Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, has expressed sympathy to King Sidi Mohammed VI, the ruler of Morocco, over the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the High Atlas Mountain range on Friday, September 8.
President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the Sultan, remarked that “the council is devastated by this tremendous calamity and tragedy which has so far claimed over 2,000 lives and left several hundreds injured.”
The NSCIA’s Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said in a statement on Tuesday, September 12, “The council sincerely shares with you the pain, the sorrow and the grief you are going through in this very trying moment.
“We shall certainly test you by afflicting you with fear, hunger, loss of properties and lives and fruits. Give glad tidings, then, to those who remain patient; those who when any affliction smites them, they say: “Verily, we belong to Allah, and it is to Him that we are destined to return. ” Upon them will be the blessings and mercy of their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided. (Al-Baqarah:155-157).
“On behalf of the entire Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) -under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni.
“The Council prays for the repose of the souls that have departed, quick recovery of the wounded and injured and the fortitude to bear the monumental losses. May Allah shower His infinite mercy and forgiveness on all the dead and may He imbue in you patience and perseverance to survive this tragedy and come out of it with greater strength.
He said the Council enjoins all Jumu’ah Imams in Nigeria to dedicate their Friday sermons this week to the Morocco calamity and to call on the Muslim Ummah to pray for our brothers and sisters that Allah forgive those who have departed and ease the affairs of the survivors and the entire people of the Republic of Morocco.
Sultan added that the Council calls on Nigerians in particular and the world in general to come to the aid of and extend helping hands in diverse ways to Morocco at this critical period.
