Lagos Central Mosque celebrates 1446AH Islamic New Year, as Macfoy backs call for Hijrah holiday
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Lagos Central Mosque, on Sunday July14, 2024, celebrated the 1446 AH Islamic New Year during which call was made for the state government to emulate other states in declaring a public holiday for subsequent celebrations.
Making the call at the event was the Baba Adinni of Lagos and Chairman of the Lagos Central Mosque Management Board, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi Macfoy, who urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to replicate what Ogun, Oyo, Osun and other states of the North had done by declaring a public holiday to mark the new Islamic year in Lagos State.
This year’s celebration marked another platform for stakeholders of the Lagos Central Mosque to make a case for the declaration of a public holiday in honour of the Muslim community in the state.
The event was held at the Lagos Central Mosque, and well-attended by the representatives of the divisional Imams, scholars, leaders of various Muslim associations, women groups, students from Arabic and Islamic institutions, among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Baba Adinni of Lagos State and Chairman Lagos Central Mosque Management Board, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi Macfoy, described the hijrah as a significant event in the history of Islam.
He urged the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to heed the longstanding call by the Muslim community in the state for the declaration of a public holiday.
In his remarks, the guest lecturer and Chief Imam of Oluwole Ogba Central Mosque, Ikeja Division, Sheikh Sa’adullah Bello Olohunlalaro, said Hijrah, by implication, goes beyond the migration of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah, saying it also includes eschewing bad deeds for good deeds, and promoting what is right always against the wrong.
Sheikh Bello Olohunlalaro noted that the first thing the Prophet (PBUH) did on arrival in Madinah was to build a mosque, underscoring the importance of mosques in Islam.
“The Lagos Central Mosque has served the purpose of settling disputes. We have had instances where constitutional courts referred cases to the Lagos Central Mosque. At our council level, we have prevented crises and brought about lasting peace, even in cases of land disputes,” he said.
“The Prophet (SAW) also tried to build the behaviour of Muslims and strengthen their relationship with Allah, and fellow Muslims and other people in the community, including the Christians, Jews and pagans.”
The guest lecturer warned Muslims against hypocrisy, saying it destroys one’s good deeds.
According to him, “The atmosphere where hypocrisy operates does not yield positive things.”
He enjoined Muslim leaders to learn patience as a virtue for effective leadership.
“A leader does not jump at issues but pays attention and listens more than talks. This is part of the lessons derivable from the Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”
Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Occasion, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju charged Lagos Muslims on peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
The former Minister of Communications described the Hijrah as a milestone in the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as it marked the beginning of liberation for the believers.
“Hijrah is an established event in Islam that happened some 1446 years ago when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah. It was a sacrifice on the part of the people of yesterday, which has become the ease the Muslims of today enjoy,” he said.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the public presentation of copies of the 1446 Hijrah Calendar produced by the Sikiru Alabi Macfoy-led Lagos Central Mosque Management Board.
