By Shittu Amidat Opeyemi
The NASFAT Islamic Center at Km 36, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Asese, Ogun State, was a Mekkah of sort, as Muslims, in their thousands, flocked the place to observe this year’s Laylatul Qodr Programme.
Annually, the members of the leading Socio-religious Islamic Organisation, Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society, converged at Asese, to engage in intense spiritual supplications.
The gathering often feature lectures, Dikhr, Quran rendition, and Taraweeh.. The proceeding often started around 10:00pm and climaxed at 4:30am with break to replenish for Sahoor and the day’s fast.
As early as 12:00pm, people have started arriving the worship center. Father’s, mothers, old, young, and even minors, all found their ways, down to the NASFAT Islamic Center .
The significance of the Laylatul Qodr, the Night of Majesty, was further reinforced by the National Dawah Office of NASFAT, Imam Abdulganny Raji, during an interview with Kiin Media.
According to him, the massive turnout of worshippers at the programme was a response to NASFAT’S consistent clarion call on the Ummah to return all of their hopes and expectations to Allah for their affairs
Imam Raji said Laylatul Qodr is a special month that the Quran says it is equals to 83 years of mercy and miracle, according to Allah.
Raji pleaded to the faithful to continue to exhibit restrain from bad deeds, as exhibited during the month of Ramadan, and continue to strive to increase in their good deeds.
“Laylatul Qodr is a significant night in the last ten days of Ramadan. It is believed to bring divine blessings and forgiveness from Allah, the creator of the heaven and earth,” he said.
While the prayer is traditionally observed at night, the NASFAT Islamic Centre saw an influx of worshippers arriving early to secure vintage spots to pitch themselves ready for the intense spiritual exercise.
The faithful, dressed in traditional Islamic attire, with most of the men in flowing Jalabiyas and the women in elegant Hijabs and Abayas.
The huge number of participant created a sea of white and blue effect, a unique site that was explicitly captured by the roving cameras of the many media organisations on ground to cover the event.
The event also provided brisk business opportunity for vendors, who gathered in their dozens, to feed the thousands of worshippers.
From the list of these entrepreneurs, Modupe Abiola, a small chops seller, is one of them.
Abiola was attending the.programme.for first time, and was very excited that business was already booming even before dawn.
Abiola is a Christian worshipper, but shrugged of her religious differences, as she took advantage of the Islamic event to make extra bulks for herself.
She said she was drawn to the gathering after hearing that traders make significant sales during the event.
“People come here every year not just for prayers but also for business. I decided to give it a try, and so far, it has been a good experience,” she said.
Despite being new to the experience, Abiola expressed appreciation for the peaceful atmosphere and high patronage.
From MASFAT’s long list of subsidiaries, comes TAFSAN Investment, the company invested with multiple businesses, including asset managements.
Mr. Taofeeq Junaid, the General Manager of TAFSAN, told our correspondent that the importance of his team at the event was to ensure that worshippers conveniently access all NASFAT-branded items.
According to him, having TAFSAN present at the event provides a good shopping opportunity for attendees, saving them the time and cost of traveling to NASFAT’s head office at Adebo Close.
“Rather than going to the head office, they can pick whatever they need here, which is more convenient for them,” he added.
Junaid further noted that before the night prayers commence, businesses operate smoothly, allowing attendees to make their purchases early. “Laylatul Qadr is about worship, but business also thrives before the prayers begin, and everything works fine.”
With solid logistical arrangements, backed by different committee’s,.led by professionals, NASFAT was able to effectively manage the large crowd with zero emergencies.
With the mix of faith and commerce, the annual gathering continues to serve as both a spiritual and economic hub, drawing people from all walks of life to Asese.
