Leader urges Muslims to promote tolerance, peace and unity at mosque commissioning in Osun State

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to show greater tolerance toward followers of other faiths and work for peace, unity and harmony in Nigeria.

He made the call on Friday during the commissioning of the Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus Central Mosque in Osogbo, Osun State. The mosque was built by prominent businessman and Asiwaju Musulumi for the South-West, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Olatunde Badmus, to mark his 80th birthday.

Represented by the Deputy President-General (South) of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, the Sultan said proper understanding of Islam should produce disciplined, compassionate and enlightened Muslims who build peace instead of division.

He said religion should transform individuals positively by replacing intolerance with friendship, hostility with love, and conflict with cooperation.

The Sultan also praised Badmus for building the mosque, saying it would not only serve as a place of worship but also contribute to the growth of humanity and the wider community.

In a sermon at the event, the Grand Mufti of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa, urged leaders and wealthy individuals to fear God and use their resources to serve humanity.

He said wealth would be questioned by God, both in how it was acquired and how it was used. He described the construction of a mosque as a worthy act of gratitude at the age of 80.

National Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, said mosques should go beyond prayers and function as centres for education, community service and support for the less privileged.

He added that a mosque should help solve society’s problems rather than create new ones.

Several dignitaries attended the event, including former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Grand Imam of Osun State, Sheikh Musa Animasahun, and legal scholar Prof. Yusuf Alli (SAN).

Source: The Punch