THE Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, on Tuesday called for a holistic fight against drug abuse among the youth to guarantee a brighter future for the society.

Idris made the call when he addressed citizens of the emirate who converged on his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The monarch, who is also the Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, said the call became necessary in view of the negative consequences of drug abuse on youths and the society.

He called on parents to be mindful of the responsibilities vested on them, especially in the area of proper upbringing of their children, to enable them to become useful to themselves, society and the nation.

“I want to call on parents to double efforts towards providing Islamic and western education to their children and also ensure their proper upbringing to build a brighter future.

“We must collectively monitor their activities in order to guide them against all sorts of social vices so that they can grow as better citizens and good future leaders.

“I want to use this medium to appreciate the present administrations in Kaduna State and Nigeria over the successes recorded in the past few years.”

He called on the people to support government policies and programmes, especially those meant to change their lives for the better.

The royal father charged the people to report to the appropriate authorities outbreak of any disease for necessary actions to be taken before it escalated.

He also encouraged the people to provide the security agencies with useful information that would assist in providing adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians.

The Emir thanked Muslims and other individuals for their consistent prayers for peace in Nigeria and called on them to sustain the tempo.

While congratulating pilgrims currently performing Hajj, the monarch prayed to God Almighty to reward them with the best of reward of “Hajj-Mabrur”.

Earlier in a sermon at Kofar Gayan Low-cost Eid Praying Ground, the Chief Imam, Dr Muhammad Aliyu, said Islam makes it compulsory for every Muslim to learn skills to become self-reliant.

The Islamic Cleric spoke on: “The Islamic Perspective on Trades/Skills Acquisition and Self-reliance” in the sermon.
Aliyu, who is also the Chief Imam, Sheik Abubakar Mahmud Gumi Juma’at Mosque, Low-cost, Zaria, said life on earth was a preparation for permanent life in the hereafter.

Taking his text from Qur’an and Hadith, the Chief Imam said many Qur’anic verses, as well as tradition of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him), emphasised the need for a Muslim to be self-reliant.

Aliyu cautioned people against laziness and begging as a source of livelihood, stressing that Islam had never on any point encouraged dependence on others as a way of life.

He said in view of the importance of trades/skills acquisition, God had never sent a prophet unless such messenger had something doing.

“Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was a merchant, Prophet David was a blacksmith, Prophet Zakaria was a carpenter and Prophet Abraham was a herder, among other prophets of Allah.

“No trade or skills acquisition is considered unlawful, except those specifically spell-out by Islam as unlawful.

“Therefore, it is a mistake to say a particular trade or skills acquisition is unlawful without supporting evidence from Islamic perspective.”

(NAN)