National Daily

Islamic awakening in Southern Nigeria

• As Mallam Basheer Uwakwe's Islamic awareness rally hits Ahoada

By STEVE UZOECHI

THE creation of Islamic awareness in the Eastern and Southern zone of Nigeria recorded great success recently in far away Ahoada, Rivers State of Nigeria when an Islamic scholar Hon. Mallam Basheer Uwakwe went for a public teaching in Ahoada Rivers state of Nigeria to create awareness on Islam, through the propagatory activities of the Eastern Leaders of Muslim Ummah( Elomu) to win converts in their determination to spread the religion of Islam in the area.

In his teachings, he made strong indications that Islam has come a long way and that the people of that zone must understand and benefit from the religion. He pointed out that the propagation project will last for two years and seven months to enable the organization reach out to the entire South-East and South-South zone.

He emphasized that the reasons are numerous, hence the programme will take them from one locality to another and the programme is already on..
He stressed the need for the invitation of Muslim scholars within and outside the country to see that the programme really gets to the target audience for true Ummah development .

Mallam Uwakwe however regretted the fact that Islam has been around this part of the country for so long but has remained dormant all these years without a strong presence and effective propagation being carried out to spread its teaching around the area . He told the teeming crowd that Islam is based on five pillars: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Mohammed (SAW) is His messenger , the observance of the five daily prayers . Emphasizing that the five daily prayers are as important as the life any believer lives here on earth; payment of Zakattul fitr . He encouraged Muslims to pay their Zakat saying that it is important and the duty of every Muslim to show regard and charity for the poor; the performance of Hajj and finally, fasting during the month of Ramadan.

He called the people to Islam asking them to pay attention to be able to understand what Islam stands for and stated that if all these pillars are observed, Allah will cause increase for them in all their endeavors.
While charging all Muslims to be devoted to their religious duties and educate new converts Mallam Basheer Uwakwe informed the crowd of over five hundred that the great sins are: equating others to Allah, disobedience to parents, terrorism which leads to murder and swearing falsely.
He recalled that the first 100 teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAW) recommends that every Muslim should be wise, accept good deeds and forbid evil.

He requested all Muslim brothers and sisters to read the Holy Qu'ran and Hadiths of the Holy Prophet(SAW) to understand the sayings and fashion their lifestyles , thoughts, words and actions accordingly.
About sixty youths and ten aged men and women were converted at the awareness rally . The converts were given tracts and materials worth over N250,000 donated by the Eastern Leaders of Muslim Ummah (ELOMU).