The National Chief Imam, Sheikh (Dr) Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, over the weekend, led the closing session of the 2025 Quranic translation series at the National Mosque and the Central Mosque in Abossey Okai, with a call to an end to the ongoing conflict in Bawku.
It was organised by the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, the Advisory Board of the Office of the National Chief Imam, and the Executive and Management Committee of the Kanda Mosque.
The first closing session was held at the National Mosque, Kanda, on Saturday, while the second session was held at the Central Mosque, Abbosey Okai, on Sunday.
The Quranic translation series, an event held annually during the month of Ramadan, served as a major platform for the interpretation of the Holy Quran.
During the session, the Imams recited the Quran in the Arabic language and later translated into the Hausa language.
Speaking at the event, the National Executive Secretary, Office of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Awaisu Bio Salisu, who read a speech on behalf the National Chief Imam said: “I pray that the restlessness in Bawku in the Upper East Region is put to rest. We are one people created into tribes and nations to know one another by the Almighty Allah. I also wish the same elsewhere.”
While calling for an end to the Bawku conflict, the National Chief Imam urged Muslims to make knowledge-seeking their divine duty as they observed Ramadan.
He explained that seeking knowledge on the part of Muslims as their divine duty meant they were obeying the first verses of the Quran that commanded the Holy Prophet Mohammed to do the same.
“The first verses of Quran revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammed commanding him to seek knowledge was in this month of Ramadan. Let us as Muslims strive to make knowledge seeking our divine duty,” he said.
“Let us all as Muslims who are in positions of authority strive to let the Quran be our guiding principle so that Allah will come to our aid,” he added.
Furthermore, the National Chief Imam urged Muslims to uphold the values of justice, love, unity, forgiveness, reconciliation, sharing, compassion, and respect for all during the Ramadan period and beyond.
According to him, upholding such values were the only way by which Muslims could reaffirm their compliance to the word of Allah and also receive his divine blessing.
He thanked President John Dramani Mahama for an extra holiday for Eid-El-Fitr and assured that they were committed to supporting and praying for the government under the leadership of President Mahama and the nation as a whole.
In his address, the Chairman of the Islamic Council of Development and Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS) who chaired the programme, Sheikh Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim, urged Muslims, especially the youth to abide by the commandment of the Quran, following the footsteps of their forefathers and avoid cutting corners in their attempt to make it in life.
BY CYNTHIA ASAMPANA
