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The Nigerian Law School And The Stigmatization Of The Hijab- Seeking Justice For Amasa Firdaus By Akinyemi M. Adedeji

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“…and to provide for a constitution for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country, on the principles of freedom, equality and justice…”

 

 

Those were the opening lines of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 – as amended. Those were words calling for equality, for justice, and the welfare of every citizen of the Federal republic of Nigeria. But the Nigerian Law School has consistently over its years of existence flagrantly abused the introductory lines.

Assuming that those were just forewords, what about S1(1) of the CFRN that says _”this constitution is supreme and its provisions ‘shall’ have a binding force on the authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”_ While this same constitution affirms subsequently in S38(1) that _” Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…and freedom (either alone or in a community with others, and in public or in private) toamifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance of his religion.”_

Why then has Nigerian Law School through its instruments continuously violated the rights of Muslim Law Students? What crime has the Hijab committed to make it such an instrument that brings great shame to the Legal profession that law students are not allowed to wear it during call to bar, but it is surprisingly allowed in the noble profession after call to bar?

The Nigerian law school has over decades turned law students to legal professionals, enjoining them to stand up for justice, for equality, and for the protection of the rights of all citizens, while it continually denies Muslim law students the single right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. What offense has the Hijab committed I ask? Does it prevent the wig from entering the heads of ‘new wigs? — in this case short Hijabs come in handy’ Does it make their certificates less befitting? Or does it make the profession neanderthal? If there is the case of neanderthal behaviour here, I don’t see anything more neanderthal than a body that teaches people to fight for and protect of rights, while taking an important part of their lives away from them.

A lot of Muslim law students have had all of their lives to protecting their bodies from the gaze of other people, and denying them otherwise makes them feel stark Naked! – Iron Man without his suit describes it.

The recent case of Amasa Alijanna Firdaus is a display of how backwards we are as a nation when one considers how NLS forcefully infringes on rights of Muslim Law Students. Amasa like other Muslim students feel offended that they would be made bare by a terrible law and have pushed for their rights to be respected; this after all is their offense. I have been in conversation with a friend of mine, a recent product of NLS Abuja, a former Ameerah of MSSN, UNILORIN, who had initially wanted to skip Law school and just go for her masters, because she couldn’t stand to be made naked. My friend had cried severally before, during and after her call to bar ceremony because she felt degraded, dehumanised, disrespected and humiliated by having to remove her hijab for such a relatively short period of time.

My question now is, what exactly is the crime of the Hijab? Why can it be used in practice and not during call? Why does NLS continue to disrespect these innocent people? Amasa has only expressed herself for all I and tons of other Nigerians care, and does not deserve to be denied the right of call just because she insisted on using her Hijab. She is a citizen of Nigeria who has only followed the constitution, stricto sensu and does not deserve to be denied her right to be called to bar. Whatever argument the NLS will make will only prevail if it admits that it sees itself as above the Law of the land.

Amasa is a peace loving Nigerian. No prior history of violence or insubordination. No earlier case of aggressive behaviour or tendency to be violent. No such disrespect has been dished from her to any other person. She does not deserve to be denied her call to be just by doing what the Constitution of the country recognises and allows her to do.

The NLS should call Amasa to bar. Enough victimisation on Muslim law students. I am a Nigerian, I am Princely X, and I stand behind Amasa!

#JusticeForFirdaus
#RespectOurRights
#AmasaIsNotATerrorist
#AmasaIsLawAbiding
#CCallAmasaToBar

 

 

Credit : Aledeh.com

Sultan Decries Controversy Over Hijab

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Sultan of Sokoto and President – Generation of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar has decried the raging controversy over Hijab.

He said Hijab simply means decent dressing for Muslim women and part and parcel of Islam.

Abubakar spoke in Lagos on Saturday during the fifth National Convention of Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) with the theme, “Public Trust and Accountability”.

The Sultan who is the Chairman of the two – day event said he could not decipher why the issue of Hijab would be so controversial to the extent that female Muslims who adorn Hijab would be ‘molested’.

He spoke against the backdrop of the raging controversy over the denial of a University of Ilorin law student, Miss Amasa Firdaus from being called to bar last week for refusing to remove her Hijab worn under her wig.

Represented by a member of NSCIA and Wazirin of Katsina, Prof. Sanni Abubakar Lugga, the Sultan said Hijab is not only a mode of dressing in Islam only but it is also an accepted mode of dressing in Christianity and Judaism.

He stressed that Muslims are peace- loving and they should be allowed to practise their religion as stipulated by Allah and as contained in the traditions of Prophet Mohammad.

He said, “His eminence wonders while Hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing, decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? The Hijab is just an Arabic word. In English it means decent dressing.

“His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of dressing. It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public.

Secondly, in Nigerian constitution it is absolutely clear. Why should Nigerian Muslims be molested and even denied their own right? The Appeal Court ruling in Ilorin is there, the Appeal Court in Lagos and also the High Court all delivered judgement in favour of Hijab.

“Justice Alooma, the former CJN, Justice Bukalchuwa and other Senior Justices in Nigeria wear their Hijab and then the wig on top of it. The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), the Highest body in the judiciary has not said, ‘no, they should stop’ which means the Nigerian constitution allows the Hijab, the Nigerian Courts through these three judgements have allowed the Hijab and the NJC through these senior judges has allowed the Hijab.

“Why will a legal school refuse our sister’s induction into the judiciary simply because she is wearing Hijab? Is the law school saying they are above the NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, they are above these three senior courts?

On the theme of the convention, the Sultan said accountability leads to public trust and Nigerian leaders would earn public trust if they are accountable. He tasked Nigerians at all levels both in public and private lives to embrace accountability.

At the convention, three Nigerians including the former Attorney – General and Minster of Justice, Chief Bola Ajibola, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is- haq Oloyede and Hon. Sikiru Oshinowo of Lagos House of Assembly were honoured with the MPAC’s Nigeria Muslim Achievement Award (NMAA).

 

 

Credit : dailytrust.com.ng

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Matters of Creed

1.  Jesus taught the oneness of God (Mark 12:29­30, Matthew 22:37 and Luke
10:27), as conveyed in the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).
2.  Jesus declared himself a man and a prophet of God (see above), and nowhere
claimed divinity or divine sonship. Which creed are the above two points more
consistent with—the Trinitarian formula or the absolute monotheism of Islam?
Practical considerations arise. Questions like, “What was Jesus’ religion?” and “If
Jesus lived, preached, and completed his ministry faithful to the religious laws of his
time, why are those who claim to follow in his name not living by his example?” After
all, the Acts of the Apostles documents how strict the practices were among the early
followers of Christ. Peter’s avoidance of unclean animals is documented in Acts 10:14,
the emphasis upon circumcision is found in Acts 11:2­3, 15:1 and 15:5, the conversion of
priests and Pharisees into the faith is discussed in 6:7 and 15:5, and 21:20 emphasizes the
zeal of the thousands of believers “for the Law.” In this regard, Carmichael notes, “The
above passages are astonishing; they indicate that for a whole generation after Jesus’
death his followers were pious Jews and proud of it, had attracted into their fold members
of the professional religious classes, and did not deviate even from the burdensome
ceremonial laws.”150
So that was the first generation of followers. Yet despite the scriptural evidence,  many Christians prefer the teachings of Paul, the pope, or select clergy over the recorded
teachings of Jesus. As a result, common ground for discussion between the true followers of Jesus and the followers of what­somebody­else­says­about­Jesus is frequently lacking.
And although some think this to be a fairly recent disagreement, it is in fact an old
division, which Paul noted within his lifetime: “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I
am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ’” (1 Corinthians
1:12).
So Paul, Apollos (an Alexandrian Jew), Cephas (Peter), and Jesus Christ all had
their own separate and distinct group of followers, each according to his teachings and
example. History weeded out the two groups in the middle, leaving a clean separation
between those who live “of Paul” and those who are “of Christ.” Whereas Jesus Christ
proclaimed the Kingdom of God, Paul proclaimed the mysteries which became the
foundation of the church and modern Christology.
Since Paul had such formative influence upon Trinitarian doctrine, one wonders
what brought him to the mysteries of his belief. Reportedly a light from the heavens, a
voice, a convincing message (Acts 9:3­9). But in 2 Corinthians 11:14­15, even Paul
admits that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness …”
So to whom was Paul speaking? An angel of light, a minister of righteousness, or Satan?
He didn’t seem to question his vision, despite the sage advice, “Beloved, do not
believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false
prophets have gone out into the world” (First Epistle of John 4:1). Regardless of who was
behind Paul’s vision, he was a changed man. And although many souls have reformed
through religious observance, this isn’t what happened with Paul, for one simple reason:
Paul didn’t observe the religion, he transformed it. James, the younger brother of Jesus and head of the new church, admonished Paul for his blasphemous teachings: “But they
have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to
forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk
according to the customs” (Acts 21:21). He then warned Paul of the assembly meeting to
decide his punishment: “What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear
that you have come” (Acts 21:22). Therefore, he directed him to repent, purify himself of
sacrilege and thereafter “walk orderly and keep the law” (Acts 21:23­24).
Unfortunately, Paul didn’t hold to repentance, and returned to his sacrilegious
ways.
A person wonders, WWJD—What Would Jesus Do? No doubt he wouldn’t
concede his revelation to the contrary opinions of Pauline theology. That being the case,
why do some people continue to consider Jesus divine?

 

 

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At-Tauhid reading continued

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Do not say As-Salam (Peace and Security) upon Allah

It is reported in As-Sahih (Al-Bukhari) and Muslim from Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be
pleased with him) He said: Whenever we offered Salat (prayer) behind the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) we used to recite (in sitting) “As-Salam (the peace) be on Allah from His slaves. As-Salam (the peace) be on such and such people.” The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) guided us by saying: “Do not say `As-Salam ‘ala-Allah -the peace be on Allah’, for Allah Himself is As-Salam (the Peace).”

 

Important issues of the Chapter

1. Explanation of As-Salam (the peace).

2. As-Salam (the peace) is a greeting or salutation.

3. As-Salam is not proper to use for Allah.

4. The reason being Allah Himself is As-Salam (the Peace).

5. The Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) taught the
Companions (May Allah be pleased with him) the invocation in the way it should be
offered to Allah.

 

 

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PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF HIJAB/VEIL IN SOME PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS: WHAT IS THE POSITION OF THE LAW?

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One of the challenges Muslim females are facing is the wearing of hijab. Hijab is a veil they use in covering their body. These challenges are found even in public institutions. The proscription of the use of veils is normally done through rules made in those institutions. For example there has been complaint that hijab is not allowed in Nigerian Law School, it happened also in Kwara, Lagos, Osun State etc where students were not allowed to wear hijab to schools.

This article seeks to establish that prohibiting Muslim females from wearing veils in public institutions is unconstitutional. Whether the position is the same in private institutions or not is outside the scope of this article.

To clear a preliminary point, I am a Christian and shall by the grace of God die a Christian. This work is based on my little understanding of the law and love for rule of law. The work is also informed by my agreement with the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who once said:

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

In other words, it is Muslim female facing it today, tomorrow it may be Christians. So, I feel spade should be called a spade.

Let us first examine the basis of the use of hijab by Muslim women. Chapter 24 verse 30-31 of the Glorious Holy Quran says:

“… Enjoin believing women to COVER THEIR GAZE and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that THEY SHOULD DRAW THEIR VEILS OVER THEIR BOSOMS AND NOT DISPLAY THEIR BEAUTY except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s father, their sons, their husband’s Sons, their brothers or their brother’s Sons or their sisters’ sons or other women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, …”

It follows from the verse above that wearing of hijab by Muslim women is a Quranic injunction so a Muslim female is bound to obey it without question.

The next point is whether a Muslim female can capitalize on the provision of Glorious Qur’an to insist that she is entitled to wear Hijab everywhere. The answer is obviously in the affirmative.
Subsection (1) of section 38 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (2011 as amended), it provides as follows:

“Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…and IN PUBLIC or IN PRIVATE) to MANIFEST AND PROPAGATE his RELIGION or BELIEF in worship, teaching, PRACTICE and
OBSERVANCE”
(emphasis mine)

The constitution is a grundnorm and by section 1(1)&(3) thereof, it is Supreme and binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria and as well above the ordinary laws of the land. Since the constitution recognizes ones right to manifest ones religion and belief in practice and observance, a Muslim female, being a Nigerian too, has the right to wear her hijab anywhere.

In the case of PDP V CPC (2011) 17 NWLR (pt 1277) 485 at 511 ​it was held;

“The Constitution of Nigeria is the grundnorm, otherwise known as the basic norm from which all the other laws of the society derive their validity. Each legal norm of the Society derives its validity from basic norm. Any other law that is in conflict with the provision of the Constitution must give way or abate”.

Courts have consistently held that, having regards to chapter 24:30-31 of the Holy Quran, a Muslim female has the unfettered right to wear her hijab anywhere.

The Court of Appeal Ilorin Division in the Unreported case of THE PROVOST, KWARA STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILORIN & 2 ORS VS BASHIRAT SALIU & 2 ORS Appeal No CA/IL/49/2006,
delivered on the 18th day of June, 2009, per Hussein Mukhtar, JCA,held at page 15 – 16 of the lead judgement thus:

“The foregoing verses of the Glorious Qur’an and Hadiths have left no room for doubt on the Islamic Injunction on women’s mode of dress, which is clearly in conformity with not only the Respondent’s veiled dress but also the controversial article J of the 3rd Applicants’ dress code. The use of veil by the respondents, therefore qualifies as
a fundamental right under Section 38 (1) of the Constitution”.

 

The Court of Appeal further held *per Massoud AbdulRahman Oredola, JCA at page 2 of the concurrent judgement;

“The right of the Respondents to wear their Hijab, veil within the School campus and INDEED ANYWHERE else is adequately protected under our laws. Human rights recognizes and protects religious rights. Section 38 of the
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guaranteed freedom of religion to all and sundry. Thus things that lawfully constitute OPEN MANIFESTATION, PROPAGATION, WORSHIP, TEACHING, PRACTICE AND OBSERVANCE of
the said religion are equally and by extension similarly guaranteed and protected by the Constitution. Indeed the Hijab, Niqab or Burqa, being part and parcel of Islamic code of dressing and by whatever standard a dignified
or vividly decent one cannot be taken away by any other law other than the Constitution”

Just last year, 2016, Justice Falola of the Osun State High Court restated the law as pronounced in the Court of Appeal decision above while delivering judgement in the case of Sheikh Oyinwola & Ors V The Governor of Osun state & Ors SUIT NO. HOS/M.17/2013 delivered on the 3rd of June, 2016. Bound by the time honoured principle of Judicial Precedent, the court held that the use of Islamically prescribed headcover called Hijab by the Muslim Female Students in all Primary and Secondary Schools in Osun State forms part of their fundamental rights to
freedom of religion, conscience and thought as contained in Section
38 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and also declared that Article 8.2(v) of the “Guidelines on Administration
and Discipline in Osun State Public Schools“ issued by the Ministry
of Education prohibiting Muslim females from wearing hijab in public schools is not only discriminatory against Muslim female students but also uncalled for, inconsistent with Section 38 of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a clear violation of the fundamental rights of Muslim female
students in Public Schools in Osun State to freedom of religion and therefore null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

A month after, A specially constituted panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Thursday, July 21, 2016 unanimously reaffirmed its decision delivered in 2009 at Ilorin, Kwara state Division. It reversed the judgment of a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja which on October 17, 2014 banned the use of hijab in Lagos State public primary and secondary schools.
The appellate declared in a unanimous judgment on Thursday that the ban was discriminatory against Muslim pupils in the state.
It accordingly reinstated the use of hijab in Lagos schools.

 

This writer is not unaware that section 38 of the constitution (right to religion) is not absolute. The right is subject to section 45 of the constitution which gives government the right to disregard citizen’s right to religion in the interest of defence, public safety,
public order, public morality or public health; or for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedom of other persons. For instance during the Bokoharam insurgency in the North East, government was right when it temporarily banned the use hijab because then some suicide bombers hid bombs therein.

Another example is the fact that every person has the right on religious ground (say Jehovah Witness sect refusal of blood transfusion) not to submit to treatment recommended by a doctor even if the refusal of treatment can lead to the death of the patient. However for the purpose of public interest, and relying on the authority of the Supreme Court decision in M.D.P.D.T. v. Okonkwo (2001) 6 NWLR (Pt.710), such right would be held in abeyance if the disease, like Ebola and the like, is contagious.

In the light of what has so far been stated and in the absence of any exceptional circumstance as the ones mentioned above, every Muslim female has the unfettered right to wear her hijab anywhere. Prohibition of wearing of hijab in some public institutions is unconstitutional. The institutions concerned are hereby advised to reverse those rules.

 

O. G. Chukkol is a student, Faculty of Law, ABU, Zaria.

JESUS, A TRUE PROPHET AND SERVANT OF ALLAAH.

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JESUS, A TRUE PROPHET AND SERVANT OF ALLAAH 

This concise piece was written to enlighten my Christian brethren on an issue that has always escaped their attention which makes them hold a fallacious view on the true personality of JESUS CHRIST.

In most cases, confusion arise on the part of our Christian brethren when they are asked about the personality of Jesus; the commonnest answer is ‘Jesus is the son of God’. As heretical as this answer is, I consider it ‘moderate’ because it was primarily borne of misconception of Jewish local parlance intensified by deliberate garble of the scripture by some of the writers. The more perverted Christians would answer ‘Jesus is God’. I call them perverted because pristine nature of man rejects this proposition (I know that this impression strikes in your mind too, my dear reader, however much you try to suppress it). But delving into a discussion on the wrongness of these answers is outside the scope of this piece of writing because brevity and presentation of facts on the real personality of Jesus is my main object.

The Qur’an always reiterates that the stories contained therein are the true narrations (vide Q3:62, Q5:27, Q18:13). Meanwhile there exist a lot of passages in the Bible that tell that gospel accounts are unreliable biographies of Jesus — as it has been pointed out by prominent Bible scholars, no gospel is an eyewitness account: the following passages will give you a clue Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31, Matt 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27. This is why I will start by presenting the personality of Jesus according to the Qur’an. 

The Qur’an calls him Eesa the son of Maryam. Some Christians have ignorantly questioned the authenticity of the Qur’an based on this name but it soon became clear to them that there is no controversy among Muslims on the name of this man as it is in Christianity. The real name of this man is unknown in Christendom and, according to the Watchtower Society, the name Jesus was finally chosen only because it had gained currency over the years:

“To take the most prominent example, consider the name of Jesus. Do u know how Jesus’ family and friends addressed him in day-to-day conversation while he was growing up in Nazareth? The truth is, no human knows for certain, although it may have been something like Yeshua (or perhaps Yehoshua). It certainly was not Jesus. 
(“The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever”, a Watchtower magazine, first published in 1984, p 9).

About the personality of Jesus, the Holy Qur’an has these to say:

The Messiah [‘Iesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. … (Q5:75). 

And (remember) when ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you.. (Q61:6) 

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah… (Q4:171).

Note that ‘messenger’ in these verses means ‘Prophet’. Here is a clearer evidence:

“He [‘Iesa (Jesus)] said: Verily! I am a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;” (Q19:30)

The Christians would be astonished to find out that this position of the Qur’an is exactly the view of the contemporaries of Jesus (according to the Bible)–they never believed he was God; they accepted him only as a Prophet sent by Allaah. Here are proofs from the Bible (note; the capital-letter emphases are mine):

“And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a PROPHET mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,” (Luke 24:19 NKJV).

“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the PROPHET who is to come into the world.”” (John 6:14 NKJV).

“So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the PROPHET from Nazareth of Galilee.”” (Matthew 21:11 NKJV)

“The woman said to Him [Jesus], “Sir, I perceive that You are a PROPHET.” (John 4:19 NKJV).

“They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a PROPHET.”” (John 9:17 NKJV).

“… -then He [Jesus] said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to MEN.” (Matthew 9:6-8 NKJV).

“”Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-” (Acts 2:22 NKJV).

“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His SERVANT Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” (Acts 3:13 NKJV).

The truth has become manifest, Eesa (Jesus Christ) is only a prophet and servant of Allaah; he is never God or son of God.

My dear reader, I implore you to ponder over this pamphlet you have read. This might be God’s way of putting you on the right path. So don’t ever overlook it. May Allaah guide you aright. 

Say this prayer:

“Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” (Psalms 25:4-5 NKJV).

President of Nigerian Bar Association Addresses Hijab Issue, shares daughter’s induction photo

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President of Nigerian Bar Association addresses Hijab issue, shares daughter’s induction photo

Following the Hijab controversy sparked after photos of hijab wearing ladies passing out of the Nigerian Law School surfaced, the President of Nigerian Bar Association A. B Mahmoud, has addressed the issue sharing photos of his daughter in New York.

According to him, the controversy on hijab is needless, and the NBA will embrace diversity and tolerance in the Nigerian legal profession

Credits:Lailablog.com

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Practices of Worship

1.  Jesus purified himself with washing prior to prayer, as was the practice of the
pious prophets who preceded him (see Exodus 40:31­32 in reference to Moses
and Aaron), and as is the practice of Muslims.
2.  Jesus prayed in prostration (Matthew 26:39), like the other prophets (see
Nehemiah 8:6 with regard to Ezra and the people, Joshua 5:14 for Joshua,
Genesis 17:3 and 24:52 for Abraham, Exodus 34:8 and Numbers 20:6 for Moses
and Aaron). Who prays like that, Christians or Muslims?
3.  Jesus fasted for more than a month at a time (Matthew 4:2 and Luke 4:2), as
did the pious before him (Exodus 34:28, 1 Kings 19:8). So who follows the
example of Jesus, if not those who annually fast the month of Ramadan?
4.  Jesus made pilgrimage for the purpose of worship, as all Orthodox Jews
aspire to do. In his day pilgrimage was to Jerusalem (Acts 8:26­28). Muslims, if
able, make pilgrimage to Makkah (more familiar to many by its alternate
spelling, Mecca) as directed by Allah in the Holy Qur’an. Should Christians have
difficulty accepting the change of pilgrimage sites, Muslims cite Matthew 21:42­
43. In Matthew 21:42 Jesus reminded his followers of Psalm 118:22­23 as
follows: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Matthew 21:43 then records Jesus as having predicted, “Therefore I say to
you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the
fruits of it.”

The first quote references “the rejected,” who for two thousand years have
been understood by Jews and Christians alike to be the Ishmaelites—the bloodline
of Muhammad and the majority of the Arab Muslims. Jesus foretells the kingdom
of God being taken from the Jews and given to a more deserving nation. Muslims
assert that no people could be more deserving than those who embrace the
teachings and follow the example of all the prophets, Jesus and Muhammad
included.
Furthermore, Muslims point out that Makkah is not without mention in the
Bible. Makkah is pronounced “Bakka” in one of the Arabic dialects. Thus, the
Holy Qur’an mentions “Makkah” by name in one passage (48:24) and as “Bakka”
in another verse, which reads, “The first house (of worship) appointed for men
was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings” (TMQ
3:96). Psalm 84:5­6 provides the remarkable link between Old Testament and
Qur’an: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on
pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring …”
The sacred “spring” of the well of Zamzam in Bakka/Makkah is well known.
Additionally, as noted in the form of an editor’s comment in Edward Gibbon’s
work, “Mecca cannot be the Macoraba of Ptolemy; the situations do not agree,
and till the time of Mahomet, it bore the name of Becca, or the House, from its
celebrated temple. It is so called even in some parts of the Koran.”

 

 

……continue reading……

At-Tauhid reading continued

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Click here for previous session

 

 

(The Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah)

Allah the Most Exalted said: “And (all) the most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names.”
(7:180)

Ibn Abi Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Those who belie or deny His Names actually commit Shirk.”

Also reported from him is: “They derived Al-Lat from Al-Ilah and Al- ‘Uzza from AlI-Aziz.” A’mash said: “They included (in the Names of Allah) such (names) which do not belong to  Him.”.

Important issues of the Chapter

1) Confirmation of the Names of Allah.

2) All the Names of Allah are beautiful.

3) We must call Allah by His Names.

4) The command to shun the ignorant, evil apostates.

5) Explanation of the kind of apostasy one commits by misusing the Names of Allah.

6) The punishment promised for the person who commits apostasy.

 

 

…continue reading……

Just Saying By Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

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AlhamduliLlah!!!

Earlier, I promised to write on, “Jerusalam, we are brothers”. It is not unfortunate that I will not write on this topic as I intended to, for the sake of controversy and another reason I will state at the end of this article. Meanwhile, I will make a summary of what I should write on this December and might write before January if something VERY IMPORTANT COMES UP.

 

I embraced Islam in 2013 and since then, I’ve been in talks with lots of Muslims especially those in different media outlets. Sometimes, I wonder, “Where are the Muslims?”. During the #IstandwithSheriffahYunus episode, I started to question why this story is not in newspaper(s).

We need journalists like Sulaiman Aledeh and Eneye Ahmad Jamiu Emma who have the Deen in mind with no iota of liberalism! I talked to someone I thought could get the story published but I was disappointed he had a liberal view. These are what I have discovered,

* In a country like Nigeria, non-Muslims at the top cannot successfully oppress Muslims without the help of liberal Muslims at the top!

* We are funny and ridiculous. I was red when I read a post on Facebook. As regards our sister that was not called to bar, the poster wrote, “please, what she is wearing is not Hijab, it is too short”. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji’un!!! Many of us are fault-finders and we busy ourselves with finding faults when it is not necessary.

Like the #IstandwithSheriffahYunus episode, there are many (in the name of knowledge) who would not join in the campaign because they think that women should stay in their houses. Then even go to the extent of saying, “why is a woman studying law?”, “Why can’t Sherifah Yunus (a Niqobi) stay in her house?”. Even if I agree to disagree with their argument, do they not know that someone who persecutes a Muslimah because of hijab will come to oppress you or your son for holding a Qur’an? It is not the Hijab they hate but the religion!!!

* We need to talk and make the world realize that modernists, philosophers, liberals do not represent us. My brother, Eseoghene Al-Faruq Ohwojeheri wrote this article in 2015 and it describes everything! He wrote,

“A liberalist is the brother of an extremist. Both of them believe you can interpret the scriptures the way you want it. Both of them believe taking actions in matters of public affairs is the right of every individual. Both of them believe in fighting for their rights through civil disobedience; to the extremist it is called Jihad and Crusade even when it is not. To the liberalist it is called protests, revolution, uprising, and freedom fighting. These are one and the same people though seeming with different agenda; same method, same thinking. Let us take the Muslim world for example.

While extremists like the present Boko Haram group have gone mad killing any living thing that is not from their group, liberalist took to the streets in the madness of worse proportion that was called the Arab Spring. While Boko Haram killed at most 14-15 thousand people in 6 years, the liberalist Arab Spring took the life of over 300,000 people in one year, but don’t talk about it. Also do not talk about the obvious flaws of democracy. Your freedom of speech will forsake you.

Liberalism is freedom to do what you want including interpreting the scriptures the way you please, extremism is just an act of liberalism. Liberalism is the world’s disease not religion.

As a Muslim who realises that Islam is not leftist or rightist, extreme or liberal, all about peace or all about violent, I have learnt a number of things from the religion which will benefit both the extremist and liberalist. I have learnt that Islam is not to be taken in half but to be viewed in whole and who best to do this but the scholar of the religion?

This is why any Muslim who is worth his salt is not a public commentator on Boko Haram because he knows that from the orderliness of the religion is that not everyone speaks in public, he is not a basher of the government neither does he try to fight them because he knows the beloved Prophet of Islam prohibited us from bashing the leader in public and instructed us to advise them in private, and he is most definitely not a materialist who thinks if he fights he has to kill innocents to weaken his enemies else he will lose neither is he a materialist who thinks that he has to play along with the time for life to be easy or for people to be attracted to the religion.

A true Muslim puts his trust in Allah and affords what is forbidden from killing the innocents to cutting the beards to suicide bombing to shaking hands with women to unorganized participation in evil systems to rebellion against constituted authorities to insulting the leader in public, he does not rationalize the Qur’an and Sunnah as does the extremist and liberalist; the former to support his anger and bitterness and the latter to support his desires. A true Muslim takes Islam as it is and with true Muslims the world will find example of what balance truly means.

Eseoghene Al-Faruq Ohwojeheri”

No one sells Muslims more than liberals. Let me just state what I think should be stated and anyone is free to hate me. All Hijabi muslim sisters that were called to bar and removed their Hijab because of just one day are a disappointment to the religion of Islam and if this goes on, the unbelievers would use them to support their argument that we can do away with hijab!

I begin to wonder if any of you dies whilst you have the wig on without the Hijab, what would you tell Allah (SWT)? Alhamdulillah, the event is gone, it is really important to seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT). May Allah forgive you, Ameen.

How do you feel when an unbeliever’s argument against sister Firdau’s action is based on your negligence. Sambo Dare Ibrahim Al Iloori wrote,

“You uploaded pictures of female muslimah congratulating them on their call to bar ceremony knowing fully they were not in their hijab, at the same time you are here and there talking about injustice melted on our Sister Amasa because of her hijab.
Isn’t that contradictory? You can’t be here and be there at the same time. People like you and those Muslimah you congratulated are the main problem and in fact those that allow people like Amasa to be humiliated”

Perhaps if you respected the religion and did like sister Firdaus, an unbeliever’s argument would be based on the country being secular and we will ask where he dropped fundamental human rights that covers freedom of religion!

 

Allah’s aid is sought!

 

As regards Jerusalem, I was unconscious for about 7-8 days after my accident. When I regained consciousness, it took me about a month to remember there is anything like Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

 

Then, I remembered the articles and tantrums on social media as regards Saudi-Qatar issue. If I had died, Allah will not ask me about these two countries but my deeds! If I had sinned during arguments or in articles I wrote during the saga, who will stand for me in front of Allah?

My definition of “Jerusalam – we are brothers”, is that we do not need to cut ties over issues you will not be asked about. So, if Israel-Palestine conflict makes two people who may claim to the Qur’an and Sunnah with the understanding of the pious predecessors curse and label one another, how would they deal with opposition from a shi’a or jew?

As regards Palestinians and other Muslims in the world, we seek Allah’s mercy upon us. Ameen.

 

This afternoon, I read something that will add to  my going off social media till January so I can completely treat what is left of the effects of the accident, In shaa Allah

My brother, Lukman Ridwan Samuel sent an Islamic article to a Christian lady and she said,

“I know you won’t change. I am blocking you. You have joined your brother in his misfortune (talking about my embracing Islam). The misfortune that brought him close to death”

 

For the first time since I had my accident, I cried. Despite the excruciating pains at the hospital, no one saw my tears. I cried not because I was sad, I cried because I imagined what must have been said, one even came to tell me something similar when I was hospitalized. I have also gathered screenshots of articles and negative comments from Christians as regards the accident, the so called peaceful people. When going to Madrasah becomes going to persecute Christ. And of the five people that died instantly in the accident, I wonder those who were going to persecute Christ amongst them.

I cried because I am grateful to Allah (SWT). In shaa Allah, I will be going way so I could take my time to rest and recover fully.

Ya Allah, do not take us except you are pleased with us as Muslims submitting to your will. Ameen.

 

Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

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