Nigerian pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj have been urged by clerics to offer prayers for the nation and its leaders instead of expressing anger or condemnation.
This appeal came from the Ulama team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) during a media interaction on the sidelines of the ongoing pilgrimage in Makkah.
Rafee Al-Ijebuwi, the Grand Mufti of Ogun State and a member of the NAHCON Ulama group advised pilgrims to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad in praying for their homeland.
“As far as the country is concerned, every pilgrim here in the holy land should love Nigeria and should pray for Nigeria.
"He or she should love Nigeria the way Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved Mecca,” Al-Ijebuwi stated.
He stressed that pilgrims should direct their prayers towards national healing rather than condemnation.
“It is the responsibility of every pilgrim, male and female, to pray that Allah should inspire our leaders with what will benefit the masses of the country.
"No pilgrim should curse the leaders because they are the products of your society. You and I should adjust where it is necessary,” he added.
Sheikh Garba Al-Yolawi, Chief Imam of the Area 10 Mosque in Abuja, echoed similar sentiments, calling for divine intervention in Nigeria’s current challenges.
“We need divine intervention. With about 50,000 pilgrims sincerely praying, Allah can change things,” Al-Yolawi said.
“But we must not pray for the ‘driver of the car’ (our leaders) to crash while we are still passengers in the same car. If the driver crashes, so we do,” he warned.
Al-Yolawi concluded by reminding the faithful of the power of prayer to effect real change: “Prayer can manifest in many ways.
"It can cause a person to change, lose power or regain sense. All of these are possible responses to sincere prayers.”
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