The state-sponsored celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), originally traces back to the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt, which ruled between the 10th and 12th centuries. While the Fatimids initially marked the occasion alongside prominent members of the Ahl al-Bayt, a widely accepted narrative within Sunni Islamic history credits Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, the ruler of Erbil in modern-day Iraq, for organizing the first massive, festive celebrations that mirror contemporary practices. According to a BBC Hausa report, prominent Kaduna-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Halliru Maraya clarified this timeline,…
Category: Religion
Pilgrims Rejoice: NCPC Lifts Israel Pilgrimage Ban
Nigerian Christian pilgrims have cause to celebrate following the official resumption of holy travels to Israel. Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), broke the news after a comprehensive security assessment, declaring an end to the multi-month travel restriction. The commission had previously suspended all spiritual journeys to the Holy Land in February 2026, moving swiftly to safeguard citizens amid the outbreak of the highly volatile US-Israel-Iran regional conflict. According to an official statement by the NCPC Director of Media and Public Relations, Mr. Celestine…
Saudi Arabia Redefines Pilgrimage with 1-Year Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially launched a groundbreaking one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa. This landmark policy allows international pilgrims to enter the Kingdom multiple times, offering a generous cumulative stay of up to 90 days within a single year. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the newly introduced visa holds a 365-day validity period, starting from its exact date of issuance. To maintain seamless tracking and pilgrim safety under the revised system, travellers must purchase an official service package from an approved provider via the Nusuk…
Troops Foil ISWAP School Raid in Borno; 46 Rescued, Casualties Reported
In a fierce defense of national security, joint forces from Operation Hadin Kai and the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL) have crushed an ISWAP plot to kidnap students from the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) in Monguno, Borno State. The decisive interception halted what could have been a catastrophic mass abduction. Detailing the battlefield breakthrough in a Sunday press briefing, Operation Hadin Kai’s acting military information officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, confirmed that joint security forces successfully evacuated 46 students to safety during the chaotic firefight. The assault commenced under the…
World PR Day: How Strategic PR Secures National Progress — Lagos NIPR Chair, Samuel Ayetutu
In commemoration of World Public Relations Day 2026, the Chairman of the NIPR Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, has congratulated PR practitioners across Nigeria, with special recognition to members of the Lagos Chapter. He urged professionals to champion strategic communication as a vital catalyst for nation-building, peaceful coexistence, and sustainable development. In a statement released on Thursday by the NIPR Lagos Chapter Public Relations Officer, Dr. Oguchukwu Okeke, the Chapter Chairman, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, described this year’s theme, “The Golden Age of Strategic PR,” as both timely and instructive.…
Sea of Mourners Fills Tehran Streets for Khamenei’s Final Send-Off
A sea of mourners engulfed the streets of Tehra on Monday, July 6, for the funeral procession of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ahead of his burial this Thursday. Khamenei was killed during the opening salvo of the war involving the US and Israel. Iranian state TV footage captured tens of thousands of citizens lining a 10-kilometer (6-mile) route through the iconic Enghelab Square to catch a final glimpse of the leader’s flag-draped coffin, which was transported by lorry. The massive public procession took place after the leader’s…
Bumper Crop: Saudi Kingdom Kicks Off Early Date Harvest
The National Center for Palms and Dates in Riyadh launched its early harvest campaign on Saturday, June 20, marking the arrival of Saudi Arabia’s first fresh date crop of the season. Highlighting the seasonal calendar for early and mid-season dates, this new initiative is set to supercharge the agricultural sector. Arab News reports that the campaign will drive local marketing, unlock higher economic value, and fuel national economic growth. Driven by a booming demand for local dates, the initiative seamlessly links markets with premium early-season varieties. By integrating agricultural tourism,…
Saudi Authorities Suspend 21 Umrah Agencies Over Performance, Rules Breaches
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 service providers for failing to meet performance and regulatory standards during the recent season. According to an Arab News report on Saturday, June 13, evaluations of the firms revealed a decline in service quality alongside direct regulatory violations. ”The rulings were a reflection of the ministry’s commitment to providing high-quality services to pilgrims, it said. ” Of the companies suspended, 15 failed to achieve the necessary evaluation standards and six were found to have committed regulatory violations requiring corrective action,…
Court Orders Death Penalty for 4 Terrorists Linked to Owo Church Massacre
In a landmark judgment delivering long-awaited justice, a Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced four terrorists to death by hanging for their roles in the horrific June 5, 2022 Pentecost Sunday attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State which left about 40 worshippers dead and several others injured. Delivering the judgment, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted the four defendants on multiple terrorism charges, including conspiracy, membership in a terrorist group, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and executing the deadly church assault. The court held that the prosecution proved its…
A Cry for Justice: Islamic Scholar Laments Rise of Impunity and Killings in Kano
By:Bashir Hassan Abubakar In a sobering reminder of divine accountability, renowned Kano-based international Islamic scholar, Professor Muhammad Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemu, has vehemently condemned the recurring bloodshed and rampant thuggery plaguing Kano State. He declared the ongoing destruction of innocent lives as sacrilegious—a grave transgression against the Almighty, carrying a weight of divine punishment on the Day of Judgment that no human mind can fully quantify. Delivering a powerful message during his weekly radio and television questions and answers program, “Fatawowin Rahma,” the cleric wept for the soul of the…