By Mumini Abdulkareem
Muslims have been called upon to make maximum use of the ongoing period of I’tikaf (seclusion) to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and pray for the nation.
The External Affairs Officer of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Imam AbdulHakeem Ishola Peleowo made the observation during the ongoing I’tikaf programme organised by the group held at Imam Agaka Central Mosque, Asa-Dam road, Ilorin on Monday.
He said it will be foolhardy and spiritual suicide to move out of our comfort zones at home with the intention of performing I’tikaf but end up with zero spiritual reward that may lead to Allah’s wrath because of the attitude exhibited while it lasted.
Peleowo, a graduate of Statistics, University of Ilorin, warned that the period of I’tikaf should not be used to discuss politics, engage in vain talks or cracking jokes which have no benefit to spiritual development and closeness to Almighty Allah (SWT).
He therefore encouraged Muslims to awaken the giant within them during this last ten days of Ramadan and seek Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure to be counted among those that will witness the Night of Destiny.
“We are visitors of Allah in the mosque and therefore we must maintain decorum. The essence of I’tikaf is to cut relationship and ties from families for Allah and it won’t speak well when we then come to I’tikaf to rebuild and increase our relationship with our friends instead of with Allah.
“If we have left our families, wives and children at home and now come here to re-establish these ties thereby not spending quality time to ponder and meditate about Allah and His injunctions, something is wrong.
“The joy of I’tikaf is for us to try as much as possible to abstain from too much talks that will lead to laughter which included political issue and cracking of jokes. We should try as much as possible to desist from such things and more importantly, we must always remember that the pleasure of Allah (SWT) is what we have come to seek and that should be our focus through recitation of the Qur’an, dua, istigfar, tahajjud and other forms of worship and meritorious virtues”, he added.
He said Muslims should use this period which can be use to amass the most rewards among all the months in Islam to move closer to Allah and seek His pleasure most especially this last ten days of Ramadan that contain the Night of Majesty in which worship is greater than 1000 months equivalent to 83 years, 4 months and ten days.
“We only have limited number of days as Allah has said in the Qur’an. We must be serious about this and be awake from 21st night to the end of Ramadan to seek for the Grand Night and try to show Allah the best of deeds during the period”, he submitted.
