The President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has stated that true Muslims should be promoters of peace and reconciliation rather than conflict and division.
The Sultan made the statement during the commissioning and handover of an ultramodern mosque built in celebration of the 80th birthday of Asiwaju Khamis Badmus in Osogbo on Friday.
Represented by the President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, Alhaji Rasak Oladejo, the Sultan said proper understanding of Islam helps to produce disciplined, compassionate, and enlightened Muslims capable of turning hostility into friendship and intolerance into love.
According to him, religion should positively transform individuals and encourage peaceful coexistence, collaboration, and unity within society.
He also stressed that the purpose of a mosque goes beyond the observance of the five daily prayers, describing it as a center for peace building and community development.
Speaking at the event, the National Missioner of the Ansar-u-Deen Society, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, said mosques historically served broader purposes including education, justice, governance, healthcare, and social welfare.
He referenced the historic Mosque of Qubah in Madinah, explaining that mosques were originally designed to function as centers for societal growth and unity rather than places of worship alone.
According to him, the decline of mosques into prayer only centers has contributed to challenges facing the global Muslim community today.
The Grand Mufti of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq, also encouraged wealthy individuals to contribute to the growth of Islam and support the less privileged through projects such as mosque construction.
Speaking on behalf of his father, Dr Olalekan Badmus said the mosque was built as an act of gratitude to Almighty Allah for sustaining the family over the years.
The event attracted several Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, and dignitaries including the Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Abdulrosheed Olabomi, former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and senior lawyer Yusuf Ali among others.
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