NAṢFAT ZM urges Zone 1 Missioners not to relent in widening their knowledge
October 15, 2023
Fausiat Salako-Sanni
All the Assistant Missioners under Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society NAṢFAT, Lagos Zone 1 converged at the Zonal Secretariat on Saturday, October 14, 2023 to deliberate on the way forward for the continuos progress of the society and personal development of the Missioners.
This was the essence of the forum where the assistant missioners were urged to further strengthen and widen their knowledge by blending it with western education as this will be an added advantage to their contributions to the congregation and give them better understanding on how well to carry out Dawah with appropriate tools.
The Zonal Missioner, Imam Barr. Uthman Jaji Muhammed who is the convener of the programme made this plea during his speech while addressing the participating assistant missioners.
“It’s important that once in a while we meet with the Assistant Missioners to chat, discuss if not for anything, but for our personal development which will greatly impact our thoughts and is to further emphasise the importance of our roles to educate the congregation effectively and efficiently with facts and figures inline with the policy thrust of the National Executive Council, HELD, which translates to Health, Education, Livelihood and Dawah.”
Speaking further, Imam Barr. Jaji added that, “this gathering will give the assistant missioners sense of belonging because it is worrisome that looking at it generally, most of the assistant missioners do not have qualified credentials backing their appointment/transfer to branches that should give authentication to their being the society’s Missioners and it’s as a result of not having qualifications to support this, hence, most of the times, it is the reason we don’t have the platform that can grant us this opportunity.”
Therefore, the forum is to implore the assistant missioners to increase their efforts towards acquiring western education alongside with the Islamic/Qur’anic knowledge already possessed, this will help them to spread their tentacles and be more impactful to the society, Islam and beyond.
“Let us think beyond being referred to as an Imam or Missioner of NAṢFAT and stop focusing on Sunday Dawah alone rather let’s work on our personal development, this will be more helpful to us as individuals and give room for everyone to impact more in NAṢFAT and the global society.” Said Imam Barr. Jaji.
He continued, “Also let’s have something else doing as a means of livelihood, at different times this has been talked about and opportunities abound to further our education(either from secondary School Certificate to higher institution) which the Zonal mission board has presented but no one has risen to the opportunities, hence, this gathering again.”
“It’s never too late to develop ourselves once the determination is there and we understand how beneficial this knowledge is to our Dawah. I am an example of it’s never too late to acquire education. So, there’s nothing that’s not attainable, everything depends on self determination and interest.” He opined.
Among other things discussed was that, the Assistant Missioners were also urged to indicate their areas of interest and specialization in Asalatu activities so as to put the right peg in the right hole, for them to be more useful to themselves and be productive to the society. And this is to further showcase the different divine talents/blessings gifted by Allah SWT.
About seventy assistant missioners across the Branches and groups within the Zone participated at the interactive session.
Also in attendance at the Zonal Mission Board meeting with the Assistant Missioners was the Zonal Chairman, Alh. Engr. Mustapha Alabi, the meeting which coincided with the Zonal Executive Council monthly meeting at the Secretariat.
In his own speech, he also appealed to the participating assistant missioners not to relent in developing themselves so that they too can also be more relevant in the business of Da’wah. As they are the ones saddled with the responsibility to broaden and lighten the knowledge of the society and guide the Ummah to the right paths as they’re vicegerents on the land.
Imam AbdulHakeem Khidr in his words of admonition reminded the assistant missioners that there are lots of opportunities for them to excel in as much as they encourage themselves to embrace personal development. As NAṢFAT is known for its standard which is in tandem with the global practice, hence, if any stakeholder either volunteer or appointed or selected wants to continue to be relevant in propagation of the Da’wah in NAṢFAT, there’s need to update and upgrade oneself so meet up with the standard of society.
He added “According to the the society’s National Executive template, by the year 2025, any Imam or Alfa, Lead/Assistant Missioner in NAṢFAT who doesn’t have at least first degree, should forget being an Imam/Missioner in the society. That’s why the Nasfat Missioners’ Institute is being established to take care of this, which is open for all Muslim Clerics. So, let’s make good use of this ample opportunity to develop ourselves.” Said Imam Khdir.
Imam Mustapha Abiodun Akinpelu from Oworo-Ifako Branch while offering supplications for the society, Lagos Zone 1, the mission board and for the success of the initiative reminded and encouraged his colleagues in the propagation of Da’wah not to be perturbed by challenges that could face them in the cause of attaining their individual personal development as Allah SWT shall continue to ease the tasks for them.