DEATH OF NSCIA’S DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
With heavy hearts and impregnable sobriety, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) hereby announces the demise of its Director of Administration, Mallam Yusuf Chinedozi Nwoha.
He died in a road accident at Okene, Kogi State, on his way to Oweri in Imo State for Eidul Adha last Wednesday.
Mallam Nwoha who retired as Deputy Director in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2019 was also the NSCIA’s representative at the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).
The details of internment, his life as a Muslim, his various Islamic activities and footprint he left behind will be published later. Inna Lillah wa inna ilayhi raji‘un.
Femi Abbas
Chairman Media Committee,
NSCIA
IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IT IS OVER
5th Dhul-Hijjah, 1441AH
26th July, 2020
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, congratulates the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1441AH Eid al-Adha celebrations. We pray to Allah to grant us the opportunity to witness many more of it. Amin.
This year’s Eid is particularly significant as there will be three Khutbahs(sermons) within the span of two days—the Khutbah of ‘Arafat on Thursday, 9th of Dhul-Hiijah, 1441AH, and the khutbahs of Eid and Jumu’ah on Friday, 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 AH. Indeed, these are extraordinary days every Muslim should reflect and maximise the rare opportunities and virtues they present to invoke the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
In line with the tradition of the Prophet, Muslims who are not on Hajj are encouraged to fast on the day of ‘Arafat, the 9th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 AH, equivalent to Thursday, 30th July, 2020, while praying fervently to Allah for the forgiveness of sins and healing of the world from all diseases, most especially the destructive Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, as Eid al-Adha knocks the door, it is crucial to reiterate that we are living in unusual times where normalcy has become abnormal, including social gatherings and large congregational prayers. Muslims are enjoined to note that Eid al-Adha is not a compulsory religious activity (fard) and at no point should it be observed if doing so will undermine the fundamental purpose of Shari’ah: security, a multifaceted concept which includes personal, communal, national, environmental and health components, among others. This is to say that it is not over until it is over.
DHUL-HIJJAH 1441AH PRESS RELEASE
Date: 29th Dhul-Qa’dah, 1441 AH
21st July, 2020
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was proven sighting of the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 AH in Nigeria on the 29th of Dhul-Qa’dah, 1441 AH, equivalent to Tuesday, 21st July, 2020. Therefore, Tuesday, 21st July, 2020 is the last day of Dhul-Qa’dah, 1441 AH.
In line with the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, has approved tomorrow Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020 as the 1st day of Dhul-Hijjah, 1441 AH.
The Council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country. The Council equally calls on the Ummah to rededicate themselves to worship Almighty Allah with full devotion and to intensify prayer to Allah for the eradication of Corona Virus and all other challenges facing the country such as insurgency, banditry and rape.
While wishing the Ummah happy Eid-il-adhain advance, the Council prays that Allah spare our lives to witness it and many more. The Council also prays that Allah accept all our supplications, worship and sacrifices in the month of Dhul-Hijjah and beyond. Amin.
Signed.
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
NIGERIAN MUSLIMS AND THE INTERVENTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
Date: 24th Dhul-Qa’dah, 1441 AH
16th July, 2020
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released the guidelines for the non-interest version of all its intervention programmes. The initiative covers the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), Agri-Business, Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), Creative Industry Financing Initiative, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund, Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) and Credit Support for the Healthcare Sector.
For decades, Nigerian Muslims have been grossly marginalized in the country’s financial sector and other growth triggering financial interventions of the CBN due largely to the interest element that is usually involved in the schemes. For Muslims, who constitute well over half of the country’s population, the question of avoiding interest is non-negotiable, and the majority of Muslims would opt to live in poverty rather than devour interest and face the wrath of their Creator. In the absence of non-interest finance, the result has been a high rate of financial exclusion among Muslims, as high as over 60% in some Muslim majority communities. This leads to worsening incidence of abject poverty. The implication is that without non-interest alternatives, the CBN can hardly attain its goal of 80% financial inclusion earlier targeted for 2020, nor can any meaningful poverty alleviation and economic empowerment programme be actualized in the foreseeable future.