Nurudeen Akinreti
Wednesday, 10 July 2019 was no doubt a remarkable day in the history of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria as the Amir, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Folorunso Alatoye laid the mosque foundation at OkeOre, Owode Branch during what could be termed his first official duty since his office on 1 July 2019.
The Amir, while giving his address, thanked the donor of the land and commended Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria whose efforts in tabligh resulted in the acquisition of the land, adding that only God Almighty could reward those who contributed to the project.
He urged all members to improve in their financial, spiritual and physical sacrifices towards mosque projects so that the Jamaat could have adequate mosque facilities for all new converts.
He further stated, “One of the fundamental issues in the Jamaat is the provision of mosques that can serve our new converts. Hence, there is a need for us to improve in our sacrifices, both physically and financially. We all have a role to play in constructing mosques for the Jamaat.”
“In the past, within the Jamaat, we hardly pay for labour. We only pay for experts while the Jamaat members provide all materials needed for a particular project.
Dignity of labour (Waqar-e-Amal) must be resuscitated. Let us all contribute and donate generously to the progress of the Jamaat.”
Amir Sahib emphasised the need for all members of the Jamaat to submit themselves fully to the institution of Khilafat and obey all the instructions of Huzooraa.
He further said that where there is obedience, progress is certain. Before we can make any meaningful progress, we need to follow the instructions of Allah. Members in a mosque must obey Allah, His commandments and constituted authority starting from the instructions of Huzooraa. We must obey Khilafat with all humility and in its entirety. Obedience is very key to our development. The Amir further appealed to members not to hold back in tabligh activities.
Another highlight of the programme was the new converts who joined the fold of Ahmadiyyat. It was reported that more people had earlier joined the Jamaat through the tabligh exercise organised by the Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, while some others in the area filled the Bai‘at forms at the event.
The Amir congratulated the new converts and urged them to always fear Allah alone and be steadfast in worshipping God the Almighty.
Sadr Majlis Ansarullah, Engineer Abdul-Waheed Adeoye commended the critical role the former Amir, Dr Mashhud Fashola played towards the success of the project. He stated that the auxiliary body had a similar project to implement at Ibogun side in Epe Area where there are 28 converts already.
He stressed that the aim of the mosque building was to ensure that the Jamaat functions were effective after welcoming converts into the Jamaat.
Nazim-e-Ala of Majlis Ansarullah activities in Owode Region, Mr Surajudeen Mustapha, who was the architect of the land acquisition, recalled how he used his office as a certified surveyor to convince one of his clients, Mrs Hassanat Amusan to donate a portion of her land, measuring 110 x 65 feet a few years back for the building of a mosque. He added that the agreement on the land had already been prepared and was ready to be signed by both parties.
Owode branch President, Alhaj Ajibade commended the efforts of the surveyor and promised that the branch would continue to improve on its preaching activities in a bid to win more souls.
The Amir and his team later paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Imam of OkeOre, Alhaji Nasirudeen Raji Adegbite, who is a close friend of the Jamaat in the area. He thanked the chief imam for accommodating the Ahmadiyya Community.
He reiterated that the Ahmadiyya Community is a peace-loving organisation saddled with the reformation of the entire world and selfless service to humanity.
Dignitaries present at the event include Maulvi Nadeem Waseem; Naib Sadr Majlis Ansarullah, Alhaji Dauda Raji; Naib Sadr Saf-e-Dom, Mr Abdul-Waheed Towolawi; Coordinator of Missionaries’ activities for Owode & Ota, Mr Taoheed Ola Shoboyede; the Circuit Missionary Owode, Muallim Akintola Hassan and Coordinator of the Review of Religions Nigeria, Muallim Muhammad Qasim Oyekola.