Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013— 35
Prof Oloyede as NSCIA Secretary
T
Tel: 08098097290 email: isholaism@yahoo.co.uk
Women: Equal yet different FURTHER to the last two edition on treatment of women written by my Guest, Abu Muhammed, on this column, I wish to add some specifics which I consider a recurring decimal on the issue of gender equality. But for space and time, it will only dwell on the Islamic perspective as it affects the family. Almighty Allah created men and women to be different, with unique roles, skills and responsibilities. These differences are not viewed as evidences of superiority or inferiority, but of specialisation. In Islam, the family is of central importance. The man is responsible for the financial well being of the family while the woman contributes to the family’s physical, educational and emotional well being. This encourages cooperation rather than competition. By fulfilling their mutual responsibilities, strong families are created and hence strong societies. Also, emotionally, neither men nor women live a happy life without one another. Allah describes this beautifully by saying: “They are clothing for you and
you are clothing for them.”Q2:187. Clothing provides comfort, warmth and security as well as making one look good - this is how the relationship between the husband and wife is defined in Islam. But even with these differences, both man and woman have equal right to accountability on the day of judgement. They have equal right to reward on every deed they put forward here on earth; equal right to choose who they want to marry and live the rest of their lives with; equal right to knowledge. It should be noted that we have great females scholars of both Islamic jurisprudence and other areas of life with male scholars as their students. Both men and women are encouraged to seek knowledge. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Education is compulsory for every Muslim.” So, it is disheartening when we hear that some people who claim to be Muslims say they are oppose to education. Yet, inspite of these equal rights as a general principle, the specific rights and responsibilities granted to them are not identical;
they are only complementary. Needless to go into the anatomical differences such as voice, strength, temperament among others, it would be foolish to treat both genders the same and to ignore their differences. Islam teaches that men and women have complementary, yet different, roles as suited to their nature. The Qur’an says says: “And the male is not like the female.”Q3:36. Before Islam, women were considered shameful, female children were buried alive, prostitution was rampant, divorce was only in the hands of the husband, inheritance was only for the strong, and oppression was widespread. Islam came and abolished these practices. Check out what is happening in developed countries, women are not granted respect, dignity and honour. Islam, however, regards women as precious and valuable, not to be disrespected or disgraced. The mistreatment of women in some parts of the world or Muslim families is due to cultural factors that some Muslims wrongly follow, not because of Islam.
HE Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) a few days ago appointed Prof Ishaq Oloyede as its Secretary General. Oloyede who will be 59 in October replaces Late Lateef Adegbite. The appointment was ratified during the council’s National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna Tuesday. Prior to his appointment, Oloyede was Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin from October 2007 to July 2012. Currently, Oloyede is the Executive Secretary of National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and also the President of Association of African Universities (AAU). Prof. Is-haq Olarewaju hails from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He was appointed Deputy Vice - Chancellor (Academic) on June 19, 2003 and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) on July 6, 2005. His tertiary education began in the University of Ilorin in 1978 where he studied Arabic and was awarded a B.A. Arabic (First Class Hons) in 1981. In July 1982 he was appointed as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Religions of the University. In 1991, he had his Doctorate degree in Islamic Studies also from the University of Ilorin. Prof. Oloyede earned several scholarships and prizes during
•Prof Ishaq Oloyede his student days, notable among which were the Arab League prize for the best final year Certificate student in Arabic and Islamic Studies in 1977 at the University of Ibadan; Federal Government undergraduate merit award from 1979 to 1981; Department of Religions Award, University of Ilorin, 1981 and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Award, Unilorin also in 1981. He is a fellow of the Islamic Academy of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Fellow, Academy of Entrepreneurship; Member, Nigerian Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS); Member, Editorial Board, Centre for Islamic Legal Studies, ABU, Zaria, among, several others. Prof. Oloyede was elevated to professorial rank in 1995. He has authored and coauthored several articles in reputable local and international journals. Prof. Oloyede is married with 4 children and one grandchild.
Eti-Osa Council of Imams set to build Islamic Centre Concluded
L-R: Prince Tajudeen Olusi, President of Zumuratul-Islamiyya; Commisioner for Home affairs and Culture, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole; HRM, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, the Ojomu of Ajiran, Alhaji Abdul-Yekeen Bakare, Baba Adini of Eti-Osa Muslim Community and Balogun of Ajiran land; Alhaji Folami, Baba Adini of Ojomu Muslim Community and Chief Rilwan Aleshinloye, Chairman of the occasion.
L-R: Chief Imam S. O Lawal, Chairman Council of Imams and Ulammau, Lagos Division; Imam T.O Gbajabiamila, Vice Chairman and Representative of Chief Imam of Lagos State; and Imam Saadalah Bello, Secretary of the Council Lagos Division.
T
HE activities marking the 15th an niversary of Eti-Osa Council of Imams and Alfas climaxed last Sunday with the launching of a multi-million naira Islamic Centre and conferment of awrads on prominent muslims in the area. The chairman of the council, Imam Abdul Bari Yoosuph Afini disclosed that the proposed Islamic centre will have modern Islamic library, orphanage home, multi-purpose hall. Speaking at the event held recently, the Commisioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Hon Oyinlomo Danmole urged Muslims in the state and beyond to pray fervently for the country in view of the crisis rocking some parts of the country. He hinted that the state government will engage clerics of all religions to offer special prayers for the state and the nation. Also addressing the gathering, the
President of Zumuratul-Islamiyya, Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi urged Muslims to exercise a lot of patience as the current situation in the country had misrepresented Islam and Muslims. Some of those honoured at the event included Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Hon Hazeez Babajide Akinloye, House of Representaives member representing Eti-Osa constituency, Hon Muftau Adewale Egberongbe, Memeber, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Apapa Constituency. The occasion which was held at Elesan, Eti-Osa, Lagos drew a lot of dignitaries inluding HRM, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, the Ojomu of Ajiran, Alhaji Abdul-Yekeen Bakare, Baba Adini of Eti-Osa Muslim Community and Balogun of Ajiran land among others.
L-R: Imam Moshood Mudathir Alamorieda of Alaguntan Central Mosque and first chairman, Eti-Osa Council of Imams and Alfas who is also one of the Awardees, Imam Bari Yoosuph Afini, Chairman of the Council and Imam Abdul-Lateef Ahmad Balogun, General Secretary of the Council.