I am on my way back from Ikire, Osun State, Nigeria, where I went for a function. In my journey to and fro the town, I observed many Muslims still celebrate the Kufr New Year Festival handed down by the Christian colonial masters.
Ikire is predominantly a Muslim town. There is no doubt that the bulk of the people I saw gyrating all over the streets are Muslims. So saddening is the sight of young boys and girls 'having fun' with one another.
Having used Ikire as a casestudy, I envisioned what would be going on this 31st night of December across the Yorubaland: Lagos, Ibadan Oshogbo, Ilorin and our dear Ede (where I am heading now) as a larger sample, and Nigeria, as a whole.
Then it struck my mind that the craze is permeating the Muslim world too namely the Arab lands. I could recall the firecrackers celebrations in some Arab countries the night of last 31st December.. I know tonight's episodes will be 'fantastic'. No wonder Twitter handles of some duaat based in Arab world have been screaming warmings against the New Year celebrations.
I therefore came to the sad conclusion that our da'wah still has a lot of hurdles to scale hence the call for this sober reflection.
We need to increase the spate of this Da'wah of Sunnah. We should not assume all is well. We should talk to the people. We should guide the youths. We should not take things for granted.
The best methodology is to increase the teaching of the Qur'aan and Sunnah to the local populace, all in the way of the Sahabah.
May Allaah ease the task.
