Christian apologists employ all techniques to win souls for Christ. They go as far as using natural phenomena like death and calamity to convince one to become a Christian though they occur in the church.
They are quick to point out that someone who is a non-christian died because he exposes the truth about the bible and the church. When bro Akbar Sidi died in his 70s, facebook Christian apologists celebrated his death to the glory of Christ.
When a crane fell in Saudi Arabia killing some and injuring others, the comments of many Christian evangelists were shocking. many said, “Allah cannot save”, some said, “where is Allah?”. When synagogue collapsed and of recent, a church in Uyo killed many people after its collapse, they didn’t ask where is Jesus.
Not long ago, I wrote an article narrating the number of road accidents I have been involved in from January to December and AlhamduliLlah, nothing evil happened. I remember beseeching Allah that no one from amongst notable people who do Da’wah should die till either one or all of the Christian apologists die or embrace Islam if He wills so that when any of us die, there won’t be room for mockery that lukewarm Muslims will not ignorantly see Islam as an abode of death or calamity when in reality, they are natural phenomena.
As Allah willed, Cazzie Hassan, someone who hates Islam and Muslims to the core, a renowned facebook apologist died yesterday.
However, this is not intended to mock the dead but that they will know that death is a certainty not a price. Allah says,
Surat Ali ‘Imran [verse 185] – “Every soul will taste death…”
” verily, to your Lord is the return of all” Qura’n 96:8
“for to Us(Allah) is the return of man, then it will be for Us to call them to account” Qur’an 88 verses 25-26 (Interpretation of the meaning)
Death is a certainty, an inevitable event and “do not die except as a Muslim”.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَرْعَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا وَائِلٍ عَنِ الْمُرْجِئَةِ،، فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” سِبَابُ الْمُسْلِمِ فُسُوقٌ، وَقِتَالُهُ كُفْرٌ ”
.
Narrated ‘Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (an evil doing) and killing him is Kufr (disbelief).”
Sahih Bukhari
(Belief)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 48
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 41
Let’s keep it in mind that whatever we are doing it for the sake of Allaah. If you are obeying your husband, have it in mind that you are doing it for the sake of Allaah.
If you are pleasing your wife, do it for the sake of Allaah that Allaah may reward you for that.
Many marriages are failing today because the husband asks for more than he has as a right or that a wife asks for more than she has as a right. Remember, a right of the spouse is “mandatory” on his/her partner.
The second problem is the way children are brought up by parents. Are you bringing your daughter up to understand that she is going to be a wife and will live under a man? Are you grooming your son as a husband who will take care of a family?
Instead of teaching kids the “original intelligence” they need to succeed in life and in future matrimony, the only thing parents are teaching them is “artificial intelligence”
Allaah says in the Qur’an that women are equally entitled to rights that must be fulfilled by their husbands just as men do over the women. This verse of the Qur’an should make feminists know that Islaam doesn’t give women their rights.
There’s a story of Abu Dardaa who would fast all day and pray all night without having any need for his wife, Ummu Dardaa. One day, Slamaan Al Faarisii, Abu Dardaa’s brother came to visit him and got to know Abu Dardaa doesn’t give marital rights to his wife.
When Abu Dardaa came, Salmaan made him eat even when he was fasting and he stopped him two times in his attempt to perform Qiyaamul Layl until the third part of the night when they both performed Naafilah. When the day broke. Salaman Al Faarisii told his brother Abu Dardaa “Certainly, your Lord has a right over you and your soul has a right over you and your family has a right over you. Therefore, fulfill every person’s rights”. After hearing his brother scold and admonish him, Abu Dardaa went to report Salman to the Prophet. The Prophet said “Salman is right”.
There’s a case of a brother who told me he said to his wife “I know you married me because of my money. You see, your ‘mouth won’t touch from it. As I speak, both are divorced’ “.
It’s unfortunate that some sisters don’t look out for responsible men but comfortable men. Whereas if you marry a comfortable but irresponsible man, you will not be comfortable. But if you marry a responsible man, you will be comfortable. Even if he is not, you will be.
In his sermon during his last pilgrimage, the Prophet instructed the Muslims to “give women their rights”. According to the Shaykh, this is the fourth thing he mentioned.
“A responsible man must look for a submissive woman who will flow congruently with her. Two buttons don’t make a closure. If you have two button holes, your shirt will be left open. If you have two buttons, your chest will be exposed”
As much as we train our children to be accountants, we should train them to be responsible spouse. How many engineers and accountants who committed suicide because of the frustration they encountered from their spouses. Abu Naasir.
I’ve brought ten points on the rights of men and ten on women. If I start with that of men, the feminists will accuse me of male chauvinism, even though the last time I started with the rights of women. That said, I’ll still start with the rights of the women.
Rights of women are due to from their husbands.
1. The right to be treated well. Allah says “And live with them with RESPECT”. The Prophet also said, “The best of this Ummah is the best to his wife, and I am the best to my family”. Concerning this Hadith, Ulamaa said that if a man is good to his wife, it is likely that he is good in his religion.
Right 2 is “spending” on her. It’s a wrong statement to accuse a woman for being a burden on her husband for not working, since it’s the husband’s responsibility to that. This is a must even if the wife is a millionaire.
Also, spending on the wife must be according to the Husband’s ability. If a woman asks for 10k and the husband can afford it, then it’s a right of the wife that he gives it. That said, the woman should fear Allaah whenever she asks and the husband can’t afford it.
Allaah says “Let whoever has been granted a vast provision spend from it. And whoever has little, let him spend from the little he has….. Allaah will bring ease after hardship”.
It’s part of goodness for the husband to give his wife 15k when she asks for 10k. Allaah will reward him for that. And it’s equally good that when a woman asks for 10K and the husband can afford 4k, then the wife should be patient.3rd wife is CLOTHING (in capital).
4th is ACCOMMODATION. Allaah says “The one who the wife has birthed a child for (i.e the husband) must provide food and clothing with fairness”.
The rights of the wife must be fulfilled according to the wife’s need and d husband’s ability. For instance, if your wife wants to buy Bag and Shoe 100k (the audience murmur and laugh) and d husband can afford 20k. It’s not good for the wife to create a scene because of that.
The Shaykh said, the Prophet explained that the poor women of Israeel would ask their husbands to buy for them what the wives of the rich had. The Prophet said “The Dunya has been made lush green for you. So, fear Allaah and be careful of WOMEN, for the first Fitnah that happened to Banu Israaiil happened because of their women”.
The Shaykh said “Don’t kíll your husband with your needs. Don’t push him into fraud because of your needs. Don’t frustrate your husband your husband with your needs”.
And the Shaykh shared some very frank scenarios from the Prophet’s life whilst defining the basic apartment that a man should have to marry a wife.
From the rooms of the wives, especially the room of Aisha. There’s definition of standard room which is all rooms with their toilets (en-suite). Her needs and his abilities with the apartment needed.
If, however, a woman wants to marry a man who is at par with her in understanding of the Deen, then the husband must provide a means for her to learn the Deen.
5th right: Teach her the Deen. This is one of the reasons for which a woman can marry a man – so that she can learn her Deen from him. “Don’t marry a man who is just getting better in his Deen”.
6th right : He should not mention or publicize her faults. For instance, if a man’s wife does not know how to cook, the man must send her to go and learn to cook. By that, he benefits from it when she learns and cooks for him. It’s not beneficial for a man to Share the picture of his wife on social media, for it is likely that other men see the picture and like her wife. Meanwhile it is fisq for a man not to feel jealous when another likes his wife. Part of this 6th right is also that she has a right that the husband ‘GISTS’ with her.
The Prophet used to gist with Aaisha. The Shaykh added that “the husband must not forget the wife’s level before he married her”. For instance, the Prophet (saw) used to joke with Aisha and ask her questions about her doll. Imagine that!!! Maa Shaa Allaah!
Be positive in your thoughts about your wife. Even if she does something suspicious, you must be man enough to aks her about it. Allaah forbids us to have negative thoughts about one another.
It is very dangerous for a man not fulfill his conjugal rights with his wife. Then the Shaykh shared an experience of a woman who sought divorce because her husband couldn’t satisfy her in relations. Who would supplicate to Allaah to strengthen his private part for his wife (s).
It’s possible for a man not to know that he is weak in bed. The moment he finds out, he should seek to improve himself. He can meet with Scholars to explain him on that. He can also pray to Allaah to strengthen him on that. He cited the instance of one of the Salaf..The man can also take drugs/ medicine on this. And the Shaykh mentioned that it is said that taking a boiled unripe plantain with honey.
10th right is to fulfill conjugal rights with her. A man must be able to satisfy her wife in bed such that when he finishes with her she says “Maa Shaa Allaah”. The Shaykh said, “that’s the real Nikaah”.
Now, the Shaykh moved on to the
Rights of the Husband.
No. 1 is to obey him in his commands. This is compulsory except if the affair is haraam.
And the Shaykh rè-emphasized here that women must marry a responsible man. If she does, she will always understand his actions. Don’t marry a man you can not obey in “any circumstance” . Don’t marry a man that’s not responsible.
Right No. 2 is to SERVE his NEEDS: cook for him, wash his clothes, iron them and be always there to meet his needs.
Women don’t have any problem in Islaam. The Prophet (saw) said “as long as she observes her prayer (Salah) fasts her fast (Ramadan) and obeys her husband, she will enter Jannah from any door she wishes”.
The Shaykh added that Faatimah is better than any other woman on earth and her father is better than our fathers.
When Faatimah complained to her father of her plight (that she has a tedious work), the Prophet did not giver her a slave. Rather, he told her whenever you are tired, say “SubhaanaLLaah 33, AlhamduliLlaah 33, Allaahu Akbar 34,” before you sleep.
3rd Right. She should be grateful to him and not undermine his efforts. The Prophet says “Allaah will not look at a woman who does not appreciate her husband in spite of the fact she can not do without him”.
4th right : respect yourself regarding your husband. It’s not right to be married and be chatting with some other man. Then he shared an experience that happened while he was in Kaduna of three friends who sought to marry one lady. In the end, one of the three friends married the lady and one night, the husband was going through his wife’s phone and saw his friends number on his wife’s phone (his friend chats his wife). That husband took a knife and stabbed his friend to death.
5th right : she must not allow anyone into the house except the one the husband likes.
There are two issues around this :
1. The husband must know everyone who comes into his house such that if a problem happens, he knows the source. 2. The husband must know everywhere his wife goes.
6th right: she should not deny him whenever he invites her to bed. And the Shaykh shared an experience of man who came to him to report his wife because she would wear nice things in the house and whenever the husband admired her. She said, “You better don’t deceive yourself. Only your eyes has seen it, your mouth will not touch it.” Abu Naasir said, so I followed him immediately to his wife and asked him to summon his wife. Immediately, the woman said the issue is over. The audience laughed.
7th right :she must not anger him even in revenge. The Prophet (saw) said, “Whenever a woman hurts her husband, the Hur (virgins of Jannah) would say” Don’t hurt our husband. He is only a stranger with you. He will soon come to us”.
8th right : she should not remind him of any good she has done for him. Allaah says “Oh you who believe. Don’t spoil your Sadaqah with hurt and by reminding your beneficiary (of the charity).
9th right :she should not ask for DIVORCE without a genuine reason. The Prophet (saw) says that “Women who ask their husbands for divorce without a genuine reason are hypocrites. They will not enter Jannah or smell its fragrance”.
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir was born Kennedy Otieno Ombat in a remote village at the Lake Victoria neighborhoods of Nyanza Province in the larger Western part of Kenya in East Africa. He was born to a Christian family and was bred the same. He graduated from the University of Tel-Aviv in Israel in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Forensics. He graduated in 2004 from a Theological College in Kenya with a Diploma in Christian Theology specializing in Missionary work and Apologetics. He was an ordained Pastor and began his Christian Ministry in the Coastal town of Mombasa Kenya.
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir reverted to Islam on the 27th of February 2005 after a month-long interactive discussion in the open with Muslim propagators and eventually couldn’t deny the truth further. He was immediately admitted to Majlis Al Maarif Al Islamiiya in the Coastal region in Kenya and graduated in the year 2008. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in South Africa in 2018. He further holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the Faculty of Da’wah from Azhar University in Egypt.
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir has seen many achievements directly and indirectly in the field of Da’wah not only in his homeland Kenya but globally too. At the end of the year 2017, he, alongside his Daawah Partner, Engineer Abdurahman Abdulghany, a young vibrant debater in comparative Daa’wah and a Mechatronics Engineer in Kenya, managed to convert 387 men and women in Polokhwane area in South Africa. The same trend was replicated in Lusaka Zambia where they did the first-ever Comparative debate and managed to convert a sizable number of people before doing the same in Zimbabwe too. Swaziland and Lesotho are awash with their converts and students. In Manilla Philipines, the dynamic Duo managed to convince and convert as many people into embracing Islam and the number keeps growing.
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir is a practicing Criminal Forensic Scientist besides being a seasoned Daa’wah Activist both in Kenya and Africa at large. By his own words, he confesses that he spends less time in the forensic lab than he does on the fields of Da’wah. To say the least, we see another Dr. Zakir Naik of Africa who downed his Surgical tools for teaching the Quran and Daa’wah in General. Sheikh Omar introduces Islam to the rural villages of Africa and the result is amazing.
• In September the 9th 2017, he managed to convince a whole church of the Last Call Appeal Church headed by Bishop Charles Okwany and all embraced Islam in his hands. 77 members embraced Islam and many more followed.
• On the 14th February 2019, as he was officiating over the opening of the new Mosque which was a former church, he managed to preach to his Luo tribesmen and allured them into the religion of Allah.
• 2019 has been his best year of harvesting that has realized 5 churches closing their doors and embracing Islam. Single-handedly he has preached and convinced pastors and bishops in his rural area to accept Islam and as we went to press, over 8000 men and women have embraced Islam in his hands directly this year only.
• Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir has established a strong Daa’wah network in Kenya and is the C.E.O of Greenfield Society, the Daawah outfit under which he carries out his operations in Kenya, and is an authority in Da’wah and the right reference if one was to consider visiting East Africa for any Daa’wah activity.
• He is an author worth mentioning having authored 6 book titles and several academic papers and articles; 4 of his books being in his native Luo Language and the remaining two in English. His latest books: Slaying in the name of the Lord, and, Slavery, Terrorism and Islam are yet to be launched early next year Inshaallah.
• Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir is the first scholar in the history of Islam in Kenya to have translated the entire Glorious Quran from Arabic to Luo Language; spoken by over 10 million individuals in east Africa. This piece of achievement has made him to be recognized by top most Kenyan Muslim Scholars and the general public too.
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir is also the President of the African Reverts Foundation, a body he helped found which champions for the rights of the Reverts in Africa with the headquarters in NAIROBI Kenya. He is a family man and the proud father of 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls
Al-Hajj Omar Al Bashir
C.E.O, Greenfield Society, Kenya
President, African Revert Foundation.
Facebook: Omar Al Bashir
If anyone would talk ill of the MSSN, definitely not me – a beneficiary of its milky honey! That was the grass I paddled on to the grace I am currently footed. MSSN picked me up from the filthy mud of shirk and cleansed me up to become a better Muslim. To the pathfinders of the organization and our trainers I owe eternal gratitude and on them I will forever rain streams of prayers.
Anyone born of and/or bred in Ikorodu (its sububs not inclusive) would attest to the prevalence of shirkiyyaat, bid’aat and moral decadence in the town. Unfortunately, those who carried the emblem of Islam as sheikhs, alfas etc. in those days (aside a few who had themselves distinguished) were discreetly involved in the mess. And that gave room for the products of the existing madaaris to be ill-baked, and our mosques administered by polytheistic imams.
We were sunk in that messy, muddy Islam until MSSN came to our rescue. On transition to final year at secondary school, I was christened general secretary of the branch. That gave impetus to my activeness, and my Islam refined and redefined, courtesy of the weekly usrah of the Area Council and several other programmes I accorded optimal attention.
Imbibing the Islamic Ideals and values taught to us in MSS, I had a complete change of lifestyle. That though wasn’t without its accompanying challenges, but we had been taught to be steadfast barring all adversities.
We looked up to the leaders and elders. We wanted to be like them. So we were stimulated to memorizing the Qur’an competitively. We wanted to dress like them. So we would drag up our trousers on or above the ankles (even though that has been disposed in the bin now. I see some today, and I hardly believe my sight). Allaahumma sallim!
MSSN built public confidence in us. I couldn’t believe myself being a compere at such a tender age – a benefit that remains a value in me till today. MSSN had a significant touch on my writing dexterity. Writing of minutes, reports, letters etc. had a great deal of merits on me. These values I consolidated on transition to the university, especially as a unionist.
Someone like me and those who had sipped from the sweet juices of the MSSN well will never talk ill of the organization. Never! Numberless were those who never had pristine Islam until their romance with the MSSN in the higher institution. But for the MSSN, many would have lived a life of casanovas and whores. Thanks to the harbingers who paved the way we routed to our current destination. May they be rewarded in full.
However, things fell apart when the MSSN became a veritable tool in the hands of some organizations to propagate their ideologies. When I discovered that I was being used by one of them, I opted out completely – not of the MSSN, but of the ideology. For this I got lashed, bashed and slammed as though I had apostatized. That’s one evil to note about hizbiyyah. It is either you are with them or you are with no one else. Story for another day.
Today, MSSN is controlled by different organizations with contrasting ideologies. This varies from campus to campus, locality to locality, state to state, zone to zone. This, for me, is a clear indication that MSSN isn’t the problem but the intruders. While there are campuses where the organization is run on Kitaab wa Sunnah bi fahmis-Salaafi Saalih, there are those whose activities are run afoul of this ideal.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْمَنْجُوفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَوْفٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، وَمُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” مَنِ اتَّبَعَ جَنَازَةَ مُسْلِمٍ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، وَكَانَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا، وَيَفْرُغَ مِنْ دَفْنِهَا، فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ، كُلُّ قِيرَاطٍ مِثْلُ أُحُدٍ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُدْفَنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ بِقِيرَاطٍ ”
. تَابَعَهُ عُثْمَانُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَوْفٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “(A believer) who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial, will return with the reward of one Qirat only.”
Sahih Bukhari
(Belief)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 47
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 40
Man is a worshipper by nature; worship is instilled in him. So either he will worship the creator (Allah) alone, with no partner or associate, or he will worship something other than Allah, alongside Him, or instead of Him.
Shahadah “La ilaaha illa Allah” is singling out Allah Alone in ibaadah or worship and being sincere in His oneness.
The significant point which every Muslim know well is the truth that there is no God (deity) to be worshipped other than Allah. He-glory be to Him – is the only true God, Who alone deserves to be worshipped, since He is the Giver of life and Sustainer and Nourisher of mankind and all creation, with His unlimited bounties. Man must worship Allah, Who alone is worthy of worship.
The word: لا إله إلا الله is divided into 2 parts.
First part: لا إله – is Negation (نفي)
and the second: إلا الله is – Affirmation (إثبات)
What are we negating and what are we affirming?
The Negation aspect means to remove every single object of worship besides Allah in all actions of worship; and the affirmation aspect means to single out the Lord of the heavens and the earth Alone for all matters of worship in the way that has been legislated in the sharia’.
In the explanation of the book of sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahab, sheikh Aitham bin Jameel surjaan said,
“Supposed one considers the meaning of لا إله إلا الله to be (there is no God but Allah). This meaning will be erroneous because there are other objects being worshipped besides Allah.”
If we tell idol worshippers لا إله means there’s no God, they may ask, what of their own gods?
And, if we consider the meaning of لا إله إلا الله To be لا رب بحق إلا اله “there is no true Lord, the Creator, the Sustainer and the one who regulates the affairs, except Allah”. This meaning will be right but does not give the correct meaning of لا إله إلا الله, for The Arab disbelievers at the time of the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم believed in this statement, they believed Allah is the creator, the nourisher, the Sustainer, in His hands is the control of all affairs, and in His hands is life and death. “say, who provides for you out of heavens and earth, who controls hearings and sights? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who directs the whole affair? They will say ‘Allah’.” (yunus: 32).
Despite their understanding and belief in this statement, that does not enter them into Islam because they did not single out Allah alone in worship.
They worship Allah along the creations because they believe that these created beings will intercede for and bring them closer to their Lord.
Allah said, “And they worship besides Allah what harms them not nor profit them, and they say these are our intercessors with Allah” (yunus:18). The same is true of other religions other than Islam.
But what differentiate Islam from other religions is this Kalima, denouncing any other worshipped objects besides Allah, and affirming the right to be worshipped to be exclusively for Allah.
Significance of the Negation in the Kalima لا إله إلا الله
Singling out Allah in all forms of worship is the condition for acceptance of ibaadah, without which all efforts are in vain.
It was narrated by Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, says: ‘I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.’” (Narrated by Muslim, al-Zuhd wa’l-Raqaiq, 5300).
Singling out Allah in worship is the right of Allah upon His creation.
It is narrated that Mu’adh bin Jabal رضى الله عنه said: “I was riding behind the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم on a donkey and he said to me” O Mu’adh, do you know what is the right of Allah on His slaves and what is right of the slaves upon Allah?” I responded” Allah and His Messenger know best. ” He Continued. “The right of Allah upon His slaves, is to worship Him Alone and never to associate anything with Him. The right of slaves upon Him is not to punish any person who does not associate anything with Him. “I said O Allah’s Messenger, may I not give the glad tidings to the people?” He replied “No, do not inform them lest they rely on ( this promise and lapse in their service to Him)”.
Reported by Bukhari and Muslim
It is a condition for Forgiveness of sins:
At-Tirmidhi reports from Ana’s, may Allah be pleased with him: ‘he heard Allah’s messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم saying: “Allah the Most Exalted said: ‘O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with the world full of sins, and meet Me without making anything partner to Me (shirk), I would come to you with a similar amount of forgiveness”.
It is a certificate to jannah.. Narrated by Ubadah bin As-Samit رضى الله عنه that Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship in truth except Allah Alone, Who is without partner, and that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His slave and Messenger, and that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the slave of Allah, His Messenger and His Word which He bestowed in Maryam (Mary), and a spirit (created) from Him, and that Paradise and Hellfire are realities, Allah will admit him him into Paradise whatever his deeds might be” (Sahih Bukhari)
Hell fire is forbidden for whoever testifies to the oneness of Allah.
Itban رضى الله عنه narrated that the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “indeed Allah has forbidden for Hell the person who testifies : ” There is nothing worthy of worship in truth but Allah “, seeking thereby nothing but Allah’s face (pleasure) (Bukhari and Muslim).
Kalimatu As-shahaadah is the heaviest in weight in comparison with all other creation.
Musa (Moses) عليه السلام said : “O my Rabb, teach me something through which I can remember You and supplicate to You”. Allah answered: “say La ilaaha illa Allah” Musa said, O my Rabb, all your slaves say these word.” Allah said: ” O Musa, if the seven heavens and all they contain other than Me (Ghairy), and the seven earths as well, were all put in one side of a scale, and La ilaaha illa-Allaah put in the other, the latter would outweigh them”. (Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim declared it sahih).
Having known some significance, it is pertinent to discuss briefly on some of the ways to single Allah out in worship and make religion purely for Him.
All acts of ibaadah both body and heart must be directed to Allah Alone; thus, Hope, Fear, Reliance, Refuge, protection, supplications etc should be directed to no other than Allah.
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” (al-An’aam, Verse 162).
ibaadah is not limited to a number of rituals that Allaah has commanded should be done at certain times – such as prayer, fasting and Hajj – as many think.
It takes just a while to do these rituals of worship every day and night. What about the rest of a person’s life and time? Spent In something other than worship? Then, we would not be fulfilling the purpose of our creation. “And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they worship me” (al-Dhariyat، verse 56).
Thus, when one strives in the land seeking provision, he is worshipping Allaah, because Allaah has commanded him to do that, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is bad is ibaadah, keeping family ties is ibaadah, helping one another, good words etc… Indeed the Muslim is not content unless his pleasure in eating, drinking and marital relations is counted in the scale of his good deeds.
Part of making ibaadah exclusively for Allah is to consider Everything other than Allah as سببا (instrumental).
Success or failure is not attributed to other than from Allah, actions and inactions, persons or circumstances are mere instruments in the hands of Allah. Hearts should not be attached to who causes failure or what brought success, but attached to Allah only – the, Creator, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.
“Verily, those whom you worshipped besides Allah have no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allah (Alone) and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back”. (Al-Ankaboot, Aya 17).
“And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is able to do all things” (Sura Al-Anaam, Aya 17).
part of sincerity in ibaadah is Unattachment to one’s Whims and Desires.
One whose heart is attached to something other than Allaah of his own whims and desires would find himself unconsciously worshipping this whims and desires. If he gets what he wants he is happy and if he does not then he is angry. So he is a slave to whatever he desires, for slavery in fact refers to the enslavement of the heart. The more he is enslaved to these desires, the weaker his submission to his Lord, so if his enslavement to these whims and desires is so strong that it prevents him from adhering to religion completely, then he will become a mushrik and a kaafir. If these whims and desires keep him from doing some of the things that he is obliged to do or they make the idea of doing some of the things that he is forbidden to do, but which do not put a person beyond the pale of Islam, seem attractive to him, then that affects his submission to his Lord and his faith, to the extent to which they keep him from fulfilling his religious commitment.
“Have you (O Muhammad) seen him who has taken as his ilaah (god) his own vain desire? Would you then be a Wakeel (a disposer of his affairs or a watcher) over him?” (al-Furqaan 25:43).
Allah has made devotion of worship to Him Alone one of the means of deeds being accepted without which deeds are in vain.
May He help us to obey Him by doing that which He has commanded and avoiding that which He has forbidden, whilst loving Him, fearing Him and putting one’s hopes in Him and making our worship purely for Him Alone.
Sources:
1. Kitaab At-Tauhid, The Book of monotheism By Sheikh-ul-Islam: Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahab.
2. Guide to Sound Creed: Dr. Salih Al-Fawzan
3. Explanation of The Three Fundamental principles: Sheikh Haitham bin Jameel Sarjaan.
4. The Key to Paradise: Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali.
5. Conditions of Laa ilaaha illa-Allaah: Hafidh al-Hakami. Taken from his book: “Ma’arij Al-Qobool” translated by Abbas Abu Yahya.
6. Islamqa.info (authentic Islamic question and answer website)
The 1st Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Ummah Care for the Inmates Foundation (UCIF) took place in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, on the 21st December, 2019.
The Conference with the theme “Nigerian Correctional Service: Honouring the Past, Treasuring the Present and Shaping the Future.” drew over 150 participants from UCIF Partners, Muslim Organizations, Government Ministries/Agencies, Tertiary Institutions, Industries, Research Institutes, the press and the general public across the entire Nation.
2.0. OBSERVATIONS
The conference observations were as follows:
2.1 It was identified that Muslim organisations majorly feed The Muslim inmates during the Month of Ramadan.
2.2 The infrastructure in Nigerian Correctional Centers being grossly inadequate or non-existent constitutes a major hazard (I.e IKOYI Correctional Center Electrocution Mayhem) for Muslim Inmates in Nigeria as a whole.
2.3 Muslim inmates are the least set of individuals who pay lesser attention to the issue of Education in the Correctional facilities.
2.4 MUSLIM organisations hardly pay attention to the plight of Muslim inmates in various Correctional centres across the country.
2.5 Our Various Mosques are redundant and they only believe that Mosques are limited to Spiritual Devotion
2.6 Inconsistencies in Government policies on Prison Reforms, Police Brutality and other encompassing law reforms are major disadvantage for the Correctional Center congestion.
3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Conferencerecommends as follows:
3.1 That various Islamic groups and organisations should be involved in the Prison Dawah, so that we can synergize and structurally align the Visitation calendars so as to work for the betterment of the Ummah.
3.2 Also, an umbrella body of Muslim organisations that engage in Daawah activities in the Correctional facilities should have a background details of Inmates and Ex-inmates so that we would know how to interact with them and provide during-Prison and Post-prison evaluation timely.
3.3 It was recommended that after the conference, each Representative (s) of all foundations should come on a round table discussion to address the issue of legal representation for Inmates. This is a core issue which so many organisations hasn’t been found much active.
3.4 We should be able to identify the major causes that lead People to Prison. If it’s addressed, there will be reduction in crime rate and help decongest Prisons.
3.5 Post Prison Empowerment scheme should be well addressed. The Ex- Inmates wouldn’t just go out of Prison without having nothing to do and later return to crime. If properly empowered and monitored, such person wouldn’t have the thought of going back to crime.
3.6 it isn’t a must for any Muslim to join Islamic organisation but it’s important to belong to one or two mosques which we observe solah. The mosques can then serve as a platform where various welfare activities to the Prisons can be well planned and achieved, hence Mosques should open their arms for the Prison DAWAH.
4.0 There should be proper Advocacy, sensitisation and Public Enlightenment for various Mosques and Muslim bodies on the need to see reasons why they should take steps in providing for the needs of Muslim inmates.
4.1. Juvenile centres and Borstal Institution across various states in Nigeria need more attention. The students in these centres hardly being visited even by Muslim organisations who engage in Prison Daawah.
4.2 Various Islamic organisations should endeavour that Nigeria Government take make appropriate laws on Prison Reforms and curb Police Brutality on innocent citizens.
4.0 CONCLUSION
UCIF appreciates the numerous organizations that have made significant contributions to the success of this National Annual debut Conference, for fostering a partnership with her towards developing programmes and projects over the cause of Nigeria Muslim Inmates and the Ummah at large.
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever said “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a barley grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said: “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will be taken out of Hell.”
Sahih Bukhari
(Belief)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 44
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 37
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