An Islamic cleric, Iskil Amza, has urged Muslim women not to make themselves objects of sexual attraction.

Mr Amza, who is Chief Imam of Oluwo-Arapaja, Odo-Ona Kekere Muslim Community in Ibadan, stated this in his Eid-el-Fitri sermon at the Oluwo-Arapaja praying ground on Wednesday, after leading the worshippers at the mandatory two-rakat prayer.

He expressed regret that many Muslim women had capitalised on the current economic downturn in the country to start obtaining loans with interest and joining cooperative societies that were forbidden by Islam, all in the name of making money.

“There is lots of evil in obtaining loans with interest and this is exactly what many of our women are doing today.

“In those days, our mothers, most of whom were petty traders, were able to send their children to school and even raised professors at that time.

“Unfortunately, evil has crept into society through the habitual practice of obtaining loans with interest by our women,” he said.

The cleric also advised women to stop the practice of wanting to look attractive at all costs, thus resorting to wearing indecent dresses.

“You can never be what Allah has not ordained you to be.

“You parents must try as much as possible to encourage your female children to dress the Islamic way in order to earn reward from Allah and prevent them from falling prey to people with evil intentions.

“It is sad that many parents, especially mothers, today now discourage their female children from wearing normal dresses because they want them to look beautiful by exposing parts of their body,” he said.

The Islamic scholar admonished women never to compete with their husbands for whatever reason.

According to him, any woman engaging in competition with her husband will, no doubt, jeopardise the future of her children.

“In Islam, wives are not expected to compete with their husbands; they must submit themselves to the authority of their husbands in all respects.

“Also, they must not set their children against their fathers,” he said.

Mr Amza also noted that going back to one’s past deeds after Ramadan meant that such a person’s efforts during the holy month were a total waste. 

(NAN)