Ashoora: JNI asks Muslims to pray for end to insecurity

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has urged Muslims across Nigeria to use the voluntary Tasu’a and Ashoora fasting period to offer prayers for peace and an end to insecurity in the country.

In a statement issued in Kaduna by its Secretary-General, Khalid Aliyu, the Islamic organisation called on the faithful to observe the fasts on Wednesday and Thursday, corresponding with the ninth and tenth days of Muharram.

JNI said the call followed the declaration by the Sultan of Sokoto that June 16, 2026, marked the beginning of Muharram 1448AH, making June 24 and June 25 the days of Tasu’a and Ashoora respectively.

The group noted that fasting during Muharram occupies a special place in Islamic tradition and encouraged Muslims to maximise the period through prayers and acts of devotion.

According to the statement, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) described fasting in Muharram as the most rewarding voluntary fast after Ramadan.

JNI said the Sultan encouraged Muslims to seek Allah’s guidance and pray for national peace, stability and collective wellbeing during the period.

The organisation explained that Ashoora commemorates the divine victory granted to Prophet Musa (AS) over Pharaoh and urged believers to draw lessons from the event by seeking Allah’s intervention in Nigeria’s current security challenges.

It specifically called for prayers against banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of violence affecting communities across the country.

JNI also encouraged Muslims to engage in repentance, seek forgiveness and increase supplications, stressing that turning to Allah remains a pathway to relief from hardship.

The statement referenced verses of the Holy Qur’an to underscore the virtues of repentance and reliance on divine mercy.

JNI further urged Nigerians to remain law-abiding, uphold peaceful coexistence and continue contributing positively to national development while praying for lasting peace and security across the country.