By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society has begun the planting of over 1,000 soursop trees across the country, as part of activities to mark this year’s Eid-el- Maulud (commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad).

The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah, Shiek Fuad Adeyemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Society had launched the “Project Make It Green” on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the initiative aims at promoting a green friendly environment in line with the dictates of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH.

The cleric explained that 1,000 of the trees would be planted in Abuja and environs, while the remaining would be planted in designated areas across the country.

“As we commemorate this year’s Maulud, we want the entire world to know what the Prophet Muhammad stood for, his missions and his messages.

“I think part of his greatest messages is the sustenance and conservation of the environment.

“The Prophet has given us lots of lessons and teachings as far as environment is concerned,” he said.

Adeyemi said that planting trees as encouraged by the Prophet will go a long way in addressing issues of climate change and other disasters like the recent floods in Maiduguri.

“The Prophet mentioned that we should plant trees and that animals that eat from it, humans that eat from it, people that stay under their shades would be counted as ‘Sadakat-ud-Jariyya’, for us, both here and in the hereafter.

“Also, if one look at the Maiduguri flood, it is 70% environmental related issue. Had it been we are proactive and listen to the messages of Prophet Muhammad I don’t believe this thing will have happened,” Adeyemi said.

He said that the choice of the soursop tree is due to the fact that medically the leaf cures so many sickness and the fruit is also very valuable.

The Imam admonished Nigerians to cultivate the habit of planting trees as encouraged by the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet to mitigate some of the environmental challenges facing the country. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza