The Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has urged Muslims across the country to use the ongoing Ramadan period to give more to charity for the needy re-dedicate themselves to Islam.
The Chairman, Abuja branch of the Ansar-ud-Deen, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Olayiwola, gave the advice yesterday in Abuja at a news conference on the forthcoming 27th Annual Ramadan Lecture of the society.
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According to him, the lecture with the theme: ‘Ramadan: Family Value and Nation Building’, is slated to hold on Saturday April 9, at the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria mosque, Maitama, Abuja.
He urged Muslims not just to abstain from eating and drinking during Ramadan, but to also ensure they did good deeds and shun all vices, especially helping the less-privileged in the society.
“Ramadan period was a rare privileged month to treasure, as a lot of rewards abound in it for solving challenges that they might be facing. Therefore, we implore the public to strive to do extra religious contributions to alleviate the sufferings of the less-privileged among us either directly to identify people or through partnership with Ansar-ud-Deen.
“This is with a view to complementing the government’s efforts to promote peace and tranquility in the country,” Olayiwola said.
He said that the public lecture would also feature a special prayer for the nation to seek divine intervention to end insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and other challenges bedeviling the country.
“The Ramadan lecture would be delivered by renowned Sheik Muhydeen Ajani Bello, by 10am on 9th April, here in Maitama,” he said.
He urged all Nigerians to join the society to pray for leaders and the citizenry for Allah’s intervention in overcoming the challenges facing the nation.
While condemning the recent upsurge in ritual killings in the country, he blamed it on breakdown of moral values and parental neglect.
He said, “The situation has provoked soul-searching and brought home the need for an urgent response to halt the frightful upsurge in the killings. What would a teenager need money to do even to the extent of killing and beheading a human being for money rituals?
“It is the height of the deprecation of societal values; hence, all hands must be on deck immediately to restore moral sanity and pristine mores in the society.
“Parents have neglected their roles. So, we are looking at reviving family values and highlighting the importance of parental care. Where there is an absence of family values, it leaves a negative effect on the nation.”