THE Grand Kadi, Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, has emphasised the importance of the roles played by imams in the society.

Speaking in Ilorin at a workshop organised by the Hijrah Organisation of Nigeria for chief imams in Kwara State, the Grand Kadi pointed out that Islam saddles imamswith the responsibility of leading the Muslim population close to Allah.

Justice Kamaldeen said that as spiritual leaders and icons of leadership and peace, imams are expected to be examplary in their actions and preach piety, peace and justice in the society at all times.

“Imams are to be God-fearing and contented in all their private and public affairs. They are regarded as the heads of the congregants in the mosques, so their actions are quickly observed. Imams are expected to lead by example, preach patience, piety and justice,” he said.

According to the Grand Kadi, Islam and Prophet Muhammad discourage the idea of working against imams but allow advising them when mistakes are observed from their side.

In a keynote address, the Chief Imam of Offa, Imam Muyideen Salman, advised Muslim leaders and imams to avoid mixing politics with religion.

The cleric called for the formation of a team to monitor and assess the performance of imams for the purpose of boosting theircapacity.

The state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged religious leaders to use their knowledge to instill God-consciouness in their followers for the peace and development of the society.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, the governor advised the religious leaders to seek further knowledge to enable them to guide their followers in the right direction.

He said sermons should be directed towards resolving contemporary challenges in the society, urging the imams to continue to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the state and the country in general.

Also, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, represented by the Balogun Afin of Ilorin, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, urged religious leaders to use what they learnt at the training to inspire spiritual and social rebirth among Nigerians.

Earlier, the National Chairman of the Hijrah Organisation of Nigeria, Professor Yusuf Badmas, said the training was aimed atsensitising the chief imams to their roles and responsibilities.

He advised all chief imams and other religious leaders to seek knowledge at all times to enable them discharge their duties effectively.