President calls on Maldivians to fully adhere to the teachings of Prophet Mohamed

MALE, May 24 (HNS) – President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Thursday called on the people to respect the exemplary guidance given by the Prophet Mohamed and to adhere fully to his Sunnah.At a function held at the Islamic Centre on the eve of the Holy Prophet's birthday anniversary, Gayoom said that Prophet Mohamed was the finest example of equanimity, modesty, and of helpfulness to people.The President emphasized that harshness and extremism were contrary to the example showed by Mohamed. He added that the objective of the commemoration of Mohamed's birthday, and in expressing joy on the auspicious occasion, should be the steadfast adherence to the noble teachings of the Holy Prophet.Gayoom stressed the important role of Islam in Maldives, noting that since Maldives embraced Islam, the country had enjoyed the status of being a 100 percent Muslim nation. He said that the Islamic character of the nation was not confined to the beliefs held by the people, but was also clearly identified and declared in the laws of the Republic. He expressed regret that although the nation had deep, firm, and exclusive ties with Islam, there were occasions, however rare they may be, when anti-Islamic views, projected from abroad, were aired in the country. He added that given the exclusive adherence to Islam in the country, there were elements abroad who wished to secure a toe-hold in the country for other religions. The President noted that Maldivian families living abroad were sometimes targeted in this strategy, and were lured in through innocuous offers of friendship and assistance. In this regard, he called on the people traveling overseas and families living abroad to be vigilant against the subversive intent and corrupt influence of such people. Gayoom said that the aim of celebrating the noble occasion of the Holy Prophet's Birthday should be to strive for and sustain the resolute adherence of the people to the teachings of the Holy Prophet in an unswerving manner.At the function, Presidential Trophies and Prizes for the winners of the 17th National Competition on the Recitation of the Holy Quran, and for the winners of the 7th Competition on Religious Essays and Religious Poetry, were given away by the President. He also gave away the prizes to those who had been certified as having committed to memory all the verses of the Holy Quran. Felicitating all the prize-winners on their achievement, the President expressed his joy that a large number of people were certified as having committed the entire Quran to memory. He said that their success was sufficient proof of the increasing respect and importance being accorded by the people to the Muslim holy book. The President noted that a large number of parents were giving a high priority to ensure that their children were able to study the Holy Quran. He added that the nation should draw joy from such efforts and further urged the parents to continue their endeavour. The President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim, also addressed the function. He said that one of the priorities set by the President on being elected to the office of the Head of State was to build the character of the people and the nation in various dimensions. He added that today, the nation was witnessing the fruition of those efforts. Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim also clarified some of the topical issues related to the practice of Islam in Maldives. After the function, the President met with those who had attended the event as well as with those who had received various trophies and prizes.