Faith, Resilience, and the Future of the Ummah: ASHRAAF Islamic Foundation Hosts Transformative Maulud Nabiyy Celebration in Abuja
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In a powerful convergence of faith, family, and community, the ASHRAAF Islamic Foundation hosted its 2025 Annual Maulud Nabiyy Celebration & Family Picnic on Saturday, drawing hundreds of attendees to Merit House, Maitama, Abuja. Themed “The Ummah in Today’s World: Building Resilient Faith, Family and Community through Prophetic Values,” the event featured a rich lineup of speakers, segmented activities for adults, youths, and children, and a resounding call to action for Muslims across Nigeria and beyond.
“Faith Must Be Nourished and Affirmed” — Imam Aliagan
Speaking to journalists at the event, the Chairman and Founder of ASHRAAF Islamic Foundation, Imam (Dr.) Sharafudeen AbdulSalam Aliagan, emphasized the urgency of reviving and strengthening faith in today’s turbulent world.
“The issue of faith and resilience, as far as Islam and humanity are concerned, is very, very germane,” Imam Aliagan declared. “You cannot remain a creature of God without having faith in your creator. That faith has to be nourished, has to be developed.”
He explained that the theme was chosen in response to a troubling trend: the diminishing presence of faith in the hearts of many who profess belief in God.
“We found out that faith is diminishing in the heart of those who claim to have faith in God. So we feel we should help them in reviving it, in developing it, in making sure it remains confirmed and affirmed.” 
Imam Aliagan also spoke candidly about the inevitability of challenges in life, drawing parallels with the trials faced by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“It’s only God who has no headache. It’s only the creator that has no challenges. You must be tried, you must be tested, you must face challenges like the Holy Prophet Muhammad, that we are celebrating today. No one among us has ever faced challenges the way Rasulullah has faced it.”
He urged Muslims to emulate the Prophet’s resilience and unwavering faith, reminding the audience that “no condition is permanent.”
“Let’s make sure that our faith remains intact. Let’s have resilience in whatever challenges we are facing. And let’s be prayerful to God, so that we can have an intact ummah, an intact faith, and resilience in all cases of life.”
“Education Must Drive the Ummah Forward” — Dr. Lawal Olalekan
Also addressing the press, Dr. Lawal Olalekan, Honourable Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development in Kwara State, reflected on the theme’s relevance and the challenges facing the global Muslim community.
“If we have actually met what the topic is talking about, there is no need for us to discuss it,” he said. “We are here to ensure that we get to where we actually plan to be, that we have not gotten there.”
He cited disunity, identity crises, globalization, and colonial legacies as major obstacles to achieving the goals of a resilient and united Ummah.
Dr. Olalekan praised ASHRAAF’s approach to celebrating the Prophet Muhammad, saying:
“It is one thing to be celebrating the Prophet Muhammad, it is another to celebrate him the way he wanted to be celebrated. By sharing information, getting people equipped with necessary information in the century in which you have found yourself.”
He also called for a transformation in Islamic education:
“Entrepreneurship has to be part of whatever Muslims are learning now. Information technology has to be there. Education, for us, has to drive the Ummah towards the right direction.”
“A Value-Added Celebration for All Ages” — Planning Committee Chairman
The Chairman of the planning committee expressed gratitude for the success of the event and highlighted its inclusive structure:
“We conceived the idea of using our Mawlid-e-Nabi celebration programme to add value to the adults, to the youth, and to the children. We believe anybody that comes to attend our programme will not go the same way back home, because our programme is value-added service.”
He emphasized the importance of teaching children about the life and values of Prophet Muhammad:
“Everything that has to do with this life, directly or indirectly, you learn from him. We want them to use his way of life as their way of life, so that tomorrow they will not remain the same and they will continue to build a good and better society.”
A Call to Action
The 2025 Maulud Nabiyy Celebration & Family Picnic was more than a festive gathering—it was a clarion call for Muslims to return to the core values of faith, resilience, and prophetic guidance. With voices like Imam Aliagan, Dr. Olalekan, and the ASHRAAF leadership leading the charge, the event underscored the urgent need for spiritual renewal, educational reform, and community unity.
As Imam Aliagan aptly put it, “Let’s be prayerful to God, so that we can have an intact ummah, an intact faith, and resilience in all cases of life.”
The programme featured a distinguished lineup of personalities who played key roles during the celebration.
The Chairman of the Occasion was Prof. Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi, while Alhaji Lawal O. Abubakar served as the Special Guest of Honour.
The Royal Father of the Day was Oba (Engr.) Abdulrasheed Ayotunde Olabomi, and the Guest Speaker was Dr. Sharafudeen Gbadebo-Rahman. The event was hosted by Hajia Nimah AbdulRaheem, the Executive Director of the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation.
