The Adamawa State Muslims Council has today launched the 1443 Islamic Almanac and prayer times during its general assembly meeting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
The general assembly is a yearly event during which the council presents the new year calendar and prayer times.
Commenting on the rationale behind the event, the chairman of the council, Alhaji Gambo Jika said, the council deemed it fit to organize the event on a yearly basis due to its significance to the Muslim Ummah.
He noted that all Islamic religion activities like, daily prayers, annual hajj are all tied to time.
Jika also used the occasion to highlight the various achievements recorded last year noting that the ICT center project being carried out at the headquarters of the council has reached advanced stage of completion.
He thanked the individual behind the project who does not want to be mentioned urging other well meaning individuals to emulate him.
He also noted that the council has embarked on the building of a special hospital for the Muslim Ummah adding that the hospital is still in the pipeline because of the need for expansion.
“The building donated for the hospital is small and there is the need for expansion. We are looking at the possibilities of buying the neighbouring house for expansion or citing it to another plot of land owned by the council,” he said.
He noted that whatever revenue the council generated this year will be dedicated to the hospital project. He thanked the Lamido of Adamawa HRH Barkindo Alyu Mustapha and Muslim faithfuls for the support they have been according to the council over the years.
In his speech, chairman of the occasion, professor Abba Tahir harped on the significance of trust and time, adding that they are essential to the success of every developed society.
While frowning at the culture of African time, the university don said African time is antithetical to Islamic religion and should be avoided at all cost.
He noted that the culture breeches trust and morality noting that no community will develop if it does not respect time and trust calling on the Muslims to give them the cardinal place they deserve in their everyday dealings.
Presenting a paper, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, national secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), urged Muslims to strive and achieve excellence through practicing and propagating the good teachings of the religion.
He also charged Muslims to sacrifice their wealth in spreading the message of the religion to every nook and cranny of the state adding that the state was renowned as one of the citadels of the Caliphate.
He decried the poverty currently ravaging states dominated by Muslims adding that such development should be a wake up call for all Muslims to rise to the occasion and save the future generation.
In his speech, the chief launcher, Awwal D Tukur also urged the Muslims to assist in promoting the religion regardless of their social status as no amount meant to promote the religion is too small or too big.
He announced the donation of N3 million to the council.
Representative of Adamawa State governor, and secretary to Adamawa State Government, Eng Bashir Ahmad in his speech reemphasized respect for time adding that one can’t get his religious acts rights without adherence to time.
He also called on the Muslims to continue to support and cooperate with the government of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to serve them better noting that no development can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour and misunderstanding.
