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Islamic Scholars Advocate Regulation of Public Preaching In Ilorin
A cross-section of Islamic scholars, community leaders and media practitioners who converged on the national secretariat of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) last Saturday have called on the Union to immediately develop a mechanism through which the activities of Muslim preachers in the Emirate would be regulated, saying that the summit was long over due.
This was one of the solutions canvassed by the scholars from various persuasions who participated in a one-day summit on what could be done to advance peace, spiritual sanity and progress of the community.
In his contribution at the solemn event, a retired Grand Kadi of Kwara State, Justice Saliu Olohuntoyin Muhammad, commended the Union for coming up with the talkshop as he said that it was high time that the community rose to defend her reputation being smeared by some of her citizens, particularly the half baked clerics.
Speaking at the event, a prominent preacher and Islamic scholar, Shaykh AbdulRazaq Aduagba, explained that to have an edgeway on the issue at hand, the support of proprietors of various schools of Arabic and Islamic studies must be sought.
While denouncing the growing lack of moderation among young preachers, Shaykh Aduagba said that available evidence showed that the school proprietors still have a lot of influence on graduates of their respective schools.
Welcoming participants earlier, the National President of IEDPU, Alhaji Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik, said that the community was at a cross road as he said that it was high time Muslim clerics regained their position as the pride of our community by ensuring that their rank was no longer infiltrated by pretenders as well as fake Sheiks.
He added that every indigene of Ilorin, particularly Islamic scholars, must ensure that the community was reclaimed from those who are busy tarnishing her image through nefarious practices, particularly all sorts of rituals and in the extreme, ritual killings.
While urging Muslim preachers to reflect the desires of the good people of Ilorin Emirate on their preachings during and beyond the Ramadan season, Alhaji Abdulmalik assured that all the suggestions proffered by the participants would be considered by the Union with a view to implementing them for the good of the community.
Other participants at the event that was attended by the National Secretary of the Union, Abubakar Imam and the National Imam of the Union, Shaykh Murtala Nurudeen Alaaya as well as members of the Union’s National Executive Committee and representative of several media outfits, included the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Shaykh Dr Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa, OON, who was represented by Shaykh Usman Onikijipa; the Grand Mufasir of Ilorin, Shaykh Usman Sanu Shehu; the proprietor of Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Oke-Agodi, Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Fatihu Yahaya Murtala.
Also present were the Secretary of Ilorin West LGEA, Shaykh Mahmud Yusuf Adewole; the representative of the Quadiryyah Group, Shaykh Nasir Salati; the representative of the Tijaniyyah, Shaykh Yasin, the Secretary of the Markaz Alumni Association, Dr AbdulRasheed Mukadam Olaoti, Imam Oloka of Omoda, Prof. Khalilulahi Gbodofu, Shaykh Abubakar Issa Solaty, as well as the representative of the Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Prof. Bashir Omipidan and the President of the Association of Young Muslim scholars of Ilorin Emirate, Shaykh Abdulfatai Arowolo, among several others.
