Religious

Kano witnessed a massive turnout on Saturday as thousands of Qadiriyya followers converged on the city to mark the 75th edition of the Waliyyai Festival. The spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya movement in Africa, Sheikh Qaribullahi Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, led the annual event, which attracted participants from within Nigeria and beyond. Organized by Darul Qadiriyya, the Nigerian headquarters of the sect, the festival commemorates the birth of Sheikh Abdulqadir Al-Jilani, founder of the Qadiriyya order. Read Also: Kano Govt Suspends Sheikh Lawan Triumph From Preaching The celebration featured a colourful procession across major streets in Kano, with contingents from mosques and Islamic schools parading in displays of unity, faith, and devotion. Sheikh Qaribullahi also visited Wailliyya, the burial site of his late father, where he offered special prayers. Along the route, the Sheikh stopped at several locations to bless residents before returning to Darul Qadiriyya, where the event concluded with chants of Islamic songs in praise of Allah. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual fervour as the 75th edition reaffirmed the movement’s enduring presence and influence in Nigeria’s religious landscape. 

The Ganduje Foundation, chaired by the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has facilitated the conversion of 280 people to Islam during a prayer session held at Muhammad Gauyama Hall in his residence in Kano. The event, which brought together Islamic scholars from different sects, was organized as part of a regular prayer session aimed at seeking divine intervention for Nigeria’s peace, stability, and guidance for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies. Addressing participants, Dr. Ganduje explained that such sessions had been ongoing since his time as Deputy Governor and were sustained to promote unity and spiritual growth. He noted that the Foundation discovered through outreach programmes that many rural farmers in parts of Kano had shown interest in embracing Islam, which encouraged its Da’awah (preaching) team to intensify efforts. Related: Ganduje Attends BUK Send-Off for Outgoing VC, Welcomes Successor “You can see many of them are women — 202 women and 78 men. Most of these women are married, and we hope they will carry their children along into the Islamic religion. May Allah accept this intention and keep them steadfast in the faith,” Ganduje stated. He further announced that each of the new converts would receive a bag of fertilizer to support their farming, atamfa fabric for women, shadda for men, a financial token, and Islamic books for guidance. He added that members of the Da’awah team would continue follow-up visits to provide mentorship and teaching on Islamic practices. The Director at the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Dr. Asiya Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who also contributed to the exercise, commended the initiative, describing it as a legacy the family grew up observing from their father. She urged others to embrace similar efforts, citing the spiritual rewards of expanding the faith. Similarly, Dr. Amina Abdullahi Umar Ganduje offered prayers for her father, highlighting his wider philanthropic activities, including mosque construction, medical outreach, and the provision of boreholes, which she said would count as his lasting legacy. The ceremony was attended by Islamic clerics, political associates, community leaders, and members of the Ganduje family. According to records, the Ganduje Foundation has overseen the conversion of 45,280 people to Islam since its establishment.

Alhaji Mustapha Nuhu Wali (mni), former national president of Kano Science Schools Old Student Association (KASSOSA), has called on Muslims to use the Maulud period to pray for peace, prosperity, and the proper upbringing of children who will become future leaders of pride. He made the appeal during the annual Maulud celebration he hosts every 12th of Rabi’ul Awwal at his residence in Dorayi Babba, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State. Wali explained that the gathering reflects the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as contained in the Hadith, which enjoins parents to raise their children to love the Prophet, his household, and the Qur’an. Read Also: Cleric Urges Muslims to Purify Souls, Submit Fully to Allah “This occasion allows us to express our joy, remind our children and families about the Prophet’s history, sing songs in his praise, and thank Allah for blessing us with Islam and His noble Messenger,” he said. He stressed that by emulating the Prophet’s virtues of honesty, compassion, and humility, society will continue to uphold values worth celebrating. He further urged Muslims to pray for deliverance from insecurity, economic hardship, and to particularly seek guidance for young people drifting into vices such as phone snatching. In his remarks, Malam Hussaini Bin Iliyasu Dan Bare commended the Wali family for sustaining the Maulud tradition. He encouraged Muslims to remain good ambassadors of Islam by practicing the exemplary character of the Prophet in their daily lives. The event also featured the launch of a new book of prophetic songs authored by Professor Faruk Sarkin Fada of Bayero University Kano’s Faculty of Medicine. Free copies of the book were distributed to participants. The Maulud celebration attracted hundreds of attendees from Dorayi Babba and beyond, underscoring the community’s deep reverence and love for the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Photos:

Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Saturday extended warm greetings to Muslims in the state and across Nigeria on the occasion of Eid-el-Maulud, the annual celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor urged the faithful to mark the day with deep reflection and a renewed commitment to embodying the Prophet’s example. “I am delighted to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah in Kano and beyond as we celebrate the noble occasion of Eid-el-Maulud,” Yusuf said. Read Also: NNPP Expels Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa Over Anti-Party Activities, Unpaid Dues He encouraged residents to draw inspiration from the Prophet’s teachings, adding: “May we continue to reflect on the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad for our greater good, and may his virtues of peace, love, tolerance, and unity continue to guide our lives and our society.” The governor also stressed the importance of harmony and peaceful coexistence in a state known for its diversity of faith and ethnicity. He called on citizens to use the celebration as an opportunity to pray for the continued peace, progress, and prosperity of Kano State and Nigeria.