Muslim cleric, Sheikh Umar Faruk Haruna has blamed insecurity in the country on the non-adherence to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an by the Muslims Ummah.

Haruna, who is the Deputy Chief Imam of the Ekenwa campus of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, made the remarks while speaking with newsmen shortly the two rakkah prayers to mark the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir.

The Imam who said Islamic religion is built on the fear of Allah, peace and love, noted that the ills in society cannot be eradicated unless the Muslims retrace their steps and go back to the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad.

He said insecurity and other social vices have taken over all the nooks and crannies of the country because the Muslim faithful have decided to legislate for themselves instead of following and obeying Allah’s commands

“The message is simple. The essence of Islam is to have the fear of Allah, love and peace. If we the Muslim can actually behave as the Qur’an direct us and the Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad there will be no insecurity.

“It is because we have put the Qur’an and the Sunnahs of the Prophet aside, and we have decided to legislate for ourselves that is why we are having all these pockets of insecurity here and there.

“This cannot stop and will never stop until we retrace ourselves by actually believing what the Quran says and the Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

“The issue of insecurity you are seeing in Nigeria today is that you cannot wash the Muslims’ hands off of it. We are participating.

“Is it kidnapping, banditry, the Boko Haram. You can see today that where all these things started, we can even call them the Islamic states. But unfortunately these are supposed to be the last places where all these kinds of things are supposed to have taken place, but today here we are.

“The only solution we have is to go back to the Qur’an. It is for us to go back to the teachings of the Prophet. This is the only way we can have peace. As long as we have continued to disobey God. You can see that we have even started getting our rewards here on earth before getting to the day of judgment”, he said.

He, however, advised the Muslim Ummah worldwide to hold on to the principles and tenets of Islam, noting that the Eid-el-Kabir celebration is purely Islamic and not to perpetuate immorality, illegality and those things that are  completely forbidden in the sight of Allah.

On the sacrificial animals, the chief Imam admonished the Ummah that their sacrifice can only be accepted by Allah if acquired through legal means.

“We say even the ram we are struggling to get, you cannot strangulate, inflict pains or hardship on another person for you to get money to buy one.

“You cannot go and sin or cause pain on another person because you want to buy a ram.

“We say getting a ram is through your legal earnings, that is the only way Allah will reward you for it”, he added.

Muslims in Abia State, Friday, joined their counterparts worldwide to commemorate this year’s Eid al-Kabir celebration with a prayer session held at the Umuahia township Stadium.

The Sallah prayer, which commenced at about nine o’clock in the morning, attracted a large crowd of Muslims, who appeared in their festive attires and in a celebratory mood.

In his Sallah message, the Chief Imam of Umuahia Central Mosque, Alhaji Aminu Lawal, focused on themes of peace, unity, and tolerance. He advised Muslims to let the essence of the spiritual event reflect in all their actions.

The Islamic cleric, who thanked Allah for the grace to witness this year’s Sallah in good health, emphasized the need for Muslims to emulate the sterling qualities of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and demonstrate them in their daily lives.

The Chief Imam called on Muslim faithful to intensify prayers for national peace, stability, and economic revival.

He noted that the present economic and security situation in the nation entailed fervent prayers for peace, unity and love among all tribes in the country and reminded worshippers of the essence of submission to God and the importance of peaceful coexistence.

“We are all brothers,” Lawal declared. “Let us live together in harmony and unite across religious divides.”

He further thanked Governor Alex Otti for carrying Muslims along in the affairs of the state and for sponsoring Muslim Pilgrims to the 2025 Islamic Pilgrimage.

Some of the faithful, including Sanusi Mohammed, Emeka Ibelegbu Mohammed, and Alhaji Abdulkamin Adekunle and Dahiru Alhassan described the event as one of the pillars of Islam. They expressed appreciation to Allah and encouraged everyone to pursue peace, love, and mutual respect at all times.

The Eid prayers culminated in the symbolic slaughter of a ram by the Imam, commemorating Ibrahim’s act of faith and God’s providence in providing a substitute sacrifice.

Mohammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has passed away at the age of 88. His d+ath was confirmed early Friday by Kayode Ajulo, Ondo State’s attorney general.

Born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Uwais became a Supreme Court justice at just 43 & went on to serve as CJN from 1995 to 2006 — the second-longest tenure in Nigeria’s history. After his retirement, he chaired the Electoral Reform Committee under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The committee’s landmark 2008 report called for an independent electoral body & introduced forward-thinking recommendations such as electronic voting & result transmission.

Tributes have poured in for the respected jurist. Human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu described Uwais as “a truly good man” & “a mentor.” Ajulo praised him as “a beacon of integrity” who “transformed the judiciary and championed democratic reforms.” Justice Uwais leaves behind a legacy of legal excellence, reform & unwavering service to Nigeria.