By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Bilesanmi’s family in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State last Saturday organized special prayers for the late Alhaja Nusirat Aduke Bilesanmi, who passed away on Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
According to Islamic rites, she was buried the same day in Ijebu Ode, an area of Ogun state.
Family, friends, neighbors, Islamic groups, and Islamic clergy gathered on Saturday at Abdulwahab Folawiyo (new Lagos Central Mosque, Surulere) to offer special prayers for the deceased.
Imam Muhammad Tajudeen Balogun led Surelere Nasfat delegation, Sheikh Abdulwasi and Mufassir Ikenne, and Sheikh Abudullahi Al-Mubarak to conduct the special prayers and lecture, respectively.
The first lecture led by Sheikh Wasiu said both young and old people, even those that have reached 100 years of age, patients struggling to eat are not prepared to die.
According to him, “some travelled near and far to fortify themselves against death. Some abandoned their rented apartments based on allegations of witchcraft and relocated to other places, where they met their untimely death. Sheikh Abdulwasiu stated that death is unavoidable.
“Every soul shall taste death” (al-Imran 3:185).
Before death, he admonished everybody to be committed to good deeds.”
In his lecture, Sheikh Abdullahi noted that earlier sermons were sufficient for all. Furthermore, sermons appear to be no longer useful to the people.
However, he said God commanded that whether sermons are useful or not, they “keep reminding the people of the words of God.”
He paid tribute to the late teacher, Alhaja Nusirat, for leaving behind good children and ensuring that all her children acquired several degrees, coupled with devotion to religion.
He noted that the weekend gathering of people for prayers is evidence that the deceased family were religiously inclined because no specific Islamic jurisprudence categorizes when one can pray for their departed loved ones after death.
He said, “The day a deceased dies, we should start praying as long as the deceased children are alive.”
At no particular time and date, he urged children to always remember their departed parents. He, however, frowns at children who only remember their late parents when they see them or when they encounter a masquerade in their dreams.
He urged everyone to take care of their parents while alive and when they depart without boosting, as commanded by the holy books.
The highlight of the programme was the special prayers for Alhaja Nusirat, her husband, Alhaji Arasi, and the children.
