Imams in Osun State have been urged to refrain from making inciting statements as the political atmosphere is beginning to gather momentum ahead of next year’s governorship election.
Speaking at the Osogbo Central Mosque during a seminar organised by the Association of Youths and ‘Ulama’u (AYU) for imams drawn from different parts of the state, the Mufasir of Osogbo and facilitator of the seminar, Sheikh Maruf Isola, appealed to the imams to shun sentiment and focus their sermons on genuine issues.
Sheikh Isola explained that the seminar was designed to guide the imams and other clerics on the way to propagate Islam in the most appropriate manner as practised by Prophet Muhammad without infringing on the rights of other people.
Admonishing the imams to refrain from messages that could cause crises, Isola said imams must be careful about making political comments in their sermons because the majority of their followers would take their word as a direct order.
“It has become necessary for us to be proactive and guard against any action or utterance that may cause crisis as we are approaching the 2018 governorship election in this state and the political gladiators and already warming up with their antics and intrigues.
“I advise imams in this state to remain focused and concentrate their sermons on the teaching of Islam, not politics. During the month of Ramadan, our imams should centre their lectures on issues that concern Islam and Muslims rather than politics and politicians,” he said.
Dr Ishaq Lawal, a lecturer at the Department of Arabic Studies, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, the Chief Imam of Ila-Orangun, Sheikh Salahudeen Abdul-Hameed and a prominent Muslim cleric in the state, Dr Kamoruden Kehinde Busari, also delivered lectures at the seminar.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
