Aregbesola declares tomorrow public holiday to commemorate new Islamic calendar year

Rauf Aregbesola

GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday declared tomorrow (Thursday) as a public holiday to commemorate the Islamic New Year.

Every Thursday, September 21, 2017 has been set aside is the New Islamic Year 1439 AH. The Islamic year started counting in 622 AD after the emigration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in Saudi Arabia. The governor had adopted the day as official public holiday in the state since November 15, 2012.

While wishing all the Muslims in the state and across the world a happy New Year celebration and enjoined residents of the state to continue living harmoniously and peacefully with tolerance and understanding, Aregbesola said as Muslims enter a New Year, they must not only celebrate but also strive, as part of what Allah commands them, to internalise the lessons and essence of the Hijrah as exemplified by uncommon patience and endurance of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the face of hardship.

He expressed hope that the New Year would usher the state into another era of economic prosperity, stability and peace, just as he tasked Muslims and other people of the state to imbibe the lessons of the Hijrah by leaving sinful and malfeasance practices that have been constituting stumbling block to the progress of the state and Nigeria.

Aregbesola, however, called on the Muslim faithful to intensify prayers for the nation against all manners of afflictions that we seem to be currently undergoing in term of economic hardship, and insecurity, praying for Allah’s intervention.