An Islamic organisation, Forum of Ratibi Mosque Imams of Osun State has urged the state government to look into the establishment of a Sharia Appeal Court that will resolve issues capable of resulting into religious crisis in the state.
In a statement over the weekend, the group under the leadership of Imam Illyas Afolabi Alawe said the Sharia Court, will be a veritable platform for resolution of cases involving Muslims, especially that of the Inisa Central Mosque crisis, that lingered for over three years.
Jamiu Tajudeen, the secretary of the body of Imams of Ratibi Mosques in the state said the court is vital with the large population of Muslims in Osun, which would be important to averting such incidents in the future.
FRMIOS noted that the leadership of Imams and Alfas in the state should also set up a Shuurah Committee that will midwife the process of the selection of leadership for Mosques and sensitive Islamic organisations in the state.
The statement reads: “The warring factions should therefore embrace peace and see to amicable resolution of the crisis in the overall interest of the Muslims and Islam which is obviously facing a lot of challenges in the Southwest as a result of inability of the Ummah to be united and speak with one voice.
“We therefore further call on the state government to look into urgent creation of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal in this state as guaranteed by Section 275 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Taking into consideration the huge population of the Muslims in the state, creation of such Shari’ah Court of Appeal in the state will definitely avert such a leadership crisis and others which are capable of disturbing peaceful coexistence of the people in the state.
“In addition, creation of such Shari’ah Court will provide jobs and generate more revenue for the government while such religious crises would always be settled in a very civilized manner. Our organization shall not relent in promoting peace, harmony and in a quest to see to the creation of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal in Osun State.
“To be an Imam is to lead others in observing Salats and doings of some other religious activities including presentation of regular Sermons. It is a question of one having adequate and sufficient knowledge, wisdom and native intelligence more so that essence of the leadership in Islam is to guide adherents of the faith to the way of Allaah as sent to mankind through all the Prophets.”
“Shuurah Committee is a body always assigned a role to determine and select a leadership in Islam based on the religious criteria. It follows that where such had been in place within the Muslim community in this part of the country, probably closure of the central Mosque would have been averted and an ugly development that did more harm to the Muslims and Islam at large,” the body stated.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
