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Thieves raid mosques, steal shoes, copies of Qur’an
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Federal University of Kashere Branch, has condemned the increasing cases of shoe theft and the disappearance of copies of the Holy Qur’an in mosques, describing the acts as shameful and inconsistent with Islamic teachings.
The Chairman of the society’s Media and Publicity Committee, Umar Al-Dukkawy, expressed concern over the trend while reacting to recent incidents reported in places of worship. He said such behaviour undermines the sanctity of mosques and damages the image of the Muslim community.
According to Al-Dukkawy, stealing from fellow worshippers in the House of Allah contradicts the values of honesty, integrity and respect that Islam upholds.
“To those who steal shoes in the mosque, know that this act is a great disgrace for a Muslim. How can someone come to the House of Allah for worship and then leave with another person’s property?” he said.
“Fear Allah and abandon this bad habit. The dignity of a Muslim is far more valuable than a pair of shoes. May Allah guide us all.”
Al-Dukkawy recounted the experience of an elderly worshipper who discovered that his shoes had been stolen after observing the Isha prayer.
“A few days ago, an elderly man came out after the Isha prayer and discovered that his shoes were missing. We helped him search for them, but they were nowhere to be found. At first, he thought he might have mistakenly exchanged them with someone else’s, but that was not the case. They had been stolen,” he said.
He noted that the situation could have been more difficult for the victim if he had not arrived at the mosque on a motorcycle.
The MSSN spokesman also narrated the experience of a friend whose newly purchased shoes were allegedly stolen at a mosque just two days after buying them.
According to him, the individual had spent almost all the money he had on the footwear after sacrificing other personal needs.
“He found a nice pair and spent almost all the money he had on them. He even denied himself buying other things just to afford those shoes. Yet, only two days later, he told me, ‘They were stolen in the mosque,'” Al-Dukkawy said.
He added that the incident affected his friend to the extent that he avoided using the same entrance of the mosque where the theft occurred.
While admitting that the incident initially appeared amusing, Federal University of Kashere said it reflected a deeper moral challenge that should concern the Muslim community.
“The incident made me laugh, but it also saddened me. Honestly, this is a shameful act. As a Muslim, your religion should make you a role model, not someone who steals shoes or copies of the Qur’an from the House of Allah,” he stated.
He urged worshippers to uphold the values of honesty, integrity and respect for sacred places, while calling on those involved in such acts to repent and embrace moral conduct.
Al-Dukkawy further stressed that mosques should remain places where worshippers feel safe and secure, warning that theft within such sacred environments erodes trust among believers and contradicts the spirit of communal worship.
He added, “May Allah guide us all.”