Story
By
Shakirudeen Bankole
In a historic milestone, the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), a leading global Islamic organization, has officially opened its state-of-the-art Multi-Billion-Naira Central Mosque to worshippers. Located at its headquarters on KM 36, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Asese, Ogun State, the mosque was inaugurated on Friday, March 21, 2025, following an initial commissioning ceremony on Sunday, March 9, 2025, during NASFAT’s 30th Anniversary Mega Asalatu and Annual Ramadan Lecture.
The grand opening featured two key spiritual activities: a Jumma’at Service and the ongoing Itkarf Programme. The Itkarf prayer session commenced on Thursday, March 20, 2025, with participants from across Nigeria. The Juma’at Service, led by NASFAT’s National Dawah Officer, Imam AbdulGanny Raji, began at 1:30 PM with Tefsir (Quranic exegesis) and was followed by prayers at 2:30 PM. The service attracted Muslims from the local community and travelers along the busy expressway.
In his sermon titled “The Importance of Du’a,” Imam Raji emphasized the significance of steadfast faith and reliance on Allah in all endeavors. He warned against *Shirk* (ascribing godly attributes to others besides Allah), describing it as a grave sin that incurs severe punishment on the Day of Judgment. Imam Raji urged worshippers to embrace du’a (prayer and supplication) as a powerful means of seeking divine intervention and transforming adversity into opportunity.
“Du’a is the direct channel through which humans communicate with the Creator. It is a miracle of Allah and a tool for positive change,” he stated. Reflecting on the historic Juma’at prayer, Imam Raji described the event as symbolic, aligning with NASFAT’s mission to promote spiritual upliftment among its members.
Speaking on behalf of NASFAT President Alhaji AbdulRauf Ayodeji AbdulWahid, Vice President 2 Alhaji Morufdeen Ajiroba expressed pride in delivering the worship center. He recounted the challenges faced during the project’s inception seven years ago, including limited funding. “At the time, we had only N30 million in our account for a project estimated at N2.5 billion. But through faith and divine intervention, we have witnessed a miracle today,” Ajiroba said.
Project Coordinator Architect Akinyode highlighted the mosque’s innovative design, which combines creativity, professionalism, and Taqwa (piety). He revealed that four architectural designs were considered before finalizing the current structure. Although the mosque is 65-70% complete, it already boasts a capacity for 5,000 worshippers, alongside facilities such as a study area, conference room, library, research center, Madrassa, and a reclination area for clerics.
Alhaji AbdulJelil Durojaiye, NASFAT Sub-Committee Chairman for the Itkarf Programme, praised the mosque’s world-class standards, likening it to facilities in Makkah. “The design and features are so striking that one could easily mistake this for a mosque in Makkah or Madinah,” he remarked.
The NASFAT Central Mosque stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to fostering spiritual growth and providing a globally competitive worship environment. Its completion marks a significant achievement in NASFAT’s 30-year journey, reinforcing its role as a beacon of Islamic faith and community development.