By Chimezie Godfrey
The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the professions, has felicitated with Muslims across the world, particularly in Nigeria, on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, urging citizens to embrace sacrifice, justice, tolerance and national unity.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association said the period of Dhul Hijjah remains one of the most spiritually rewarding seasons in the Islamic calendar and offers valuable lessons for individuals, communities and leaders.
The statement, signed by the National Amir (President) of the association, Imam Nojeem Jimoh, congratulated Muslims for witnessing another season of immense blessings and extended special greetings to pilgrims currently observing the Hajj rites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to the association, the lessons of Eid-el-Kabir and the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah remain relevant at a time nations and communities across the world are grappling with insecurity, inequality, leadership challenges and declining trust in institutions.
“At a period when communities and nations increasingly grapple with crises of trust, widening inequality, insecurity and leadership deficits, the lessons of Dhul Hijjah remain profoundly relevant,” the statement said.
The Companion stressed that leadership at all levels must be guided by sincerity, justice, sacrifice and service to humanity.
“Leadership, whether in governance, institutions, families, communities or religious circles, must be rooted in sincerity, justice, sacrifice and service to humanity,” the association added.
The group also called on Nigerians to see the country’s diversity as a source of strength rather than division, urging citizens to reject actions capable of undermining national peace and unity.
“For Nigeria in particular, this message deserves urgent reflection. The nation’s diversity, rather than constituting a fault line, ought to be embraced as a source of collective strength,” the statement noted.
The association urged Nigerians to cultivate tolerance, understanding and social solidarity as pathways to sustainable peace and development.
It further encouraged Muslims to maximise the opportunities of the sacred season through increased devotion, prayers, charity, sacrifice and acts of kindness.
The Companion also prayed for Allah’s mercy and acceptance of the prayers, sacrifices and acts of worship of Muslims across the world.
“While congratulating Muslims across Nigeria and the world on witnessing another season of immense blessings, The Companion urges believers to maximize the opportunities embedded in these sacred days through increased devotion, prayers, charity, sacrifice, kindness and renewed commitment to ethical conduct,” the statement added.