Youth members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria under the aegis of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Nigeria have stood up to defend the personality of Prophet Muhammad (saw) in a rare procession in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State South-West Nigeria. The Walk-for-Muhammad procession was part of the group’s 43rd Annual National Convention, held between April 30 and May 3, 2015.

In a statement signed by the National President of the group, Bro Abdul-Qadir Abdul-Rafi, the group condemned the recent defamatory cartoons and insults being hurled at the personality of the Holy Prophet of Islam (saw) in the name of Free Speech, especially in the West.

According to him, Muslims “cannot pretend not to have been affected by such”. He noted that it was the duty of Muslim groups like the Majlis Khuddam to protect the honour of the Prophet against both internal and external onslaughts.

The procession, which was led by the Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria group, Alhaji Dr. Mash-hud Adenrele Fashola, saw over 2,000 youths in customized shirts with inscriptions such as “Muhammad: Messenger of Peace” walked in a single file over a distance of about five kilometres in Ijebu-Ode. Abdul-Rafi noted that this singular act of love towards the Holy Prophet was meant to raise awareness about the peaceful message of Islam and His Prophet.

Adorned with different banners bearing messages proclaiming Islamic teachings, the procession ended at the De-Prime Hall, Molipa Ijebu-Ode where a symposium on the theme: “The Role of Nigerian Youths in Peace Building, Reconciliation and National Development”, delivered by Dr. Abdul-Lateef Owoade, a lecturer at the University of Ilorin.

Speaking at the Symposium, Dr. Owoade expressed the need for Nigerian youths to be regarded as an important stakeholders in the quest to develop Nigeria and to be actively involved in such endeavour. The 43rd Annual National Convention (Ijtema) of the Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Nigeria also witnessed other community services, which included the provision of free healthcare to residents of Ijebu-Ode; exhibition of the history of Majlis Khuddam in Nigeria as well as a public environmental service provided by members.