Protest: Don’t Resort to Violence, Sultan Urges Nigerians
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has appealed for calm and restraint, urging Nigerians to pray and remain peaceful amidst the ongoing protests.
A statement signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, in Kaduna on Thursday said, “The ongoing protests in Nigeria and the information reaching the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, Sa’ad Abubakar
“He once again appeals to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as other critical stakeholders to sheath their swords and urgently come to the table for dialogue.
“We genuinely feared the escalation to an uncontrollable scenario and the reports are tilting towards that, “he said
”Therefore, in the name of Allah, the Most High, we are calling for an end to the snowball rampaging, in the name of protests.
“We should all understand that there must be a stable country called Nigeria, before we can proudly call ourselves Nigerians.”
According to him, with tomorrow being Friday, Jumu’ah Mosque Imams and Muslim leaders are implored to calm frayed nerves and call on the Ummah to appreciate peace rather than chaotic state of affairs, which may even deny congregational prayers.
“The Qur’anic guidance in trying moments remains “when the suffering reached them from us, why then did they not learn humility?”
” Hence, sober reflection, sincere humility and continued prayer to Allah, the Ever Merciful is the antidote of the quagmire.
”Let’s therefore pray for Allah’s apt intervention, ” Aliyu said.
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Aliyu said all the Imams were equally called upon to commence sustained supplications and/or prayers at this moment of grief, saying, ”special prayers at calamitous periods in the last Raka’ah of each obligatory prayer and non-obligatory prayers.”
He added that this call has become imperative bearing in mind that the protests were getting out-of-hand, and the consequence of which may be too heavy on the West-African sub region.
He said the Sultan further called on all knowledge seeking gatherings, study circles, Islamic schools, as well as the leadership of all Muslim organisations and/or societies’ in Nigeria to commence special prayers in calamitous situations and trying times and seek Allah’s compassion for Nigeria
He said, “A clarion call is therefore made to all leaders and the Nigerian citizens to fear Allah, for it is through such a spiritual medium that Allah’s intervention descends with full assurance from Him, the Ever Merciful.
”Muslims are as well urged to be introspective and should embrace more remembrance of Allah, through glorification of Allah, seeking Allah’s forgiveness and ceaseless prayers and invocations, for ease and relief in these trying moments.
“The Sultan of Sokoto, implores the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to address the nation, by assuring all Nigerians that peace, security, stability, relief to hardship and food security would be achieved under his stewardship, in-sha Allah.
“State Governors should also calm nerves, as silence is no longer golden at this moment of anxiety.
“In this time of challenge, we pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders, and for tranquility to prevail in Nigeria.
”May Allah, the Most High, also provide the quickest relief to all problems bedeviling the Nigerian state. ” Aliyu said.
By PRNigeria
