By Bukola Hameed
An Oyo-based NGO, Arowosaye Ahmad Foundation held its first annual Ramadan lecture and distributed cash and food items to fasting Muslims including widows.
The distribution was done on Thursday after the lecture at Aginsi Mosque, opposite Alhaji Ahmad Arowosaye house, Atingisi Area, Oyo.
Guest lecturer at the event, Ustadh Hassan Olowogbola dwelt on the topic, Sincere Repentance which, according to him, remained the only viable instrument to secure Allah’s blessings and tranquility in the land.
He harped on the need for human beings to acknowledge the fact that they are not infallible, and as such, there must be deliberate efforts at achieving Allah’s felicity through sincere repentance.
Ustadh Olowogbola however stated that abstinence from sins, remorse over past sins and genuine resolve to eschew sinful acts in its totality are signals to a man’s true repentance to his creator.
While stressing its significance, the cleric attributed evils bedeviling human existence to absence of repentance and man’s inclination towards sinful ways of life, which include promiscuity, corruption, money rituals and wanton killings.
“Sins and adamancy to discard acts capable of inviting the wrath of God are the bane of insecurity, lack of peace and total imbalance in the existential relationship among man.
God has not created man errorless and impeccable, hence, there is sin and forgiveness. This is where unfeigned repentance comes in.
However, as imperfect as man is, he should strive to ensure that his scale of wrong deeds doesn’t outweigh that of righteous deeds in order to be amongst the favoured on the day of recompense”, he concluded.
The founder of AAF, Alhaji Ahmad Arowosaye, said the gesture was part of their annual exercise aimed at reducing the hardship of the vulnerable and the less privileged, especially orphans, and widows who are the neediest.
“Our main objective at AAF is basically working for humanity through orphanage needs support, feeding the underprivileged in the society and provision of medical needs support.
Others are education needs support for the indigents, and making interest-free loans accessible for single parents”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, this year’s edition of Ramadan lecture will continue while different Islamic scholars will be invited to salvage the sinking ship of man on earth through soul-lifting lectures.