Ashraaf 10th Maulid: What Will Muslims Leave Behind Beyond Wealth
As the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation marks its 10th annual Maulid in Abuja, scholars urge Muslims to look beyond property and wealth to the faith, knowledge, character and moral values they leave for the next generation.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
When the houses, businesses, bank accounts and other possessions left by a Muslim have been distributed among heirs, what remains for the next generation?
That question formed the heart of the 10th Annual Maulid Nabiyy Seminar and Family Funfair organised by the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation in Abuja on Saturday, as Islamic scholars and other speakers called for greater attention to the faith, knowledge, character and moral values that families and communities pass from one generation to another.
The seminar, held at the Maryam Babangida Women Development Centre, CBD, Abuja, was themed “Inheritance Beyond Wealth: Preserving the Prophetic Legacy in Modern Society.”
In a side interview with PEACE Magazine, Founder of the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, Imam Dr Sharafdeen Abdulsalam Aliagan, said the gathering was designed to draw attention to forms of inheritance beyond physical wealth, particularly the religious, moral and ethical values that parents pass on to their children.
“Most children are lacking religious and moral inheritance; that is why the estate does not last with them and that is why it brings about fracas in the family,” Aliagan said.
He stressed that children should inherit values such as sincerity, truthfulness, honesty and good conduct alongside material possessions.
Imam Aliagan said the Foundation was established to address a social and religious gap by changing the way Muslims approach their social and religious life.
“You can be religious and be social and be civilised and do things in a modern way,” he said, explaining that the Foundation sought to demonstrate that approach through its programmes.
Imam Sharafdeen said he began the Maulid celebration 22 years ago and that the Abuja programme had now reached its 10th annual edition under the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation.
He said the Foundation remained committed to sustaining the celebration and spreading the message of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) across the country.
According to Aliagan, Islam had provided extensive guidance on material inheritance, but the Prophetic legacy also encompassed wisdom, knowledge, morality, peace and understanding.
He stressed the importance of educating Muslims on inheritance as a means of protecting families and reducing disputes.
He urged Muslims to preserve and transmit the values of the Prophet to younger generations and use those values to strengthen families and communities.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Prof. Saheed Olurotimi Timeyin, of the Department of Foreign Languages, Lagos State University (LASU), urged Muslims to make the character of Prophet Muhammad visible through their own conduct.
Prof. Timeyin said Maulid Nabiyy should encourage Muslims not merely to celebrate the Prophet but to study, understand and practise his teachings.
“Those of us who celebrate Maulid Nabiyy have a moral responsibility to use the image of Muhammad,” he said.
He said the Prophet’s life provided lessons for Muslims regardless of their social, family, professional or economic circumstances, pointing to his experience as a husband, father, businessman, military leader and head of state.
“In whatever position you find yourself, you will always have lessons from Muhammad,” Timeyin said.
He also warned that wealth without God-consciousness could destroy an inheritance, while education without ethics could turn intelligence into a weapon.
“Technology without ethics can magnify destruction,” he said.
He further cautioned that religious knowledge without proper moral guidance could produce intolerance and even be used to justify terrorism.
Timeyin described the Prophet’s enduring legacy as a moral and spiritual civilisation rather than a worldly dynasty.
The discussion also moved beyond the family to the responsibilities Muslims owe to society.
Ustaz (Dr.) Abdulfattah Adeyemi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Baynakum Family Counseling Centre, Abuja, said inheritance should include honesty, patriotism, high moral standards and a determination to contribute to humanity.
“If we leave all the wealth in the world for them, if we do not build them as individuals to be responsible citizens, within 24 hours the whole world will have been destroyed,” Adeyemi said.
He urged the present generation to reject hatred, bigotry and inherited enmity, stressing that responsibility to future generations should extend to the country they would leave behind.
“We did not just inherit this country from our own ancestors, we actually borrowed this country from our children. So we have to be responsible custodians,” he said.
Also speaking, Olanike Nafisat Balogun, the first female pilot in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said Muslims should demonstrate Islamic values through their conduct rather than merely speaking about them.
“We need to let people see that Islam is not before we even open our mouths to say it,” Balogun said.
She urged Muslims to emulate the example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in their everyday lives, saying such conduct could contribute to a safe, peaceful and loving society.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Alh Engr. Muhammad Babagobi, said the theme extended beyond material wealth to faith, guidance and moral responsibility.
Babagobi said the Prophet’s teachings provided principles for promoting harmony within communities and urged Muslims to avoid actions capable of causing division, failure and calamity.
“We should always complete and regard our brothers as our people of God that we can always come together and promote unity, promote peace and development,” he said.
He described the theme as apt and encouraged the organisers and participants to continue teaching and practising the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
The seminar also featured a panel discussion titled “What Legacy Are We Leaving Behind? Preserving the Prophetic Inheritance in a Changing World.”
The session was moderated by Prof. Juwayriyyah Ahmad Badamasuy, Hon. Commissioner/Board Member, Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja.
The panellists included Dr. Abdullah Umar, Chief Executive Officer of One17 Ltd; Ustaz Dr Abdulfattah Adeyemi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Baynakum Family Counseling Centre, Abuja; and Hajia Mutiat Olatunji, of Al-Ameen Trustees Limited.
The panel extended the seminar’s central question into the realities facing contemporary families and communities, with the Prophetic inheritance framed around values that can be transmitted through conduct, education, responsible citizenship and service.
The programme also featured Qur’an recitation, Salawāt, Dhikr and Madh by the Ashraaf Da’wah Team, a presentation by pupils of Al-Aqsoh Islamic School, recognition of organisations and individuals, and the presentation of prizes to winners of the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation Inter-School Quranic Competition.
Other activities included the presentation of Ashraaf Estate Advisory Ltd and the special recognition and presentation of the Ashraaf Board of Trustees.
The formal religious programme concluded with collective Salawāt and a special du’a for the Ummah and Nigeria, followed by Ṣalāt al-Zuhr, lunch, the family funfair and community engagement organised by the Ashraaf Women and Children Directorate.
The gathering attracted Islamic scholars, public officials, academics, entrepreneurs, community leaders, families and other members of the Muslim community.
Among those present were Prof. Sulaimon Abubakar, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS); Prof. Saheed Olurotimi Timeyin of Lagos State University; Prof. Juwayriyyah Ahmad Badamasuy, Hon. Commissioner/Board Member, Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja; and Alhaji Abdulhakeem Bello, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Realscope Holdings Ltd.
The gathering also brought together members and associates of the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, participants in the Quranic competition, families and children who took part in the Maulid and community activities.
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