We praise our Lord, Allah the Creator of heavens and the earth. And we sent greetings and salutations to our noble prophet. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Aameen.

Equality is defined as…a world where all people have equal opportunities. Equal access, control over resources, benefits and services to all people. It is through equitable processes in which people obtain equality.

It is true, many people do not have a home (a house, an apartment, etc.) to live.

It is true, many people do not have enough nutritious food to eat, no clean water or goods (clothings and shoes).

It is true many people have no access to a basic education, as a result, many have not learned how to read and write. Many people do not have a college or university degree or diploma.

It is true, many people do not have an internet connection.

It is true, many people have no television or radio or computer etc.

While identifying different kinds of inequalities that exist in society, various scholars, thinkers and ideologists have highlighted three main dimensions of equality namely, political, social and economic.

The Qur’an 49:13 does not make any distinction on the basis of sex and believes in human equality: O Mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). The Qur’an advocates equality between all men and women, and says that it is the only “good deeds” that may raise the status of one human over another.

First, women and men are created from the same entity (Qur’an 4:1), and for that reason they are of equal standing. Second, both women and men have the obligation to live good lives and to do good works (Qur’an 16:97). Third, women and men have the same right to be rewarded for their works (Qur’an 33:35).

Once a year, the month of Hujaj (Hajj period), Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca and tawwaf the Kaaba praising Allah together. It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Creator.

The rights bestowed upon mankind include the right to life and peaceful living as well as the right to own, protect, and have property protected Islamic economic jurisprudence. The Qur’an also defines the rights for minority groups and women, as well as regulations of human interactions as between one another to the extent of dictating how prisoners of war ought to be treated.

Allah says in Qur’an 17:70 “We have honoured the children of Adam, and provided them with rides on land and in the sea. We provided for them good provisions, and we gave them greater advantages than many of our creatures.

Its also says in the Qur’an 49:13 “O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes that you may recognise one another. The best among you in the sight of the Creator is the most righteous. Allah is Omniscient, Cognisant.

God almighty says that mankind are the descendants of one man Adam and one woman. Therefore, they are brothers to one another. This is Human rights in Islam. The Qur’an emphases on equality and justice. The duty of a Muslim is to be just and truthful and enjoys a high priority status. It is described Qur’an that “O you who believe! be maintainers of Justice, bearers of witness of Allah’s sake, Though it maybe against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do”. The Qur’an, also unequivocally restricts its believers from aiding someone in need of their help only where they intend to deceive or carry out an act of aggression by stating “help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression”. Furthermore, the Qur’an teaches its followers that treating followers of other religions justly, and kindly is an article of faith. So, the Christians and their churches must be protected, so also the Jews. There is no compulsion in religion the Qur’an say in 2:256, however, the truth is clear from error. Allah has indeed defended His religion.

Life is a divine bestowal on humankind. It should be secured and defended by all. According to the Qur’an, it is the individual and universal duty of Muslims to protect the dignity of merits and virtues of others. Life in Islam is attributed tremendous value. The Qur’an says that “whoever slays a soul, it is as though he slew all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men;”. The Creator forbids the taking of life without due process of the law, and He also obligates Muslims to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. The right to life is conferred by the Qur’an even on one’s enemy during the war as Muslims are forbidden from using force except in self-defense. Also protected by Allah are the Elderly, women, and children of the enemy and to these, there are no exceptions.

Allah bestows upon mankind the right to own property as well as, the freedom to deal and trade as they please in what they own provided they do so fairly. Moreover, throughout the Qur’an the feeding of orphans, the poor, and the needy are an article of faith that signal one’s true devotion to the teachings of Islam. The message is very clear and unambiguously in the following verse “Those, who, Should We establish them in the law, will keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and enjoin good and forbid evil; and Allah’s is the end of affairs”. The principles of justly protecting the rights and property of those in need of such protection, i.e. orphans, windows and elderly are brought together effortlessly in the holy Qur’an when it says “And give to the orphans their property, and do not substitute worthless (thing) for (their) good (ones), and do not devour their property (as an addition) to you own property; this is surely a great crime”.

The holy Qur’an 18:29 says “This is the truth from your Lord, “then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. And further says “Do you know who really rejects the faith? That is the one who mistreats the orphans. And does not advocate the feeding of the poor. And woe to those who observe the contact prayers (Salat) – who are totally heedless of their prayers. They only show off. And they forbid charity (Qur’an 107:1-7).

As to women’s rights the Qur’an dedicates a chapter to women which is evident from the very name of the chapter, An-Nisa (the women). The Qur’an in that chapter states that whoever does good deeds, whether they are male or female, shall enter Paradise and not the least bit of injustice shall be dealt to them. The same message is repeated in chapter sixteen…”Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, we will most certainly make him live a happy life, and We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did”. The ability of women to bear children is a significant attribute used by the Qur’an in a number of verses to uplift the status of women. For example, “And We have enjoined man in respect of his parents (mother) bears him with fainting upon fainting and his weaning takes two years…Allah says “Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming”.

Economic rights of women, the Qur’an says “And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result”. Women have also been given the right to inherit in the Qur’an. Allah in one particular verse creates an additional obligation on men to provide, protect, and generally take care of women as their guardians and not as superiors. The most valued status as regards to women, is that of a mother in the Qur’an as it illustrates this point by binding the reward of paradise to those who satisfy the needs of their parents.?

The holy Qur’an advocates equality between all and says that the only good deeds may raise the status of one human over another. The world is yet to be balanced. Palestinians are still struggling and suffering to live in their own lands as normal human beings. The Ukrainians are fighting wars that can be avoided. The Afghanistans women are still struggling to be recognised as women stated by the holy book prophet (saw). The properties of the orphans are taken from them. The weak are still oppressed by the strong, many women are being raped and abused, many widows are not catered for. Many pregnant women have no good health care system. Life and Properties have been destroyed, and many injustices are committed in the name of justice.

The world and the UN have not done enough to protect the “equity laws” they created. There is shortage of food, clean water, education, healthcare services, orphanage facilities etc. Wars and destructions are still going on, in Sudan, Ethiopia, Jidbuti, Somalia, Nigeria, Korea, South America, etc. In these areas people cannot afford to live equally and a prosperous lives. The IMF is not responsibly releasing funds, they are making it hard for all these nations to access funds. Unemployment is increasing, young people are living their countries to die in the Mediterranean Sea.?Hunger is in every lands except the western countries. The western nations have more access to IMF than the third world countries. Is that equality? The UN and the IMF have to make adjustments. There will not be equity until wars are stopped, until agriculture is increased, until education funds increase, until healthcare systems are available and affordable in every country, the rich countries are causing environmental pollution but the poor countries are suffering the consequences, until justice and security services become accessible to everyone, and not until these are done, the world will be far from peace.

The Adogba Central Mosque, which the Oyo State Government demolished, had tons of history attached to it. Those who knew what transpired at that time would confirm what I am writing here. This story, I’m very sure, no one has ever told Governor Seyi Makinde.

In the initial stage, the Adogba Central Mosque was built by Haramain Islamic Foundation. Haramain, a Saudi-based humanitarian organization, in those days, embarked on many lofty programmes, targeted at the poor and less privileged. All these happened in the early and late 90s.

One of the cardinal programmes of Haramain was the building of central mosques across some major towns in Yorubland. Oyo, Ibadan, and some towns were the beneficiaries.

There are some mosques we see today, but some of us don’t know their origin. For example, the central mosque at Oja Oke in Ilora, Araromi Market Central Mosque in Oyo, Alegongo Central Mosque in Akobo, Ibadan, and Adogba Central Mosque were all built by Haramain Islamic Foundation.

After Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s President in 1999, he became uncomfortable with Haramain’s humanitarian activities. The hatred and animosity Obasanjo nursed towards Haramain became so unbearable. Eventually, Obasanjo sent them packing from the shores of Nigeria.

The management of Haramain, in their wisdom, deemed it worthy of handing over some of their properties, including their mosques, to some Islamic organizations.

Alegongo Central Mosque was given to The Muslim Congress (TMC). Araromi Market Central Mosque was given to the Ahlus-sunnah Group in Oyo. Oja Oke Central Mosque was shared between the TMC and Ilora Muslim Community. As for Adogba Central Mosque, it was handed over to the Organisation of Tadomnul Muslimeen (OTM).

For the sake of clarity, all these mosques were properly transferred to those organizations, and they became the rightful owners. Among the mosques that were a bit contentious is the Oja Oke Central Mosque, which was dragged between Ilora Muslim Community and the TMC in Oyo.

People were praying in those mosques without any hindrance or hitch. Each mosque has(d) its chief imam. The Chief Imam of Adogba Central Mosque was Ustadh Abdul-Kabir Hamzah. I know him. I had prayed in the mosque before it was demolished.

When Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office as the governor of Oyo State, part of his plans was to build some bus terminals in Ibadan. Iwo Road, due to its strategic location, was marked as one of the locations of the terminals.

In the course of mapping out strategies to implement this programme, it was discovered that Adogba Central Mosque would be demolished, in order to give space for the construction of the new bus terminal.

Eyebrows were raised when the Oyo State Government raised the issue with the management of Adogba Central Mosque. However, the Governor himself waded in and convinced the management that a more befitting mosque would be built for the management, in replacement of the demolished mosque.

Therefore, a new site was allocated for the mosque building and work commenced. After waiting for a long period, the mosque was eventually built and completed. Many Muslims were happy and praying for the Governor.

This kind gesture would have earned Governor Seyi Makinde widespread accolades from the entire Muslim Ummah of Oyo State, which would have transformed into more votes for him at the poll if he had stuck to the earlier agreements he had with the mosque’s management.

Sadly, the Governor reneged on his promises and earlier agreements. The mosque was named “Seyi Makinde Central Mosque”. Habaa! This is a breach of trust. From the aforementioned story, the mosque and its management belong to the Organisation of Tadomnul Muslimeen (OTM). It does not belong to the Governor.

Although, we know that the Governor, being a Christian, would not pray in the mosque. Nevertheless, records have to be set straight. I am sure the Governor would not have taken this wrong step if he had been properly briefed by those Muslims who are close to him.

The Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Religious Affairs, Alhaji Abdulazeez AbdurRasheed, who happens to be my cousin, should present this post to his Principal and advise him accordingly. Therefore, the new Adogba Central Mosque should be properly handed over to the Organisation of Tadomnul Muslimeen (OTM).

Adejare Ibrahim

Islam is a very practical and pragmatic way of life which gives ample consideration to the nature of mankind and the different situations in which we find ourselves when legislating laws for people to live and abide by. This is because the Laws are of Divine origin from the One who created man and knows him better than man knows himself. He says in Suratul Mulk:
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“Should He not know, – He who created? And He is The Subtle, The Aware.” (Mulk 67:14).
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In Islam, we learnt that man has been honoured and raised in status by Allah, his Creator, over and above His other creations. We also learnt that not only has He honoured all the believers more than those who disbelieved in Him and His message sent down to mankind by declaring their lives, properties and honour to be sacred and inviolable, He also declared that the more their piety, the more honourable they will be in His sight and estimation.
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The Prophets and Messengers of Allah, being the most pious set of humans automatically become the most honourable of the whole of mankind. It is forbidden in Islam to dishonour, insult or abuse a fellow muslim let alone a Prophet or Messenger of Allah. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said in one narration,
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“Abusing a Muslim is fusuq (transgression of limits set by Allah), and killing him is Kufr (Disbelief).”
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Insulting a Prophet is even worse and more grievous in the Sight of Allah. It is a sacred religious duty of the Muslims to guard jealously the honour of the last Messenger of Allah, Sayyidina Muhammad (s.a.w.) because any insult to his personality indirectly casts doubts and aspersions on the message he delivered to mankind and aims at discrediting both the Messenger and his message.
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I want us to carefully examine the responses of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions to those who insulted the Prophet (s.a.w.) at different stages of his Divine mission. Allah says in Al-Maa’idah:
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“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land : That is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the hereafter ; except for those who repent before they fall into your power : in that case, know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Qur’an 5:33-34).
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The above verses give the ruling concerning the one who insults the Prophet (s.a.w.) within the islamic state. One of the options mentioned is exile. This implies that if the offender commits the crime within the islamic state, since sending him away into exile is one of the options of punishment, the offender will automatically be free from further punishments if he escapes from the islamic territory into the land of the enemies of islam or the land of those who are under an agreement or pact with the Muslims. If the crime were committed outside the islamic state then the offender assumes the status of an exiled person and faces no punishment until he comes into the islamic state. Only then will the terms of the punishment take effect. In my opinion, this implies that the law cannot be implemented outside the islamic territory. Doing so will mean going against the laws of the land outside the islamic state. Just like we cannot amputate the hand of a thief outside the islamic state, we do not go after offenders who are not within the boundaries of the state or who have escaped into another state.
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Perhaps the area of concern which I want us to examine more is the response of the muslims to this kind of crime when we are weak and oppressed in the land. Many verses of the Qur’an and ahadith of the Prophet (s.a.w.) enjoin us to be patient, tolerant and to persevere and endure the insults, annoyances, provocations, assaults and abuses that we may experience in the hands of the unbelievers when we are weak and oppressed in the land. A few examples readily comes to mind. When Abu Lahab insulted the Prophet (s.a.w.) in Makkah when the Muslims were still weak and oppressed in the land, he was left alone till Allah replied him in the Qur’an. He did not face any punishment. When the unbelievers of Makkah started making jest of the Prophet (s.a.w.) and calling him derogatory names like madman, poet, soothsayer, magician, etc he didn’t punish anyone since they were still weak and oppressed in the land, and had no military powers with which to execute the Shariah Laws then.
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Today, we Muslims are weak and oppressed in the land even in the muslim lands where we are ruled by partial islamic laws or kufr laws in some cases, and some of our rulers are more loyal to the enemies of Islam than to Islam. Attempts made to insult our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) are desperate efforts by the enemies of Islam to annoy and unsettle the muslims in order to divert their focus, attention and energies away from more serious plots that they are busy executing against the unsuspecting muslim ummah. What is enjoined on us in this situation is to remain patient.
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During the early days of Islam in Makkah when the Muslims were weak and oppressed in the land, the Prophet (s.a.w.) was called by an insulting and derogatory name, “Muzammah”, and then they abused him with the name for instance, they said, “Muzammah is crazy and sick”. To this kind of statement of theirs, the Prophet (s.a.w.) would tell his companions to ignore them because they were abusing and insulting Muzammah, not him Muhammad since his name is not Muzammah. Just imagine the beautiful wisdom applied by the Prophet in such situations!.
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Besides, if executing a law will bring or result in more evil than good, doing so may be waved to avoid the evil or to bring about some good like an opportunity of dawah through which some of the staunch enemies of Islam may embrace the faith. The Prophet (s.a.w.) forgave some of those who insulted him which led to their embracing Islam. This, in no way, portrays the Muslims as been weak. If such insults are passed on the Prophet deliberately by the agents of the enemy kufr state or the perpetrators enjoy the support and backing of the enemy kufr state when the Muslims have a state and army of their own, then it is enough reason for the Amir to declare Jihad against the enemy state.
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But so long as we remain weak and oppressed in the land as we are now, we must remain patient till Allah gives us ascendancy in the land so as not to react in an irrationally suicidal manner. The man who lives in a glass house, they say, must not throw stones at people.

Wa Allahu a’lam.

Fuad-deen Olabisi Kekere-ekun

The theory of Predeterminism and Freewill have been subjects of discourse for ages and will continue to be. The religion of Islam quite presents a compatibilistic view that suggests the possibility of Predeterminism and Freewill co-existing at the same time. This can be seen from the Hadith:

“Narrated ‘Ali [radhi-yAllahu ‘anhu]: We were in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said,

“There is none among you but has his place written for him, either in Paradise or in the Hell-fire.” We said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Shall we depend (on this fact and give up work)?” He replied, “No! Carry on doing good deeds, for everybody will find easy (to do) such deeds as will lead him to his destined place.”

Then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited: “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, and believes in Al-Husna. We will make smooth for him the path of ease …” (V.92: 5-10) [Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6/4947 (O.P.472)]”

In contrast to incompatibilism that rejects the idea of the co-existence of Predeterminism and Freewill, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in response to the Sahaba’s curiosity, presents a form of Predeterminism that encapsulates Causal and Nomological Determinism.

Predeterminism becomes logical, or at worst, paradoxical, but not illogical when we think about the fact everything we have ever invented came from our universe. It took us years to start writing, discover oil, go into space, invent cars and phones, yet, the resources for our PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE inventions have been deposited in our universe thousands of years ago.

Everything that led to our enlightenment and civilization predated us. What was/is/ needed was/is that NECESSITY to explore our universe. Our own planet itself, EARTH, has in abundance, enough resources to sustain us.

Who knows our future past, present, and future problems and deposited these resources? If we call the universe, “Mother”, is the universe itself conscious?

These resources used to invent solution to human problems, are they random or whoever deposited them saw through our future ahead of us and knew what they can be used for, leaving us with the intellect to explore as necessity demands?

Charlie Chaplin said, “the good Earth is rich and can provide for everyone”. How true! However, not only is the Earth rich enough to sustain us, it’s mouth is wide enough to swallow our bodies.

Allah says, “Al-‘Alaq 96:3

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous

Al-‘Alaq 96:4

ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ

Who taught by the pen

Al-‘Alaq 96:5

عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

English – Sahih International

Taught man that which he KNEW NOT.

How much do we know compared to what we are set to know and those things we may never know not of?

Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman