The “call to bar hijab saga” which happened a little over a month ago, and made every one; Christians and Muslims alike, a judge or in the least, a juror in a grand jury made up on the internet is surprisingly still alive.I still come across hashtags #Justiceforfirdaous, #IstandwithFirdaus, et cetera,  all over social media, some also still have her as their social media profile pictures and press releases are being churned out regularly. Most recent one from Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), informing of the commencement of inquiry into the matter by the inquiry committee set up by the House of Reps.I must confess, it is the first of its kind. There have been several such cases of bias, intolerance, unnecessary show of hatred, assault and battery even, among others, been posted on the internet since time past, very recent ones including what “hijabites” face in NYSC camps across the country, especially in the Eastern states.

They never truly were fought to the pits by Nigerian Muslims, after a few days’ rant, one or two press releases from MURIC and other such Islamic bodies, the tide would die down and nothing would be said or heard of such again.Aisha O. FolamiOne most dear to my heart, which unfortunately Nigerian Muslims didn’t put enough effort to fight through and thoroughly, was the case of the “hijabite” broadcaster, Aisha Oloruntoyin Folami, who works in the Lagos Television (LTV) as a news anchor. I’d always enjoy seeing her beautiful and bright face while casting the news, until she was suddenly yanked from the position of a newscaster, only to be relegated within the newsroom. The full story was never brought to light, as people who knew exactly “what” could never really talk, as that could cost them their jobs. They’re civil servants and the interest of the government is paramount.I watched the news on NTA while growing up, and I’d always see a beautiful lady Fatimah Hassan in her scarf. It wasn’t a big deal to me then, in my little mind, being a Muslim, Christian or whatever faith you profess shouldn’t be, until I became this grown and got exposed to the bias and irregularities that has eaten deep into this nation in all its industries; private and public alike. It is no news that Muslims are being victimized, it is a statement of fact.

I wish Nigerian Muslims; concerned groups, Social Media Influencers, recognized Islamic bodies, etc. had actually done something beyond the usual “max” of two-three weeks rants and a protest. I wish we had stood our grounds and interfered in every available way. It is, after all, a government broadcasting station. It was indeed a huge blow on our faces, for we lost that even before the battle started. What is the use of wishes or perhaps, what do I know of the in-depth of matters such as this anyway? What I know is that we should never have let that matter die that way. She was like a representative of Islam in that regard, I know how glad I feel each time I watch Nymah Akashat Zibiri, on TVC’s “Your View”.I’ve witnessed Nigerian Muslims try countless time to vindicate Islam each time its haters set to work. That Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance shouldn’t be something too difficult to believe by any sane mind, as long as the Muslims complement that statement with righteous and peaceful characters at all times.Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, was said to have won several hearts to embrace Islam simply by his righteous deeds, even before preaching the words of God to them. Now that is what Muslims should keep striving to achieve, even while demanding for our rights, and that in itself would liberate us all.I’m glad Firdaus’ case is still very much alive (I still get dragged into it almost on a daily basis as a matter of fact) whatever reason that could be, it is to be a glitter of hope, my wishes weren’t any good then but my hope could serve better. It is also a reassurance that we get better at what we do, driving our agitation and rights home to where it matters, standing our grounds regardless and fighting for a right that is a clear injunction from our Lord.Her case has further opened a can of worms that has always been slightly opened to an average practising Muslim lady in Nigeria, now is the time to dispose the worms and thrash the can.What surprises me greatly is how some, Christians especially, put it upon themselves to berate her.

To everyone; Muslims and Christians alike, who took it as a duty to insult, berate, judge or curse her, I’m sure you all are well rested by now, but it was never your fight, to begin with. Despite that I initially had my reservations about the whole issue, I couldn’t help but salute her courage, she truly is a heroine and a great model in that respect.Thank you, Firdaus Amasa Abdusalam, for fighting the battle for your predecessors and successors like us.May Allah bless our struggles and grant the Muslim ummah success against oppressors all over the world.Note, however, when I say Nigerian Muslims I mean the conscious ones – not the ones who tell you worship is limited to what’s solely in their hearts, while they do not exactly understand the language their hearts speak.

Written by: Mar’yam Thaoban ( NobleHeart)

He is a very young man, very-very intelligent, loaded with innate ability to score very high marks in whatever he ventures into. I remember many things that he did excellently well in those good old days. When he was in love with music, he was excellent with the mimicking of many foreign songs. When he went into graphic design to make ends meet, he was superb. I remember how he taught me some skillful ways of beautifying cardboards meant for the production of greeting cards. His exploit in GNLD, a networking business further confirms that he is always the best in whatever he ventures into. With the GNLD business, he was on top of the world at a very tender age. No doubt, his success story today in the Academy of Islamic propagation, ACADIP speaks volume about him being a special creation, destined to rule the world and be the very best at whatever he is doing.

Yusuf Olatunde Oladimeji Adepoju was born on the 10th of February, 1975 to the family of Alhaji Jamiyu Adeniyi Isola Adepoju and Alhaja Amdalat Ibidunni Adepoju of Akeyo’s compound, Ilobu. His father and mother are both retired Principals. He attended L. A. Gbobamu Primary School from 1981 to 1986, ADS Grammar School, Erin-Osun from 1987 to 1990 before proceeding to the Government College, Ibadan and he finally completed his secondary education at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo in 1994. He studied Physics Electronics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure and graduated in 2001.

It was at FUTA, that he met some talented youths with whom he formed a dawah group with the sole aim of checkmating the alarming rate at which Muslims were fast drifting away from the path of the believers as a result of ignorance and lack of knowledge. The Islamic propagation initially took off at FUTA, later to Akure township, Ondo State generally and today he has stood for what he believes in and has defended it in virtually all the states of the federation with thousands of converts and reverts to Islam. He has also taken this Dawah to 15 different countries; Germany, England, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana etc. In the course of propagating Islam he has developed strong working relations with some great world Islamic Comparative preachers like Shiekh Ahmed Deedat, Professor Jamal Badawi, Dr, Dawood Amoo Alaga, Professor Buniyamin Banire, Late Alhaji Yunus Akewewugbajesu and many others.

After 21 solid years of open-air lecture series in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond, he is very proud to announce that ACADIP has displayed a new order of dynamic and captivating Evangelism, projecting Islam in its natural and undiluted perspective, strengthening the faith of practicing Muslims and also awakening those unwary, lukewarm or rather, the so called nominal Muslims from their slumber.

Yusuf Olatunde Oladimeji Adepoju is currently the Managing Director of Islamic Cultural and Enlightment Centre founded by his father in 1965. He has positioned Ilobu elegantly on world map with his Islamic preachings. He has also succeeded in refining and engaging many Ilobu youths in his Islamic organizations. The security outfit of ACADIP alone parades about 200 officers both native and non-natives.

He is indeed a special breed, showcasing his talents with the mastery of the Bible and the Quran off hand. His command of the Arabic , English and Yoruba languages is enough to arrest his listeners. He is one out of the very many finest young brains that Ilobu is blessed with.

In recognition of his invaluable uplift of Ilobu community and her natives via his Islamic Comparative lectures around the globe, I therefore present Alhaji Yusuf Olatunde Oladimeji Adepoju as an illustrious son of Ilobu asake.

Dare Alabi,
Project Director.

FORCEFUL TOLERANCE
BY
SANNI KAY. YUSUF

She visited the hospital for her fortnight antenatal routine checkup. It was her first time to enjoy the NHIS package – in the hospital – courtesy of her hubby’s workplace.

Together with women of her condition carrying the fruits of the womb, she was requested to go up for counselling. As an enlightened person who understood the significance of such an exercise, she eagerly mounted the staircase – uneasily.

Counselling they were told, but singing and dancing it was turned into. Not Yoruba (abiyamo/oloyun) songs, but christian-oriented songs. She wondered but bothered less, as she thought the deed would take no length of time. As a muslimah faithful to her faith, she sat down apathetically.

After the singing and buttock-rolling, came up prayers – in Jesus’ name. She wondered but bothered less, with the thought that observations and corrections would be done later. She never wanted to truncate or interrupt the flow of the oppression so as not to be tagged as usual – extremist, fanatic, fundamentalist, terrorist – the list is inexhaustible. With her mouth mute, the christian prayers went on untill it got to its tail.

At the lapse of prayers was the trumpeted counselling. That beamed a sigh of relief for the ummu from the seemingly inescapable cage. But lo and behold, it was just the start of the oppression! What was supposed to be counselling turned out to be preaching in the christian way. Madam Counsellor started making quotations from the Bible to adduce her special counselling. The ummu couldn’t take it any longer. So, she voiced out her worries:

“Is this not supposed to be a counselling session? Why christian songs, prayers and preaching in a hospital that is privately general? Or is the hospital only meant for Christians?”

“That’s our usual practice here,” said the preacher-nurse.

“You should have made us know that your hospital is run on the precepts and principles of the Christendom.” She said as she quietly left the gathering.

What could be more oppressing, terrorising than this – when you are forced to tolerate where your right is unapologetically trampled upon? Why would people met out to others what they cannot tolerate of them?

It’s a country of multi-religion. Constitutionally, everyone has the right, not only to practise, but manifest his religion; however, not to the peril or detriment of others.

A muslim is disallowed to do so, just as he should not take such from anyone. “There is no compulsion in the religion,” so says Allah – Q2 V256. Nigeria belongs to all, not to some.

“To you be your religion, and to me my religion.” Q109 V6.

DAWAH OF A MUSLIMAH By Nafeesah Bint Yakub

Let’s not consider or judge what we hear or read through medias like CNN, ABC, BBC, FOX and the rest, let not ask a non Muslim what and how the Muslim women feel, how they live, their challenges and their responsibilities, if we wish to be fair and conscious of our environment, ask the Muslim women about their ordeal.

We now live in a world where Muslim women can’t do what they like doing either because of their appearance or faith they profess, a typical example is one of our sisters when she was denied the call to bar on account of her Deen as a Muslimah, this not the only example where Muslim women are oppressed, also the popular case of Sherifat Yunnus whose Niqob(veil) was yanked off at an exhibition comes to mind.

If you wish to be fair, ask a Muslim woman who struggled to get to where she is, for a Muslim woman who practice her religion and is still able to stand on her feet in such a bias and an unstable society.

Why are Muslim women been discriminated owing to differences in faith? If others are free to reveal their bodies at will, why is it difficult for a Muslim woman who nurtures an ambition of becoming a medical doctor, use it as a Da’wah tool for the Ummah(humanity) after going through the rigorous study to merit and earn her certificate only to eventually get denied a job because she wears the HIJAB. How does the hijab affect her profession?

No one is really ready to ask the Muslim women, our long gone professors, we have women amongst them, not one nor two, Muslim women have and are excelling in various professions around the world, why are Muslim women underrated, oppressed and denied their rights? Why is the Nigeria community allowing its human resources in Muslim women waste away out of hatred? If we select 100 Muslim women between the ages of 17-40, 60% will be, are graduates of higher institutions both local and abroad with good employable grades, with very appealing potential and socially endowed but are mostly denied the opportunity to showcase their knowledge, skills or talent.

Many are times, ‘people’, especially non-Muslims say “Look! with her level of education, she still wears that ….., Mr., Miss, Mrs., it’s not called that ….. but a HIJAB, MODESTY, FREEDOM … Muslim women aren’t cowards, dull, antisocial, vague or stale, rather they are mothers, teachers, role models, professionals whom have been denied because they are Muslimah.

Mr., Miss, Mrs., I’ve questions for you; Why are Muslim women exploited, oppressed, maltreated, denied because they don’t share same faith with you while you tolerate others who are non Muslims? Are we been fair?

A young Muslimah going for an interview find it hard using her hijab purposely because she will be denied the job especially because of her identify as a Muslimah, what a biased world we live, even in psychology and sociology, there are aspects that mentioned individual differences, there is a constitutional provision for religious differences.

Islam raised the status of women, and made them equal with men in most rulings. So women, like men, are commanded to believe in Allaah and to worship Him. And women are made equal to men in terms of reward in the Hereafter. Women have the right to express themselves, to give sincere advice, to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and to call people to Allaah. Women have the right to own property, to buy and sell, to inherit, to give charity and to give gifts. It is not permissible for anyone to take a woman’s wealth without her consent. Women have the right to a decent life, without facing aggression or being wronged. Women have the right to be educated; in fact it is obligatory to teach them what they need to know about their religion, other forms of knowledge and provide enabling environment to exhibit what they’ve acquired in terms of knowledge and skills.

Muslims must rise to the occasion to defend Muslim rights especially the women. Doing so will not only entrench women’s right but also encourage Muslim women to pursue their God granted dream profession.