Youths from the Muslim community converged on the popular Calabar Watt Market to clean stalls, drainages and surrounding streets in celebration of Eid el Maulud.
The youths, led by the Chief Imam of Cross River State and Chairman, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Imam Kabir Olowolayemo, performed the cleaning exercise on line with the theme of this year’s celebration, which is ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’.
Imam Olowolayemo, who thanked the youths for participating in the exercise, said that the exercise was to celebrate the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad whom he described as ‘a wonderful man, who is a man of peace, a man that loves cleanliness, a man that love humanity.’
He explained that the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board chose the Watt Market and environment to encourage people in general to embrace cleanliness, noting ‘this year, our theme for the eid Maulud celebration is Cleanliness is Next to Godliness. We are obligated to clean ourselves before prayers, clean our surroundings if we must worsh
ip God.’
Speaking further he stated, ‘in Islam, any exercise we do is continuous. We are using this exercise to appeal to our mothers, sister and the traders to engage in regular cleaning of the environment. The market is where we buy the food we eat, it is important that we keep clean, we keep healthy because ‘Health in Wealth’. If you do not take care of your health, it will take away your wealth’
Olowolayemo continued, ‘once again we are appealing to everyone in the spirit of this celebration, Let us keep up the good work and clean our environment, houses, offices, every public spaces like our markets and hospitals. You are aware of the spread of Mpox and other diseases. This is one way to keep all of us safe from pandemics of any kind.’
He said that prayers were said for the unity, peace and development of Nigeria, Cross River State under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu and prayed God to continue to protect Muslims and non-muslims beyond the celebration of Eid el Maulud.
Source: Voice of Nigeri
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