park, were the clinic, Atfal Shed which housed the bookshops, the information center and business stand where Islamic materials were on display. The kitchen closely structured to the dining was busy, then a Mosque.
Deeper devotion
Along the pathway to the Jalsa and adjacent to the mosque, was the burial ground, another expanse of land. The main Jalsa ground was filled to the brim. Seeing the crowd of Muslims, excitement bubbled beneath my skin, and vibrated right down my bones. I remembered the hadith that says, Angels surround gatherings where Allah is remembered. One of the organizers said 49, 246 had registered for the conference. Of course, that is one of those incentives for deeper devotion to the service of Allah. I managed to stay at a distance afar from the podium, following the programme. At one of the intervals, I moved closer and I was ushered to the high-table.
It was an opportunity to learn more about the ideas and see what people say about Ahmadis, rekindle our faith and see what others have been doing to earn more rewards from Allah.
With the theme, “Politics, Social Justice and Global Peace: The Dilemma of Religion,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria brought together a list of distinguished and accomplished scholars to present different papers on the topic.
The conference was meant to sensitize Muslims, who constitute an important segment of the society of the need to contribute their quota in the search for credible transition of governments and also a peaceful and progressive society. Apart from the spiritual benefits which cannot be quantified and the fervent prayers for the country and our leaders, this is one generous contributions of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at towards national development.
In this part of the world where religion plays prominent role during election, where unfortunately though, politicians use religion to manipulate and divide the people, the topic becomes very germane in our quest for peaceful, free and fair transition of power in the next few months.
In all, five lectures were delivered by the scholars. In the first lecture delivered by Ustaz Jamia Ahmadiyya, Maulvi Abdul Azeem Ahmad on Khilafat and global peace, he stated that Islam was misconceived as a religion of terror, adding that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Hadrat Masih Maud (a.s) did a lot to ensure social Peace and Justice. “Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who was Khalifatullah alai ardh gave a charter of human rights. If that charter is implemented, the whole world will become a peaceful paradise. In his farewell address, he said: ‘An Arab possesses no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab over an Arab. A white is in no way superior to a black, nor for, that matter, a black man better than a white, but only to the extent to which he discharges his duty to God and man. The most honoured among you in the sight of God is the most righteous among you”.
He continued: “In the world of today, capitalism has bonded the people in its clutches. One continues to borrow from one’s future. And it is a known fact that wherever any international chaos faces the world, it has its deep roots in socio-economic unbalance. Justice begets peace. And peace cannot be achieved by force; it only can be achieved by understanding,” he surmised.
In his paper, Dr Saheed Olurotimi Timehin postulated that Islam has two schemes to offer for the promotion of peace: (a) a real and long- term scheme, and (b) a short-term or interim one.
He said: “As regards the real, durable, and universal scheme to bring about peace on earth, Islam asserts emphatically and unambiguously that it can be achieved only through responding to the call of Islam, by believing in Allah (SWT) as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and submitting to His will as expressed in the last divine revelation which is the Holy Qur’an.
A true Islamic society has the potential to expand and take the entire world into its fold, and thus to save all human beings from exploitation, disruption, oppression, and disquietude. The vicissitudes of human history are witnesses to the fact that whenever humanity adopted an ideology and way of life other than Islam, the world was torn by injustice and warfare.
He added: “It is necessary to reiterate that lslam, and indeed all revealed religions, have offered us such fundamental concepts which alone can bind the human race in one single totality. If all human beings living on the surface of this earth realize that they are from one primordial pair-Adam and Eve – and as such they are kith and kin; if all of us believe that our Creator is Allah (SWT) and as such are all equal in His sight; if political leaders, whatever their religious orientation, establish social justice and outlaw all kinds of oppression; there would be peace in the world.”
Universal brotherhood
“Islam and all the revealed religions are united in this; but Islam takes a step further by insisting on the universal brotherhood of humanity and by condemning in totality all baseless values and attitudes, treat some people as inferior to others in any respect whatsoever. The contents of the verse of Surat ul-Hujurat mentioned earlier have appeared in reverse order in the second verse of Surah AI-Nisa thus: “O mankind! Be mindful of your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person. Created, of like nature, his mate and from them twain scattered countless men and women.
Be mindful of Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (be mindful of violating relations based on) the wombs; for Allah ever watches over you. (AI-Nisa4:2)”
The Amir of the Jama’at, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola who also presented a paper titled: Social Justice and Sustainable Development: The Islamic Perspective gave insight into the major threats to sustainable development in the world. According to him, these threats include; political conflicts due to self interest, environmental degradation, injustice among others.
He said: “Urbanization has to be arrested otherwise we are heading for eventual disaster. Islamic solution to this is contained in Qur’an 20: I 19-121 where man (Adam) was commanded Allah (SWT) to ensure that everyone is provided with adequate food and nutrition, shelter, clothing and access to safe water. In addition, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said education is incumbent on every Muslim male and female.
“If all these social facilities and means of livelihood are available everywhere, there will be no need to migrate to other regions where social facilities are available. Government at State levels must ensure security of livelihood for every of its citizen by either promoting gainful employment or grant subsistence allowance to ensure meaningful existence. Government should furthermore make education free or affordable for all,” he stated.
Also, Dr. Abdullateef Busari, the Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council and Circuit President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Abuja, in his own presentation pointed out the responsibilities of Muslims before, during and after election in order to contribute to the task of building a peaceful and progressive nation.
“Let us not sit on the fence. The election of 2015 is another unique opportunity for us to have a hand in determining the future of our country. Allah says in Q53:39–40, “That no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another and that man shall have nothing but what he strives for”. The task of enthroning effective democracy and good governance in Nigeria is our burden, our responsibility and we shall only have it by striving for it – through all the legitimate means at our disposal.”
Another interesting presentation was that made by Barrister Abdul-Azeez Alatoye, Naib-Amir (South-West). He dwelled on “Crossing the threshold of differences in a multi-religious society.”
Using the slogan of the Jama’at, ‘Love for all and Hatred for none’ propounded by Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad r.a (1909 – 1982) in his book called “Message Of Love And Brotherhood To Africa,” Alatoye explained the need for all to shun all religious differences and take ourselves as one since all human beings emanated from the same source, Adam and Eve.
He added that love is needed to eliminate all forms of transgressions and as such peace would reign.
This is an area other groups of Muslims need to develop instead of the myth and antipathy for the Ahmadis who have taken one of the moral lessons of the Quran and the hadiths as a creed.
In fact, as Muslims, riding on the crest of the Prophet’s saying that: “None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself,” we should use these moral values to spread the message of Islam.
I believe this is what the nation and of course the world need for the much desired peace. All acts of wickedness, cruelty, kidnap, killings, corruption, mis-governance, selfishness among others will be reduced to the barest minimum if we all show love for all and hatred for none.
If we Muslims embrace our common values, not differences; if the peace-loving culture prevails amongst us; one that treats differences with understanding, uses its strength and energy for Islam and the benefit of Muslims and humanity alone, perhaps, others will appreciate Islam better than how they conceive it now.
Read original post here: Echoes from Ilaro Jalsa Salana
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