A former Dean of the School of Engineering Technology and Chief Imam of the Muslim Community, The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, has charged Muslim faithful  to pursue the noble path of faith, learning and courage as directed by Allah.

Dr. Abdul-Hameed, who stated this penultimate Saturday (November 8, 2014) at the National Higher Institution Convention of Muslim Students (NHICOMS), said that courage, valour, fearlessness and boldness are the basic qualities of a good personality.

Speaking on the Conference theme,  “People of Faith, Learning and Courage”, the don said, “Courage and fearlessness are the signs of manliness and in many tasks they serve as a bridge to success, which was demonstrated by the forbearers of Islam to a very large extent.”

The don said that the manner in which the Holy Companions of Prophet Muhammad went forward with the Islamic movement, the sacrifices which they made in his support, and the zeal and enthusiasm with which they worked in spreading the message of Islam, carry a good lesson for all human beings of the world, especially the Muslims.

Dr Abdul-Hameed said that these and many more were the learning of yesteryears, adding that “when we read the life histories of the Holy Companions, we feel a longing to follow their example. We feel an urge to be reformed in our beliefs and to establish the faith of Islam. We believe that, had not Allah created those wonderful people; our religion would not have come to us in its pristine form. Allah had caused those noble companions of our Holy Prophet to safeguard our religion. Next to the lives of the Apostles of Allah. it is the lives of these sages which serve as the best models for us.” 

While welcoming participants to the Conference, the National President of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Mallam AbdulAzeez Sirajudeen Folayemi, said, “The theme of the convention was carefully selected to arouse the Muslim students to the perquisite of learning and being courageous in the present dispensation especially in the face of educational sector which poses threat to their Islamic profession and practice.”

The National President said that Nigeria was on the verge of collapse and called on all stakeholders to come to its rescue.

On the clamour in some quarters for the return of schools to the missionaries, Mallam Folayemi described the call as “dubious, callous, fraudulent and a calculated attempt to further deny the Muslim children free access to qualitative education in an atmosphere of religious freedom.” 

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who was represented by the Chairman, Unilorin Muslim Community, Prof. B.L. Adeleke, commended the MSSN for organising the convention and implored them to always extend hands of fellowship to other faiths as a way of promoting the mission of the founding fathers of the University.

 The Vice Chancellor urged schools, religious bodies and scholars in the country to ensure inter-religious harmony of the country as exemplified by the University of Ilorin.

In his address, the Chairman of the occasion, Mallam Olaolu Ali (SAN), represented by the Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Dr. M. A. Adedimeji, said he was very pleased with the  convention and urged the MSSN to keep the flag of commitment to faith  flying