The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerians and the world in general to come to the aid and extend helping hands in diverse ways to Morocco at this critical period.
In a statement signed by the council’s Deputy Secretary-General, Professor Salisu Shehu, the council commiserates with His Majesty, King Sidi Mohammed VI, the Head of State of the Kingdom of Morocco over the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the High Atlas Mountain range on Friday, 8th September 2023.
According to the statement the Council is devastated by the tremendous calamity and tragedy which has so far claimed over 2,000 lives and left several hundred injured.
It said that the Council sincerely shares with Moroccans the pain, the sorrow and the grief they are going through in this very trying moment.
The statement quotes a verse of the Qur’an “We shall certainly test you by afflicting you with fear, hunger, loss of properties and lives and fruits. Give glad tidings, then, to those who remain patient; those who when any affliction smites them, they say: “Verily, we belong to Allah, and it is to Him that we are destined to return. “Upon them will be the blessings and mercy of their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.(Al-Baqarah:155-157).
The Council prays for the repose of the souls that have departed, the quick recovery of the wounded and injured and the fortitude to bear the monumental losses. May Allah shower His infinite mercy and forgiveness on all the dead and may He imbue in you patience and perseverance to survive this tragedy and come out of it with greater strength.
The NSCIA enjoined all Jumu’ah Imams in Nigeria to dedicate their Friday sermons this week to the Morocco calamity and to call on the Muslim Ummah to pray for our brothers and sisters that Allah forgive those who have departed and ease the affairs of the survivors and the entire people of the Republic of Morocco.