Okoro urges muslims to uphold piety

By Mustafa Abubakar

A Professor at the Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin Hussein Kehinde Okoro, has  called on Muslims to uphold genuine piety.

Prof. Okoro  made the call last Monday(March 2, 2026) at the Annual Ramadan Lecture of the Association of Muslim Elites (Al-Ameen) Owo, Ondo State, broadcasted on Alalaye Sunshine 96.5 FM, Akure, Ondo State.

The don described piety as the bedrock of Islamic spirituality and moral consciousness as he explained that fasting in Ramadan is divinely prescribed and not merely abstinence from food and drink, but the cultivation of Allah consciousness and strengthening of moral discipline.

Prof. Okoro identified different levels of fasting, including physical fasting, moral fasting that restrains the limbs from sinful acts, and spiritual fasting that purifies the heart from envy, hatred and hypocrisy.

Drawing from scholarly perspectives, Prof. Okoro said that piety is the effort targeted at building a protective shield between oneself and Allah’s displeasure through obedience and avoidance of sin.

Speaking on the components of piety, the renowned academic highlighted sincerity, patience, gratitude, humility, trust in Allah, and self-accountability as essential virtues that shape morally upright individuals and responsible societies.

He also outlined the virtues and benefits of piety, noting that it attracts divine guidance, forgiveness, blessings, inner peace, and success in this world and the hereafter.

According to him, Ramadan serves as a spiritual training ground designed to nurture and strengthen these qualities.

Prof. Okoro urged Muslims to demonstrate piety in practical terms through integrity in leadership, honesty in business, fairness in governance, and compassion in interpersonal relationships.

He reminded participants that piety is a lifelong commitment that must extend beyond the month of Ramadan.