Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, on Sunday called on Nigerians to tolerate, and accommodate one another, irrespective of each others’ religion.
The Emir, who is also the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, gave the task while delivering a speech to mark the 1440 AH/2019 Eid-el-Kabir celebration at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Emir recalled that Eid-el-Kabir is one of the Islamic festivals that features sacrifice of animals, preferably ram which took its roots from Prophet Abraham (Alaihisdalam), even as he admonished them to tolerate one another and live in peace with one another at all time.
His words: “I want to use this medium to call on farmers and herders to live in peace with one another to pave way for prevailing peace.
“I also want to encourage people to tolerate, respect and accommodate one another irrespective of tribal, ethnic or sentimental affiliation.
“People should do everything possible to suasion the prevailing peace by avoiding rumour pending. As good citizens of Nigeria, we should continue to pray for our leaders to lead us well.”
He urged people to cooperate with the security agencies by supplying them with useful, vital and genuine information to enable them discharge their duties diligently.
The Emir appealed to Kaduna State Government, Kaduna State House of Assembly and Local Government Councils to redouble efforts towards improving education, security and economic empowerment.
He charged Muslims to sustain the lessons of Eid, such as fear of Almighty Allah, respect for parents and constituted authorities, promoting kinship tie and rendering assistance to the less privileged.
While appreciating the State Government for its efforts to eradicate polio out of the state, Idris also pleaded with parents to sustain their patronage on routine immunisation exercise.
The Royal Father called on people to ensure that they kept their environment clean, especially through drain evacuation, personal and food hygiene among others.
He encouraged them to report to the nearest relevant authority outbreak of any disease to enable government take necessary action to curtail further spread of the disease.
“I also want to use this medium to call on parents to endeavour to give their children proper upbringing and they should also ensure that their children undertake both Islamic and Western education.
“Parents should strive to monitor the movement of their wards to avoid bad peer group influence which may result to destruction of their future.
“I want to extend my gratitude to the entire people of Zazzau Emirate for their support and cooperation to those in position of authority,” he noted.
Earlier in his Eid sermon, the Chief Imam, Sheik Abubakar Gumi, Kofar-Gayan Low-cost Eid Praying Ground, Dr Muhammad Aliyu urged Muslims to exhibit the fear of Almighty Allah in whatever they do.
Taking his text from Qur’an and Hadith, Aliyu enjoined Muslims who have the means to slaughter a ram to do so after Eid, saying that anybody who slaughtered his ram before Eid would only benefit from the meat.
“Allah (SWT) commanded us to sacrifice animal(s), preferably ram, but we must do that in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“The Prophet said: He who slaughtered his ram before Eid will only have meat to eat but he who slaughter after Eid is in conformity with the Sunna (teachings of the Prophet),” he said.
He encouraged Muslim Ummah to be united by holding on to the path of Allah and urged them not to disintegrate, assuring that Islam is always emphasising the importance of unity.
The Islamic Cleric urged Muslims to avoid novelties and stick to the teachings of the Prophet (SAW), adding that “anybody that adds a new thing (innovation) in practicing Islam, such act is rejected.”
