NSCIA on COVID-19 and Muslims in Nigeria
Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem
Thursday 24th RAJAB 1441AH/19th March 2020
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, CFR,mni., has keenly followed the developments around the COVID-19 pandemic globally, and the situation in Nigeria in particular. It is pertinent to note that this strain of the coronavirus is the most virulent that the world has had to deal with in recent times; and it is important not to trivialize, oversimplify or politicise the issue.
Allah said in the Glorious Qur’an: “God does not intend to inflict hardship on you” (Qur’an 5:6); “Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire hardship for you” (Qur’an 2:185); “And guard against the mischief that will not only bring punishment to the wrong-doers among you” (Qur’an 8:25); And regarding our duty to take responsible action while at the same time trusting in Allah, the Prophet (SAW) once said: “Tie her (your camel) and then trust in Allah” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, no.2517).
DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON INSECURITY!
Press Conference by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on the State of the Nation on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the National Headquarters, National Mosque Complex, Abuja
DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON INSECURITY!
Gentlemen of the press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, mni, CFR, is appalled and horrified by the state of insecurity in Nigeria. These days, hardly does a day pass without some heart-rending news about kidnapping, armed robbery, violent attacks on and savage/ritual killings of innocent Nigerians. The level of insecurity in the country has reached an unacceptable crescendo that declaring a state of emergency on it appears not only necessary but also pressing.
MUSLIMS AND THE NATION
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, held its 7th Expanded General Purpose Committee Meeting on Saturday, Muharram 28, 1441 (September 28, 2019) in Abuja.
The meeting engaged in a critical assessment of the state of the nation, expressed serious concerns about the frequency and intensity of kidnapping, banditry and bloodletting. The Council urged the Federal Government, the security agencies and all stakeholders to urgently reverse the ugly trend.
The Council appreciated the social intervention programme of the Federal Government and acknowledged the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to coordinate such interventions in the given areas. It is our view that there is a strong relationship between poverty and insecurity and this view is reinforced by the saying that a hungry man is an angry man. We urge the Government to provide enough resources for the Ministry to actualise the needed interventions in making life more meaningful to the displaced, the disadvantaged and the unemployed.
DEATH OF ALHAJI (DR) SAKARIYAU OLAYIWOLA BABALOLA
Inna LiLlahi wa innaa ilayHi raji‘uun!
It is with utter shock and total submission to the will of Allah that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) announces the transition of its Deputy President General (South), Alh. (Dr) S. O. Babalola (OON).
His janaazah prayer comes up today at the Lagos Central Mosque, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Lagos Island, by 3:30 p.m.
The Council commiserates with His Eminence, the President General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, the National Officers of NSCIA, the Executive Secretary and the entire MUSWEN family, the family of the late leader and the generality of Nigerian Muslim Ummah on the demise of Alh. Babalola. The Council prays that Almighty Allah admit its late leader to Aljanna Firdaos.
We also pray that Allah grant the family and all the Ummah fortitude to bear the loss and cope with the big vacuum he left behind (Amin).
We are all from Allah and to Allah we shall all return.
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary General,
NSCIA