Thousands of Muslims have gathered in Lagos for two days of prayers, lectures and supplications during the 2026 Maulud Nabiyy celebration organised by Luthfullah International in commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The yearly gathering drew Islamic scholars, clerics, members of the organisation and Muslim faithful who used the occasion to reflect on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet, while also offering prayers for peace, progress and development in Nigeria.

The founder of Luthfullah International, Sheikh Robiu Adebayo Abdul Malik, while speaking at the programme, said Muslims and other Nigerians should not distance themselves from politics, stressing that political participation is necessary for national development.

According to him, politics provides an avenue for people with different ideas and areas of expertise to come together, exchange knowledge, brainstorm and contribute to finding solutions to the challenges confronting the country.

“Politics is a must. It is about bringing knowledge together, brainstorming and finding solutions,” he said .

The cleric noted that the task of developing Nigeria could not be left to one individual or government alone, arguing that citizens with different expertise and perspectives have roles to play in the development of the country.

He said, “The work of the country cannot be done by just one person. That is why we have people who help the government, so that every area can feel the impact of governance and be properly taken care of.”

Sheikh Abdul Malik stressed that Nigerians might have different approaches and political ideas, but that should not prevent them from participating in the political process.

He also said Islamic scholars had a role to play beyond religious activities, particularly in advising leaders and speaking against actions capable of harming society.

According to him, clerics should use the teachings of Islam and the Qur’an to draw the attention of political leaders to areas where improvements are needed.

He said religious leaders should examine the performance of politicians and encourage citizens to assess political office holders based on their records rather than ethnic, religious, personal or partisan considerations.

“Bring out the work of politicians and look at it. If it is good, they deserve to be re-elected. Right from when someone begins as a councillor, judge the person by performance. Do not use favouritism,” he said.

“Our role as clerics is to call their attention to what they are doing and advise them where necessary.”

The cleric also urged Nigerians to continue praying for the country and its leadership, saying governance was a gradual process and no administration could solve all the country’s challenges at once.

Commenting on the current administration, Sheikh Abdul Malik said Nigerians should acknowledge areas where progress was being made while continuing to pray for the country.

“This present administration, we all know, is trying. We should continue to pray for it. There is no government that will do everything at once. It is a gradual process. No one person can finish the work of the country,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to remain committed to peace, constructive engagement and responsible citizenship.

The President of Luthfullah International, Dr. Abdulganiyy Agbaje, described the 2026 Maulud gathering as an important occasion for Muslims to deepen their knowledge of the life and virtues of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Agbaje said the programme was crucial to the organisation’s spiritual activities, stressing that, if possible, such a gathering should take place more frequently to remind Muslims of the importance of sending salutations and blessings upon the Holy Prophet.

He said the organisation would continue to educate its members on the significance of sending salutations to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), describing him as a mercy to mankind.

“God did not choose a particular day for us to praise the Holy Prophet, but we chose his birthday as an occasion to gather and do so. He is a mercy to mankind, and Allah enjoined believers to send salutations upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) at all times,” Agbaje said.

He explained that the gathering was also designed to teach younger generations the tradition of honouring the Prophet and following the example of previous generations of Muslims.

According to him, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) rendered enormous service to humanity through his teachings,
character and leadership.

“The Prophet did a lot of good for mankind. One of the rewards we can give him is to continue sending salutations to him. Anyone who does not send salutations upon him does not understand his impact on the world,” he said.

Agbaje also used the occasion to advise Nigerians on the forthcoming elections to examine the records of candidates before casting their votes.

He urged voters to look at what candidates had previously done for their communities and society rather than voting on the basis of sentiment or personal affiliations.

“Nigerians should look well and vote for the person who is doing good to society. Anyone who has not given to society before should be carefully considered when the time comes to entrust public responsibility to such a person,” he said.