WHERE THE LIONS FIGHT

— SANNI KAY YUSUF

Scholars are scattered. Students are shattered. And the ummah is consequently battered – like a butchered buffalo. Friends in faith are now foes in fright. The booming boat of da’wah now in gloom. To Allah I pray that the flu doesn’t end in doom, as remedy apparently not in sight.

When the young are in a feud, settlement comes from the elderly. But when the elderly are in a skirmish, especially where the dirty linen is washed in public, who will come to the rescue of the sinking ship?

Rather than make concerted efforts to douse tension and quell the inferno of crises among the elders, the young ones are fuelling the disaster by launching support for both parties against each other. They call elders names – people old enough to father them if not father their fathers. Loose youth with no home training! Uneducated literates not showing value for money spent on their education! Neither Islam nor the African culture is in support of sauciness and insolence. So from where did you get your training?

Not only are the elders in question of age. They are well read of the Islamic knowledge. They are scholars. They understand the Quran inside-out. They fathom the Sunnah enviably. And they’ve learned of the virtues of the Books that malice is not harboured beyond three days (لا يحل لمسلم ان يهجر اخاه فوق ثلاث), yet they aren’t reflecting it in their dispositions – the same people who are trusted with sermons and admonitions in our society. What will they say if assigned the topic for a talk? Will it not be a case of adhere to my word, not my action?

Sheikhs aren’t saints. They aren’t angels. They are fallible human creatures. They aren’t free from quarreling over spiritual or mundane matters. But if such would rear its ugly head, it should happen in a beautiful, mature manner – given their statuses as scholars and leaders. The lions should fight without the grass having a feel of the hit. And if it would, the polity should not be heated up. Can’t there be a healthy fight?

Confusion now reigns in the ummah. No one seems potent to settle the lingering scores among the elder folk. Move right, we’ve done our best. Turn left, we don’t know what else to do. That’s what I hear in my effort to see the omen end. I was with a sheikh last week, he said the same thing. Who then can hold the lions’ teeth from furthering their bites?

Why are the elders doing this to themselves? Can those close to them make them realise the damage they are doing the ummah? Should they not settle those scores here before the hereafter? Can someone remind them what they already know of Suratul Hujuraat (Suratul Akhlaaq)?

IN SILENCE THEY DIE

What the ears hear these days make the heart groan in pains of pity for the ones whose saddening tales are told. What the eyes see of marital brouhaha today make the sight blur to blindness. O Allah, we ask for safety.

No doubt, women are dying in silence, unfortunately in the hands of “faworajas” in whose appearance, expression, physiognomy piety smells like frangrance, but whose conjugal attitude is second to none in bankruptcy.

The case of a nursing mother who was locked up in the house for days by one draconian husband of hers still shatters my head beyond repairs. The inhuman, inhumane authoritarian was said to have acted the shaytan script on account of his suspecting of his wife being seen by another man. How on earth would a rational, responsible husband take a stringent action on a mere suspicion not adduced with verifiable facts? Even if the suspected was culpable as conjecturally alleged, how was the action taken a corresponding measure to nip the omen in the bud? What is wrong with our brothers? What are we turning women into?

There is no perfect marriage anywhere. But marital imperfections shouldn’t be handmade; they shouldn’t be avoidable blunders that would eventually result in regrets. The standard spouses wanted of each other could never be met 100 percent. That’s the only marital impossibility I know. We’ve got to tolerate each other. And where there seems to be no solution to discords, asking her to go or asking of him a relief is a healthier path to toll than resort to animalism.

Today, some brothers do what hypnotized fellows will never do. They do worse things to their women. And when (as leaders who should be just during arbitration) they are sermonised or sometimes scolded for their meanness to their women, the song lyrics changes against the arbitrators. Some brothers have ears but are deaf; some have mouths but are dumb. Their brains have been beclouded by selfishness and arrogance. اللهم سلم!

The one who beats up his wife at the slightest provocation wants the imam to pat him on the back for an exercise well done. If he is told the bitter truth, the arbitrator becomes his enemy. The one who drops little or nothing for up-keep and expects plenty in the pot and at meal time wants the imam to give him kudos for doing extraordinarily well in his discharge of statutory duties. And where the arbitrator sees his flaws as faults, he becomes an enemy.

Women are dying in silence. They cannot speak out because they fear the roaring of their husbands. And slowly, they are dying. They emaciate, look husband-less, develop high blood pressure etc. And by the time their voices would be heard, the damages in their lives would have surpassed remedies.

Mischievous elements tend to blame Sunnah for the excesses of the faworajas. Fear Allah, o apparent liar! Everyone knows that maltreatment of women contravenes the Sunnah. Allah abhors it. The Prophet preached against it. So whoever acts contrary to such does so as voluntarily wished by him.

Days ago, a popular Bollywood actress posted on her Facebook page, announcing to her fans, colleagues and the world that she is leaving the movie industry.

Zaira, 18, best known for her role in the 2016 movie, ‘Dangal’, as a wrestler has come under intense criticism and applause from the public. In 2017, she starred as an aspiring singer in the musical drama, Secret Superstar. The movie ranks as one of the highest-grossing Indian films.

While some supported the Kashir born Muslim teenager, some of her colleagues and fans have reacted with hatred and some others, negative advices they think are correct.

A tweet…

Dear #ZairaWasim I respect your decision of quitting movies. I don't agree with the reasons that you've given. I think you're an incredible actress and you can do so much more with your career.

I genuinely hope you'd rethink and continue to pursue Acting…

Best wishes!!

— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) June 30, 2019

Thank you, Faridoon. It is our prayer that she remains steadfast on the religion of Islam and that your hope never materialize.

Another tweet,

Respect choice of Zaira Wasim quitting acting in movies but she can’t invoke religion and faith to justify this. Are others in the field some kind of sinners?This dawning of new reality should be her own truth & her own interpretation of religion. Period.

— Imtiyaz Hussain (@hussain_imtiyaz) July 1, 2019

Imtiyaz Hussain, may Allah rectify your Islam. Aameen.

To answer your question, Zaria’s note did not accuse anyone of being a sinner. However, people need to strive to be better Muslims. What do you say to a Muslimah that uncovers her hair, wear indecent dresses?

Leaving the industry is not her own interpretation of the religion of Islam, rather a proper understanding and representation of what Islam is and what is expected of a Muslim. There is nothing Islamic in Bollywood.

Religion is never against culture, arts and entertainment. It’s a proponent of it. To each his own. Religion must really be laughing at this. So am I. #ZairaWasim
Damaged My Relationship With Allah": Actress Zaira Wasim Quits Filmshttps://t.co/04zeHjDBng

— Atika Farooqui (@atikafarooqui) July 1, 2019

Dear Atika, which religion did you say is not against culture, arts and entertainment?

The religion of Islam is against any aspect of those three that contradicts the teaching Islam.

Common in many culture is Shirk, meaning associating partners with God. In clearer terms, idolatry, worshiping and relying on deities, gods other than the creator. Islam frowns against this aspect of culture.

Of arts, Islam frowns against making statues, the foundation of idolatry.

If uncovering the air, dressing half nude, drinking alcohol, free mixing are your definitions of entertainment, Islam frowns it.

Islam is not laughing at Zaira as mockery but of pleasure. Our prayer is that this tears you call laughter should not follow you to the grave.

On the other hand, Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir tweeted,

Who are any of us to question @ZairaWasimmm’s choices? It’s her life to do with as she pleases. All I will do is wish her well & hope that what ever she does makes her happy.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 30, 2019

Zaira’s note

Zaira wrote in simultaneous posts on her social media profiles,

“This field indeed brought a lot of love, support and applause my way, but what it also did was to lead me to a path of ignorance, as I silently and unconsciously transitioned out of ‘imaan’,”

“While I continued to work in an environment that consistently interfered with my ‘imaan’, my relationship with my religion was threatened,”

Maa Shaa Allah. The unbelievers, the hypocrites, liberals and modernists will not be pleased with her decision. Fortunately, Zaira decided to please Allah, which is the most important thing.

This is a reminder to many others in the shoe she used to be in. The love, praise and support you get may be because you are selling your hereafter for this world!. The likes of Cat Stevens cal learn from this. May Allah guide him. Aameen

It is inspiring that an 18-year old could retrace her steps while many keep swimming in kufr. We thank Allah for his guidance.

We ask Allah to make Zaira steadfast.

THIS IS HOW A MUSLIMAH IS:

Leaving home
at the time when
cocks crow in corners,
when birds chirp in nests
& the street is set alive with its daily
hustlers,
she comes out in her Divine regalia,
representing Islam & walking; ‘ala istihyah.¹

Speaking at gatherings,
with words placed on measurement; not too excessive, not too short,
neither so loud, nor so low,
for the loudest of voice,
becomes the braying of an Ass.

Her Hijab is a cover,
screening her from the evil eyes & the thoughts of whom their souls have been set ablazed with impurities,
for that is the injunction of her Lord:
”Yudniina alayhinna min jalaabibihinna”²

A wife; whom one
will find solace with.
A daughter; whose chastity becomes one’s gateway to Paradise.
And a caring mother,
mothering children upon the Creed of the righteous predecessors.

A Muslimah is like that,
a Muslimah is a full package;
one you marvel at each time you take a glance,
in this world & the next.

Footnotes:
_____
¹ ‘ala istihyaa: with shyness.
² Yidniina alayhinna min jalaabibihinna: to bring down over themselves part of their outer garments (Qur’an Chapter 33, verse 59).

— Ahmed Bukar (Ibn_Islam)

THE DEEN; ISLAM

— Abubakar Aasiya Eleojo (Qalbin Muneeb)

“Indeed the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam”(Qur’an 3: 19).

From the root ‘س’ and ‘ل’ and ‘م’
Sprouts the stem of the deen;
Submission.
Budded with a ‘م’
Emerges the word ; Muslim.
The blessed one who submits.
A submission to none but Allah.

Allah, the one.
He is Allah, the great.
His greatness is of the greatest magnitude.
His full description’s nothing you know.
Never have you seen Al Baseer
Always does He see you.
Strive hard for His Jannah
And by His permission shall you see Al Qawiyy.
The greatest joy in Jannah indeed.

His deen you might find a bit odd
Or maybe really unusual
But trust me, it isn’t a cod.
It is the true order of Allah
For all true good it gives a prod.

People say Islam’s no fun
And only has things we’re to shun.
But, that’s untrue, it only says khayr be done
To merit a world of stun
Spring, wine, honey, milk
Unperceivable beauty, solely worship and pleasure.

Here, you could be nothing of a cornerstone
For you, a nonexistent anemone
But here is the deen ; Islam.
Reminds we’ll go on an ineluctable trip
That too, all alone.
Taking aboard no wealth
Tells us to live devout
Only so on the day, we won’t bemoan.

Islam, a Muslim’s backbone
More precious than a gemstone.
By this dunya we are not blown
Coz we know it’s not our own.
So we lead our lives each day
Trying to please Allah
For we know,
That’s the way to His Jannah.
And though we are laid with trials and tests,
Some we pass, others we fail
His mercy does forever prevail.

Thence!
A plague afflicts a multitude amongst us
We loosen up ourselves,
We do not follow the commands of Al A’zeez.
We’re way too forgetful
And almost never regretful.

Al Hakam destroyed Fir’aun, Ad and Thamud
His anger at us may be only accrued.
We memorize He’s Ghafuur-ur-Raheem
But discard He’s shadidul iqab.

How about we awaken?
And become more pleasing to our Rabb.
We make Jihad our life’s goal,
Not with swords and shields
But with iman and taqwa.

How about we remind ourselves always
That angels sit on both our shoulders
They write and write and write and write.
The dunya’s not but an essay
Thus, egresses one of two;
Eoinian dolour
Or eternal bliss.
The bliss we yearn for, so shun Iblis.

Iblis, the rajim.
As sly as a Fox
Certainly accursed.
Cleverer than the tortoise,
Tries to take us from being orthodox,
But His plan is weak.
Allah Himself said so.

So at the time of trials,
When pain and cataclysms thrive
And at the times of tests
When Shaytan seems powerful
Do not fear and do not grieve
You have the deen of Allah
You have the greatest wealth
The Shaytan can’t beat you.

Wanna know what’s best?
The deen’s perfectly downright.
No mistakes, no errors, just a guide
To ensure you get home with pride.

Put your trust in Allah
Have faith, work hard, bear sabrun jameel, beautiful patience.
Allah will help you overcome it all.
He won’t forsake you.
He only wants to test you.
So long as you stay good
And always make istighfar,
He’ll be with you always.
For He is Al-Raqeeb, the caretaker.

— Qalbin Muneeb

UNLEARN THE ISLAM YOU THINK YOU KNOW, O TRUTH SEEKERS

By Sanusi Olawale ibn AbdulWasiu

Many lies have been told. Different fabrications have been made. It is always Islam against them; the unknowledgeable bigots, the alleged Islamic State, the dishonest critics, and Christian apologists. They all have one mission- to rub the name of Islam in the mud.

Amidst all these, Islam still flies high among world beliefs. It still remains the fastest growing religion in the world, a fact verifiable anytime. For every one that is deceived out of Islam, hundreds return to the religion of Allah. Beautiful preaching, logics and facts are the tools of Islamic preachers but over times we have heard and seen fabrications by Christians. Mario Joseph the alleged former “Parish Imam” is an example. His lie traveled far and wide, but only the gullible can swallow such a compounded trash. Recently a former colleague who is also a friend on Facebook posted Mario’s video. He was so full of confidence it could win him likes and probably change the mind of some others about the real Islam. He stressed the point that, Jesus is God. As if that was not enough, he then use it to throw a jab at Islam, that some kill in the name of religion. Immediately I saw the post, I didn’t let it go freely. It already had a comment, a fellow Christian who had shown her satisfaction about the post. I just simply laughed over the video, posted a website link that refuted every lie Mario had concocted, and dropped a one million dollars request “Show me a single verse in the Bible that says Jesus is God”. As for the killings, “It will be better if we call these killers their real names instead of attaching them to a religion”, I concluded. I knew he has no answer to my request, so I was less bothered if he answered. I met my objective; to simply show him Mario Joseph is a LIAR.

Just in last Ramadan, another one surfaced. One Muhammad Ajwa Bello recorded how he met master Jesus. He has also been proven to be a liar. Only people with “holy spirit” believe lies like that. After all master Jesus himself declared:

Matthew 24:23
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

So is there any reason to believe he actually saw Jesus like Paul the 13th Apostle?

O truth seekers, it is actually Allah Who guides. But have you been presented to the light and truth of Islam and need to say the Shahada soonest? YES?

Presently, I’m going to require you to forget all that you contemplate about Islam.
Here is the reality: we live in a culture that has Islam’s vision concealed in equivalent parts of islamophobic and lies.

As outcasts to the religion, we are soaked with deception — both positive and negative. In case you’re thinking about Islam as way to follow, you’re ideally less immersed with the islamophobic nightmare version of the religion, however in the event that you don’t separate with the dream presently, down the line those rose shaded glasses will finish up causing stumbling blocks.

Islam as a religion is not characterized by the pictures you see on Television. It is a religious convention that stands free from purported “Islamic culture”. Islam isn’t characterized by it’s social items or well known practicioners.

Disregard the alleged “Islamic State”, overlook Abubakar Shekau. Disregard each one of those media stories about “bad Muslims” breaking generalizations. These social, political markers can be significant passage focuses to the religion, yet on the off chance that you let them characterize your impression of Islam you end up conveying along the social baggage that is a result of hundreds of years of Judeo-Christian Western/American normativity.

I need you to concede that you know literally nothing about the purposes of Islam. You can’t be familiar with each harmful thought that has been borne in your orientalist/islamophobic head, and expect it to work out. Don’t learn from the Media. It’s high time you met a real Muslim. One of the few trusted source of learning Islam is www.knowIslam.com.ng. Ask us questions, we shall answer with utmost sincerity. You can as well visit our eBooks session. May Allah guide you aright! Ameen

Unlearning Islam is a progressing procedure, and a basic one to genuinely grasping the faith later on. I wish you a safe journey into a real Islam. Learn it, may Allah guide you!

FREEDOM FROM FITNAH (F³)

(As published on the 23rd of June 2019, in the 18th edition of Al-Bayaan Magazine; A publication of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Unilorin Chapter).
_______
وَٱتَّقُواْ فِتۡنَةٗ لَّا تُصِيبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ مِنكُمۡ خَآصَّةٗۖ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ

And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty.

-Sura Al-Anfal, Ayah 25
____
Fitnah is a bane
of nine-hundred-and-
ninety-nine or infinite
doors
to its abode,
with unclosed oculi.

see;
shinning bracelets
jingling anklets
skimpy shorts
tight clothings;
advertising cleavages cum
obscenity —
in the open,
are fitnah.

tailing the opposite sex
in submission,
while cornering a meek smile
towards an enclosed space
with no mahram in sight — fitnah.

Not taking caution by its ears,
in entering upon the female folks
when they are highly vulnerable
opens the oculus to temptations,
for even one’s In-law is death.

Words flying from ignorant mouths
targeted at issuing rulings
which even those with knowledge
are keeping mum,
with thought burning heads — fitnah.

And if one does not tame his eyes
from gazing on every figure
or what lies between the thighs,
from falling into diverse orifices;
the evil therein overpowers
the pleasure.

But freeing one’s self from fitnah
lies in adhering
to the Kitab & Sunnah.

— Aladodo Abdus-Salam.

Shehu Abdus-Salam Aladodo is a graduate of Islamic Studies from the University of Ilorin, a seasoned writer who wields his pen for Islam. He hopes for death after having fulfilled his religious obligations.