I was shocked when I received the messages in the screenshots attached to this article yesterday. Shocked not just because he is a revert but also that, he was among those that hosted me in Abuja when I went to expose the fake cross appearing in a mosque story in Nasarawa. Not only that, I went with him and another brother to Asakio village where the incident was said to have occurred.
I will address two parties in this article…
MUSLIMS!!!
Publishers, observers and supporters of knowislam.com.ng held a meeting on 31st,December, 2017. Part of what we discussed was how to see to reverts’ problems. As the CEO, I was asked to address it, below is a summary of what I said;
“Today, we Muslims have misplaced our priorities. If Islam is not a religion from Allah, it could have been a thing forgotten. Today, what do we see? Debates, tantrums, curses, insults, labelling when there are many good things we can do for the ‘Ummah.
Like some do say, “ACADIP should teach their reverts to be upon the Sunnah”. ACADIP Nigeria only gives Da’wah and no member not even the Chief Lecturer would claim He or She is responsible for someone’s guidance. That said, Reverts to Islam especially in the south-west are not the properties of ACADIP NIGERIA. Reverts’ problem is not just ACADIP problem but a problem that should concern the ‘Ummah.
Yes! It is easy to say from a corner, “teach them Sunnah, what is ACADIP doing to teach the reverts” but getting involved in it is a problem. استغفر الله العظيم، once I created a whatsapp group, “Islam for the reverts”, added brothers I considered to be vast in Islamic knowledge, the fundamentals of the Deen, at least. It was Brother Johnson Abdulazeez Ayomide I asked to gather phone numbers of some reverts and in the group, over 100 reverts were added. استغفر الله العظيم، went to the extent of stating that any lecturer who has problem with data should get in touch. This group was created so the reverts especially those who still have issue with home and cannot dare to attend a Madrasah can learn the fundamentals of the Deen. Lecture in the group did not last a month before the lecturers got tired one after the other.
About a year ago, someone messaged me and talked about ACADIP having a school for reverts to teach them pristine Islam. I told him he is right then pleaded with him to make himself available so I could give him 10 reverts to be responsible for as regards imparting knowledge in them. He said, “I’m sorry, I’m a busy type” and I replied, “what keeps you busy also keeps us busy. You want to eat, we also want to. You want a house, we also want it too. What keeps you busy keeps us too busy!”
The issues of reverts particularly the knowledge and psychological aspects is something we need to sit down and deliberate upon. The reverts are increasing daily, AlhamduliLlah but those available to see to them are very few.”
At the meeting, we decided to set up a committee that would look into reverts’ cases. However, we were discussing the reverts we see, how about those we don’t know?” Seeing to reverts should be a collective responsibility but how to go by it is what I do not know”, I remarked.
Oh Reverts! Take this Admonition!
Indeed, Allah (SWT) sees all and He is the one to judge intentions. Before going on with this admonition, I seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and I seek refuge in him against Show off and self-appraisal. Ameen.
Many wonder how I and Eneye Ahmad Jamiu Emma got so close though we are from different states, tribes and of course, he is about 10 years older than I am. Alhamdulillah. In 2013, when I decided to debate him and some Muslims tutoring a Christian, I did not know that this person would later come to be a reason for me to rely solely on Allah (SWT).
AlhamduliLlah, I was guided to Islam in 2013, I did not even know there was a reception. Hustling from Ibadan to Ekiti, Oyo, Abeokuta, Lagos and Ondo from 2013 – 2014, the only Muslim I really talk to was Eneye Ahmad Jamiu Emma, the same who walked the path of thorns to graduate as a Journalist. Alhamdulillah.
Do I need to recall when we go to lectures, manage our 20mb data with his pitiable laptop and my almost shattered Nokia X2, the same I had most of my debates on debate.org with in 2014. استغفر الله العظيم.
By Allah, this path you are on is that of felicity, of eternal bliss, a blessing bestowed upon mankind by the Creator of the Worlds. The religion of Islam is that which cannot be practiced with emotions, desires and as the meaning of Islam is explained, Islam means total submission to the will of Allah. So, everyday when we observe Salah, we say in suratul Fatiha, “Iyyaka na’budu wa Iyyaka nasta’een”. It is Allah we worship and him alone we seek for help. This should be a reminder not just for reverts but all Muslims by birth.
He who has Allah has everything. Allah says,
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 144:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ
Muhammad (SAW) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.
SubhanAllah! In the tefsir of this Ayah, Abu Bakr said, “To proceed; whoever among you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, Allah is alive and will never die.”
Whoever bases his faith on Muslims will get disappointed except that he solely believes in Allah whom all Muslims look up to. Allah the says,
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 145:
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُّؤَجَّلًا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ
And no person can ever die except by Allah’s Leave and at an appointed term. And whoever desires a reward in (this) world, We shall give him of it; and whoever desires a reward in the Hereafter, We shall give him thereof. And We shall reward the grateful
Like Mallam Yusuf Adepoju said, “Man only awards but only God rewards”. This is for those whose intention is for the sake of Allah alone. If one’s intention is to please men, such award will suffice as a reward for him being a reward of this world he so much runs after.
So dear revert(s), Allah alone is sufficient for you and I will end this thus;
“Embrace Islam not Muslims”
Bashir Lucas Samson, ACADIP NIGERIA.
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