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How Will The Coronavirus Pandemic Change Ramadan For Muslims? – Saba Aziz

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Muslims around the world will observe the holy month of Ramadan under lockdown and tight restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak that has paralyzed entire countries.

The first day of fasting for Ramadan, which is determined by the sighting of the new moon, is likely to be Friday, April 24 in most Arab nations.

Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community.

But with strict curfews and physical distancing directives enforced to limit the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, many of Ramadan’s rituals and traditions will be curtailed this year.

“I can’t remember anything like this happening before,” Mohd Faizal Musa, a research fellow at the National University of Malaysia’s Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), told Al Jazeera.

“There was World War II or natural disasters, but from past literature, historical texts, and various archives, I found that Muslims still gathered during Ramadan, despite the war or disasters, and still observed their religious rituals together.

“However, we are facing a different enemy this time around. It can be merciless and invisible.”

How will fasting be different?

During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and break their fast after sunset with a meal called iftar.

Breaking of the fast is usually a communal affair. It is common for mosques to host large iftars, especially for the poor.

Because of the pandemic, which has spread to 185 nations, many countries this year have advised citizens to avoid large gatherings and have suhoor and iftar individually or with family at home.

In Egypt, all Ramadan activities, including group iftars and charity tables, are banned.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised using virtual alternatives, where possible, for social and religious gatherings.

Month-long Ramadan bazaars with stalls selling food, drinks and clothes, usually busy sites, are not allowed in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

Rozana Isa, head of Malaysia-based group Sisters in Islam, said this will have a big economic impact on small businesses and single mothers, who rely heavily on this source of income.

Meanwhile, as food consumption usually rises in Ramadan, there are concerns of panic buying and supplies running low amid the lockdowns.

The physical distancing guidelines will also dampen the spirit of Ramadan, Rozana told Al Jazeera.

“[On] this occasion where we have to practise physical distancing, not to greet one another in the way that we usually greet by hugging our fellow Muslims or shaking their hands, this will definitely have an impact on the spirit,” she said.

Can people still pray together?

Congregational prayers are banned in several countries, and many mosques have been temporarily closed.

Jordan has suspended the special evening Tarawih prayers at mosques, urging citizens to offer them at home.

In Iran, one of the region’s hardest-hit nations, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also called on people to avoid collective prayers.

In the Malaysian state of Selangor, the sultan has suspended religious activities in mosques until at least May 31.

“The religious authorities are definitely encouraging people to do their daily five prayers at home, and I think it really is within the family then to inculcate that spirit of coming together and praying [as a group],” Rozana said.

In Saudi Arabia, King Salman has ordered the shortening of Tarawih prayers, which will be held without public attendance, at the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina.

Meanwhile, Pakistan will allow congregational prayers at mosques during Ramadan, but worshippers must keep a distance of two metres (six feet) from each other and are encouraged to bring their own prayer mats.

At Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which will be closed to Muslim worshippers throughout Ramadan, the call to prayer will still take place five times a day, and religious workers allowed entry.

Mosques in the United Kingdom and elsewhere will live-stream sermons, Quranic recitation and prayers.

Muslims will also be able to attend religious lectures via video-conferencing app Zoom, Facebook and YouTube.

“For us, the connectivity – whether it was through classes, the recitation of the Quran or through prayers at mosques –  we will now try to cope within our homes,” said Aiasha Amir, a Pakistani Islamic instructor and motivational speaker, who will be giving daily lectures live on Facebook during Ramadan.

How can you provide charity to the poor?

Giving charity and zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is encouraged during Ramadan.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where a nightly nationwide curfew has been in place since March 26, charities will deliver iftar meals to the poor instead of serving them in Ramadan tents or mosques.

But in Saudi Arabia, the mosque of Prophet Muhammad in Medina will not provide iftar meals to needy people this year.

For safety reasons, religious and health experts have advised using online methods to donate to NGOs helping those affected by the outbreak.

“To avoid the crowded gathering associated with iftar banquets, consider using individual pre-packaged boxes/servings of food,” the WHO said in its Ramadan guidelines.

“These can be organised by centralised entities and institutions, which should adhere to physical distancing throughout the whole cycle (collecting, packaging, storing and distribution).”

Can you fast with COVID-19 symptoms?

In all cases, it is essential to seek medical advice from your doctor.

According to the Quran, sick people are exempt from fasting and can make up for the missed fast within a year after Ramadan. The elderly, pregnant and nursing women are also allowed to skip fasting.

Therefore, according to Rozana, if you are experiencing serious coronavirus symptoms, it is advisable not to fast.

“In Islam, it is very clear about who should fast and who is exempted from fasting, particularly those who are experiencing a particular ailment and I think with the coronavirus symptoms it doesn’t sound like its an ailment that is something light,” Rozana said.

Amir said if an individual is not under a doctor’s supervision and their cough and flu is not serious, then one may keep fasting.

“It depends upon the immunity of the person, if it is [symptoms are] mild and if it is bearable just like normal cough and flu in which there is no danger to your life … carry on your fasts as long as it’s not affecting your physical health.”

How can Eid be celebrated in a pandemic?

The Eid al-Fitr festival marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries.

With lockdown measures in place and large gatherings banned, this year’s festivities will be scaled down.

The Indonesian Ulema Council recommends that people living and working in other cities should refrain from visiting their hometowns for the holiday.

It remains unclear if nations will lift or ease lockdown measures for Eid.

Saudia Arabia’s grand mufti has said that, if the outbreak continues, Eid prayers can be performed at home.

“Like it or not, Eid this year will be in a restricted manner,” said Faizal at the National University of Malaysia.

“It will be different. A small, close Eid celebration between small unit members of the family will be organised.

“This will be less fun for kids, and they will remember this era or year to tell their children and future generations.”

What can Muslims learn from this experience?

The faithful can learn a number of lessons from the restrictions this year as they are encouraged to observe Ramadan more modestly, Rozana said.

“That whole notion about the food wastage, the wastage of resources and how it can be better channelled towards those who need it, that’s something for us as Muslims to think about as well,” she said.

 

DA’WAH KIT: ANSWERS TO 11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ISLAM BY CHRISTIAN APOLOGISTS AND QUESTIONS CHRISTIANS CANNOT ANSWER

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Click the image above to download the da'wah kit

Praise be to Allah (Subhana wa ta’laa), the Lord of the worlds and the Creator of all that exist. Allah says in the glorious Qur’an,

“And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah untruth while he is being invited to Islam. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it. It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it.” (Qur’an 61:7-9)

The enemies of Islam, according to the words of Allah, will not persist in their fruitless campaigns against Islam. This paper is a refutation to some questions frequently asked by notorious and mischievous Christian apologists. These questions are conjectures, misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Qur’anic verses.

With intentions only for the sake of Allah, we decided to make this rebuttal to answer the mischievous apologists, clear the misconceptions, and strengthen the faith of Muslims whose faith might be shaken by these questions as well as a Da’wah Kit for the Da’ee who is into Comparative Da’wah. Click the image to download;

Click the image above to download answers to 11 frequently asked questions about Islam by Christian apologists

 

QUESTIONS…

  1. IF ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE AND TOLERANCE, WHY DOES IT
    ALLOW THE KILLING OF APOSTATES?

2. WHY DOES ISLAM ALLOW RAPE?

3. ABROGATION: IF THE QUR’AN IS THE WORD OF GOD, WHY ARE
SOME VERSES ABROGATED?

4. WHY WILL ALLAH GIVE EVERY MUSLIM A JEW OR CHRISTIAN AS
RANSOM FROM THE FIRE?

5.WHY DO MUSLIMS FACE THE KAA’BAH, KISS THE BLACK STONE
AND CLAIM NOT TO BE IDOLATROUS?

6. WHY DOES THE QUR’AN SAY THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN
ALLAH AND HIS PROPHET WILL GO TO HELL?

7. IF ISLAM IS A TOLERANT RELIGION, WHY DID MUHAMMAD
COMMAND THE DESTRUCTION OF IDOLS AND CHURCHES?

8. DOUBLE STANDARDS: WHY DID MUHAMMAD ASK HIS FOLLOWERS
TO EXPEL POLYTHEISTS AND JEWS WHILE MUSLIMS ARE TO
FIGHT THOSE WHO TRY TO EXPEL THEM FROM THEIR LANDS?

9. WHY DOES ISLAM ALLOW SEX WITH PREPUBESCENT GIRLS?

10. WHY DID MUHAMMAD CONVERT PEOPLE TO ISLAM THROUGH
THREAT, WAR AND GIFTS?

11. WHY DID MUHAMMAD STEAL GOODS, ABDUCT CHILDREN AND
WOMEN TO ENRICH HIMSELF IF HE WAS A MESSENGER OF
ALLAH?

 

In the same booklet, we have also set questions Christians cannot answer. Download for FREE and share!

Click the image above to download the da’wah kit

RAMADAN CRESCENT BETWEEN ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANNULMENT

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Barely a week the probable dates for the start of Ramadan were announced by the leader of the Nigerian Muslims, Alhaji Sa’d Abubakar (the Sultan of Sokoto), the Mudeer of Markaz under the shield of a southwestern body of imams and scholars came up with a counter-announcement, thereby tactically nullifying the former. I wasn’t shocked nor moved a second because such is annually habitual of the sheikh.

While all were celebrating Eidul Fitr last year, he together with his acquiescent adherents rather fasted, and the preceding day, they had their unprecedented, record-breaking festival. I saw some scantily lined up for Salatul Eid along Abule-Egba and I could not but burst into a saddening laughter. That would invariably mean that those (the whole country except their sanctimonious selves) who did otherwise must have worshipped to the gallery. That’s unfortunate.

As usual, the Sultan had urged Nigerian Muslims to watch out for the crescent of Ramadan on Thursday the 23rd of April, 2020. If sighted, the commencement of fast would be effected the next day, Friday 24th, and if not, it would start Saturday the 25th. This, no doubt, is the age-long Islamic custom of starting and ending of Ramadan. But because mudeer is habitually hell bent on being disobedient to the authority, he rather announced that Ramadan would start Saturday 25th April and end Sunday 24th May. A repeat of last year’s mockery apparently looms.

Mudeer’s strength obviously lies in astronomical forecasts which are indisputably, imperfectly prone to human errors. Would Allah not get angered if an act of worship as fundamental as Ramadan fast was regulated by fallible human predictions?

Whereas I am not aware of any scholar the world over who had ever berated or ruled against astronomical knowledge or its tools (such as binoculars) being used to aid sighting of the moon. What they said and still say is that the knowledge should only be used to complement the practice of searching for the crescent, not to jettison it as propagated by mudeer and his ilk. To this effect was the effort of the Sultan a few years ago where 6 binoculars – used to search and view a newborn moon – were acquired by him and distributed to each geopolitical zone across the country. The astronomical, technological machines are used alongside the traditional eye-sighting the 29th day of Sha’baan and Ramadan, to start and end fast respectively.

That is the practice in developed countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey etc. Both the traditional and modern methods are used without relying on predictions and forecasts.

The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) led by the Sultan has a permanent, functional committee of scholars who see to the appearance and disappearance of the moon every month. The National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) effortlessly discharges this sacred obligation and reports its findings to the office of the Sultan who announces same to the public. The NMSC has a record of its past findings from Muharram to Dhul-Hijjah.

Although I am pained that this usually occurs every year, but I am not surprised. How would someone who spoke ill of Abu Hurairah have reverence for a mere Sultan?

WHY WIKIPEDIA IS NOT YOUR BEST SOURCE – Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

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Over the years, I have learnt not to totally rely on Wikipedia as a source or reference. As a writer and debater on politics and religion, the need to make researches and quote sources is very important. For those who do not know, as detailed as articles on Wikipedia are, the facts are challengeable and subject to correction.

When it was reported that Abba Kyari died, various media outlets published the story. Many but a few got the age wrongly, including me. My attention was called to the error by ace journalist, Sulaiman Aledeh. I wrote an article on Saturday morning where I gave the age as 82 (now corrected).

Late Friday night, the age was not on the Wiki article, then on Saturday morning, it says 82. When Aledeh called my attention, I went to check the same article and the age says 67. I was very sure I saw 82 in the morning. So, I signed in to my Wiki account and checked the edit history. Within 24 hours, the article was edited not less than 30 times.

Many media outlets also fell for this, even Channels. Aledeh.com did a good job with the age as well as Premium Times who published an article to that effect. For a research work, it is better to read and draw facts from the source(s) of a Wiki article.

This is what those who do not know about Islam but put themselves in the position of Scholars need to know. Sheikh Google and Imam Wikipedia should not take the position of scholars and Islamic texts. Likewise, the enemies of Islam who claim to have studied Islam on Wikipedia and anti-Islamic websites need to know this as well. Someone comes to you for a debate, sits in front of the computer with 20 Wiki pages opened then claims he used to be an ex-Islamic scholar.

I remember editing the Hijab article on Wikipedia. In 2018, if you search Hijab on google, the thumbnail from wiki used to be the picture of an Iranian (I think) woman with a rope-like piece of clothing on her head, it is different today. You will see the woman’s picture under the Burqa and Niqab section of the Hijab article. Unfortunately, I was unable to change the erroneous definition of the Hijab which is still there at the time of this writing. It says;

“A hijab is a veil worn by some Muslim women in the presence of any male outside of their immediate family, which usually covers the head and chest”

A Hijab is to be worn by Muslim women not some and goes beyond covering the head and chest.

Conclusively, articles on Wikipedia should be fact-checked and you cannot claim to have proper knowledge of any religion or people through Wikipedia.

Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

A STEP TO RAMADAN By Sodiq Abdulazeez

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Fasting and Its Merits

Fasting is the English translation of the Arabic word, siyam or sawm, which literarily means ‘to restrain’

Allah used the word generally in the Qur’an when He revealed the conversation between Angel Jibril and Maryam, during which the former instructed the latter as follows:

‘…And if you do see a man, say, ‘I have vowed to remain silent for Allah‘ (Maryam: 26).

However, in the Shari’ah, the word, sawm, is described as the worship of Allah with the intention of pleasing Him, by restraining from physical nourishment, food, drink, sexual association, and other fast-breakers, from the period between the break of dawn until sunset.

The merits of fasting are numberless, but some of them will be mentioned here:

1. Fasting helps a serious believer remould, reshape, and reform his physical and spiritual disposition and behavior

2. It serves as a shield that protects a believer from sinful acts

3. It serves as an expiation of sins for the observer

4. It distances the believer from hellfire just as the heaven and earth are apart (from each other)

5. Those who fast are assured of entry to paradise through a special door called: Rayyān.

6. It avails a believer, the special grace of having his supplication answered by Allah

7. It makes the believer acknowledge the mercy of Allah on him, through the experience of hunger

8. It drives the believer to be generous to the poor, hence, promoting equitable happiness in the society

9. It instils in the believer, the exalted virtues of patience, perseverance, forbearance and forgiveness, both during and after the fasting period

Ramadan: Meaning and Special Virtues.

Ramadan is coined from the Arabic base word, ramida or ar-ramad which implies intense heat and dryness.

Hence, Ramadan is sometimes said to indicate the heating sensation in the stomach as a result of thirst.

Some also say that Ramadan is so called because it scorches out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns the ground.

Yet, other say that it is so called because the heart is more readily receptive to the admonition and remembrance of Allah during Ramadan just as the sand and stones are receptive to the sun’s heat.

Of importance, however is that Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims are obliged to fast for the entire month while devoting themselves to other acts of worship in a bid to increase their spiritual, physical and mental vibrancy.

Ramadan has some special virtues that set it apart from other months in Islam. These include:

1. The holy Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan as a guide to humanity

2. Other divine books of Allah were also revealed in the month of Ramadan

3. The doors of Paradise are opened in the month of Ramadan, while the doors of Hellfire are closed

4. Laylatul Qadr, which is a majestic night that is better than 1000 months, occurs in the month of Ramadan

5. It is a month of patience; in it, the believers observe patience in obeying Allah; accepting His preordainment; and restraining from sins.

6. It is the month of ‘itikãf, a special seclusion in a stipulated masjid, for devotion to the worship of Allah

7. The night prayers observed in the month of Ramadan wipe off the past sins of the believer.

Ruling on Fasting in the Month of Ramadan

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is compulsory for every Muslim, who is mature, sane, able, resident and free from barriers (of fasting) such as Hayd (menstrual bleeding) and Nifas (post-natal bleeding).

This position is backed by the two sources of the Islamic law: Al-Qur’an and Sunnah, along with the consensus of the Muslims.

In the Qur’an, Allah says: O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may acquire piety (Al-Baqarah: 183).

Also, Abdullah bn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Islam is built on five pillars: testimony of faith, that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; testimony that Muhammad is His Messenger; establishing Salah; giving Zakat; observing the fast of Ramadan; and pilgrimage to the house of Allah (Hajj)

As for the consensus, it occurs in Al-Mughni (of ibn Qudãmah); Marãbitul ‘ijmã’ (of ibn Hazm); At-tamhid and Al-‘ijmã’ (of ibn Abdul-bar); and Al-‘ijmã’ (of ibn Al-mundhir), that the Muslims unanimously agree on the obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadan and that whoever denies this is undoubtedly a Kãfir (disbeliever), with the exception of a person who makes such denial out of ignorance in which case he will be enlightened right away.

If he (the denier), however, persists in his denial, he will become a Kãfir as he would have denied an essential pillar of Islam which is established both in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Ascertaining the Start of Ramadan Fasting

The start of Ramadan fasting can be ascertained in three ways: Direct Sighting; Testimony; and Approximation.

1. Direct Sighting: This is the direct, physical sighting of the new crescent moon of Ramadan. That is, once the new moon of the month of Ramadan is confirmed by an individual, they can start fasting. This is because Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (peace be upon him) said: ‘Fast by sighting the new hilal (crescent moon)…’

2. Testimony: This is an indirect sighting of the moon, whereby a reliable, upright and trustworthy Muslim, who has witnessed the new crescent moon, informs others about such. This is because Abdullah bn ‘Abbas narrated that a Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: ‘I sighted the new hilal (crescent moon of Ramadan)’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do you testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah?’ The Bedouin said: ‘Yes’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?’ The Bedouin said: ‘Yes’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘O Bilal, announce to (authorize) the people to start fasting tomorrow’

3. Approximation: The start of Ramadan can also be ascertained by approximating the days of Sha’aban to 30. This becomes the resort if the smog, fog or cloud blocks the sky, thereby, preventing the eyes from sighting the crescent.

In other words, if by the night of the 29th day of Sha’aban, we are not able to sight the crescent of Ramadan due to cloudiness in the sky, we are going to complete the counting of Sha’aban to 30 days. This is because Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘…if there is a cloud, complete the counting of Sha’abãn 30 days’

Is the Sighting of a Country Valid for Another Country?

This matter borders on whether the sighting of the new crescent in a particular town, region or country, is good for another country or the entire Ummah to start fasting.

For instance, can Nigerians or Americans start fasting according to the crescent sighted in Saudi Arabia, UK or Ghana? Or, can those in the southwestern part of a country fast if the crescent is sighted in any other region in the country?

This is a matter over which scholars have differed. Their opinions are as follows:

1. The differences of region or distance are of no consequence in ascertaining the testimony of the crescent. In other words, if the testimony is ascertained by even one Muslim in any part of the world, other countries or regions can begin to fast.

2. The testimony of a country or region (say, Saudi Arabia), is only valid for people in that country or region and not for others. In other words, the Muslims in South Africa cannot fast according to the sighting of crescent in any other country unless the same crescent is sighted in South Africa.

3. The testimony of Makkah is valid for the rest of the world. In other words, the entire Muslims depend on when the crescent is sighted in the holy land.

4. The countries or regions in close proximity should depend on each other for sighting while countries or regions which are far apart, should not. In other words, while the testimony in Ghana is valid for Nigerians to start fasting, that of Saudi Arabia is not.

5. It varies with region in that people in a particular region will have one exclusive sighting or testimony as opposed to people in other regions. In other words, those in the northern region should sight the crescent independently from those in the southern, eastern and western regions.

6. The ruler of a country, region or town can direct that people under his jurisdiction should fast according to the sighting of other country or any state within his country. In other words, the leader of Muslims in a particular country or region can authorize the Muslims under his jurisdiction, to start fasting after confirming that the moon has been sighted in any other country (say, Saudi Arabia) or any state or region within his Jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to state that where ‘6’ above becomes the case, it is advisable for an individual to act accordingly or in the least, not openly show that he is differing from the authority, simply because of the fitnah, confusion and arguments that may result from that.

What to Be Said at the Sighting of the Crescent

Talhatu bn UbaidiLlāh narrated: Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) sighted the crescent, he would say:

‘اللهم أهله علينا باليمن والإيمان، والسلامة والإسلام، ربي وربك الله’

‘Allāhumma ahillahu alaina bil yumni wal Imān, Wa-s-salāmata wa-l-Islām, Rabbi Wa rabbukaLlāh’

‘O Allāh, make it the beginning of prosperity, faith, peace and total submission. My Lord and mine is Allāh. (Sunan Tirmidhi)

It is obvious from the ongoing that the month of Ramadan presents a great opportunity for every individual, who is desirous of the pleasure of Allah. We are therefore, encouraged to make the most of this month, by engaging in acts of worship as much as we can.

May Allah make us witness the blessed month of Ramadan.

Abba Kyari’s Death: Mourning, Jubilation And The Way Forward With COVID-19 By Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman

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When the news of Abba Kyari’s death (President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff) was announced late Friday night, it came as a shock to some people with condolence messages all over the social media. However, to some, the news would equal Nigeria winning the FIFA World Cup.

HUMANITY OVER POLITICS AND TRIBALISM

It is baffling that one would gloat over the death of a 67-year-old man. The excitement, obviously due to political and tribal reasons is a pointer to the fact that except Nigerians come to the reality of setting aside their religious and tribal differences as well as playing healthy instead of the dangerous and in-humanistic politics, we are far away from being a successful nation.

When we receive the news of a man like Abba Kyari like we have been given the keys to the White House, what are we celebrating? That he was divinely punished to have died at 67 or that he died without an accomplishment in life? Or because he belongs to a different political party or a different tribe and religion? Or do we just conclude that those who celebrate his demise are simply blind, barbaric, petty and unintelligent.

In a popular narration, the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) stood up for the funeral of a Jew. Commenting on this narration, Ibn Qayyim (in his revision of Aboo Daawood’s Sunan) gave three reasons why the Prophet stood up. He wrote;

“The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had three reasons for standing for the funeral:

The first reason is that he [Prophet] said: “Indeed, death is alarmingly frightful.” Imaam Muslim reported this as part of the Hadeeth narrated by Jaabir  in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Indeed, death is alarmingly frightful, so if you see a funeral procession, stand up.“

The second reason: The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood up for the angels. Anas  narrated: “A funeral procession passed by us so the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood up. We said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allaah, it is the funeral procession of a Jew.’ He said, ‘We stood up for the angels.’” [An-Nasaa’i]

The third reason: because it is a soul. Qays ibn Sa‘d and Sahl ibn Hunayf  said: “A funeral procession passed by the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, so he stood up. We said, ‘It is the funeral procession of a Jew.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Is it not a soul?’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]”

Perhaps, we could learn from the life of the Prophet and act like humans that we are and not political animals and ethno-centric individuals.

 

COVID-19 AND OUR INCONSISTENCY

Our inconsistency is quite flabbergasting. When it was reported that Abba Kyari contracted the disease, the same set of people claimed that the Coronavirus case in Nigeria is a scam and that it is another attempt for the government to make money. Now that the old man died of the Coronavirus, the same virus that was said to have been a scam is being praised for doing a ‘good’ job. How inconsistent! Mr. Kyari is gone, may ALlah forgive him. Aameen.

 

CONTAINING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

Presently, Nigeria has almost 500 confirmed cases of the COVID-19. Truth be told, the attitude of some Nigerians and religious leaders towards the lock-down is defeating the purpose; to contain the spread of the virus. Actions ranging from defiantly attending religious gatherings, not maintaining social distancing, people sneaking into other states, etc.

With the death of Abba Kyari, there is the hope that this would now be taken seriously. The COVID-19 is not a disease of the rich, everyone and anyone is vulnerable and the best way to combat this is to strictly adhere to the lock-down order. It is one way the world conquered the Spanish Flu which killed at least, 50 million people worldwide between 1918-1920.

                            HUNGER AS A THREAT

In a nation where the poverty rate is high, it would be insensitive to disregard cries of those who worry about hunger. The lock-down order with an extension of two weeks is really challenging for the average Nigeria who has to go out to work for his daily bread.

Hunger is a threat to the lock-down order. The likely increase in crime rate, asides, the idea that only the vulnerable and the poor of the poor need relief packages is gone with the first two weeks of the order. With the extension, the one who is considered average is now one of the poor of the poor. With business closed and spending without income, the threat that hunger poses to the lock-down order cannot be overlooked.

The people need to understand and come to the reality that the government cannot see to everyone. While people need to improvise, the rich are encouraged to help the poor. Hunger, in this case, is not just about the grumbling in the stomach but also the psychological and emotional challenges it comes with.

Those who raise concerns over hunger should not be seen as gluttonous or unpatriotic.

 

PREVENTING CHAOS

While some people have their reasons not to believe the COVID-19 reports, it is obvious that some people all over the world have become very cynical and do not trust the government simply because there are too much of lies being spread. This has led to many conspiracy theories being sold regardless of how ridiculous it might be.

Some days ago, thousands of people gathered in Michigan, USA, for a protest demanding that they go back to their ‘normal lives’. This act from a country like the USA might be a reason for people especially in Africa to stage protests, revolts and defy government orders using hunger as an excuse.

Earlier, there was a two-week lockdown and now, it has been extended. A further attempt to extend the lock-down (as necessary as it might be) might do more harm than good. While it is understandable that the government does not want to create panic, playing games with the citizens may bring more unrest that what the diplomacy was to avert.

In a very politically and ethnically divided nation, the government needs to be more prudent as to how it disseminates and manages information. Already, some people are very skeptical about whatever news comes from the government, it could get worse when they have a reasonable point to hold on to.

It would be very difficult to bring people to reason as to the need to extend the lock-down after two weeks. As it is, the two weeks may not be sufficient to achieve the desired result. Other countries that conduct tests much more than we do have been locked down for more than a month, how much more a nation that is battling with tests.

Therefore, there is a need to prepare the people from now and not waiting for the end of the two weeks to serve them another two weeks. Also, other than an order in a dictatorial manner, there is a need to call the people to reason. Instead of an order, the Presidency should deliver a speech full of logic and reasoning to convince them to cooperate with the government. When people get angry, the guys with the guns can do nothing.

Lastly, Nigerians should understand that we are combatting an enemy that has nothing to lose and does not care about us. If it could kill us all, it would. The virus has no feeling, no emotion or compassion. A protest staged now is not against the government, it is against ourselves, our children, our loved ones, our beloved country and our existence.

The times are hard but we shall overcome.

Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman (KNOWISLAM PROJECT)

Abba Kyari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff Dies Amidst Coronavirus Debates

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Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has died.

After testing positive to the Coronavirus, he was moved to a private hospital in Lagos to manage the disease.

Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesperson announced in a tweet early on Saturday. he wrote;

Since its outbreak last year in Wuhan China, 2,248,864 people have been infected, 154,145 people have died while 571,523 have recovered at the time of this report according to worldometers.

Since the lockdown in some states with two weeks extension, there have been arguments against the existence of the Coronavirus. Consequently, the lockdown is not taken seriously by some people including religious leaders.

Nigeria has a total of 493 confirmed cases, 159 recovered and 17 deaths.

Mr. Kyari’s death may change the opinion of those who do not believe that there are cases of the Coronavirus in Nigeria as well as those who criticize the lockdown order.

May Allah forgive Abba Kyari and grant him Jannah. Aameen.

#Stayathome #Staysafe

COVID-19: Al-Aqsa Closed For Ramadan

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In a statement published on Thursday, Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, the Jordan-appointed council that oversees Islamic sites on the sacred compound announced the closure of al-Aqsa compound during Ramadan.

The council has described the decision as ‘painful’.

The council said the move was “in line with legal fatwas [clerical opinions] and medical advice”.

Muslims should “perform prayers in their homes during the month of Ramadan, to preserve their safety”, the council said.

The adhan will still be called five times daily and religious workers would be allowed entry into the site.

Masjid al-Aqsa attracts thousands of worshippers daily the adjoining Dome of the Rock for evening prayers known as Taraweeh.

Muslims believe the site to be where the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven.

ILORIN CULTURAL WEDDING (IYAWO ALALANSI) By Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

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Yesterday, I was discussing how we are fond of committing illegalities and even make things difficult for ourselves in the name of “wedding”. Let me also add the practice of “Iyawo Alansi or Alamisi” to the discussion. “Iyawo Alansi” as it is well known is the description of a big wedding in Ilorin. The word “Alansi” is picked from the Arabic word “Al-khamees” (Thursday). The main marriage used to be conducted in the ancient Ilorin on Thursdays. It is believed that there are some blessings attached to this day for the couples. We used to hear our elders saying something like: “iyawo ku alansi marun” (the wedding is 5 Thursdays from now).

These days, a lot of things have changed in the ways we conduct weddings, but some people still belief holding a wedding event on Thursdays has some blessings and they still do it that way, even though there is no basis for this belief in the Sunnah because a wedding can be conducted any day depending on convenience. It is not that it is bad to hold a wedding on Thursdays, but the belief that the day has special importance attached to the event should be discarded.

Apparently, it is not in our tradition to rent expensive halls, hold parties where music would be played and danced to with men and women mixing together freely, or cut cakes, exchange rings, wear wedding gowns that exposes the body of a woman, even in front of Alfas (the Alfas would not say anything), or apply make ups that makes a woman to look like a masquerade. Some people even share and drink alcohol. All these are alien to our ways of doing wedding in Ilorin. Even some people in Ilorin have also embraced the alien culture of “engagement” during weddings. These are strange things. All these crept into our society by way of people’s exposure to western ways of life in schools that they went to.

Yet, when we try to reform the system to conform with authentic sunnah, the same people who have destroyed the pre-existing heritage are the one who would be attacking us and accuse of what they are guilty of. They will accuse us of attacking the elders and our forefathers, just because we insist on carry out required reforms as Allāh and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم have instructed. Now, who is the real attacker of our ancestors?

In Ilorin, many people, especially women believe it is a shameful thing for a woman not to have an elaborate wedding with all its flavors, such as “sisa”, ‘ijo olomooba” (royal dance), “kengbe” (I don’t know how to describe this. But it is like our own version of the duff, usually done by only women and we sometime watch them from afar), “aisun” (eve of waleemah), “ale waka” (traditional party with Baba Labaeka), “masa waleemah” (waleemah cake) , “waleemah” (reading and celebration of the Qur’an by the groom and bridegroom) and wearing of “sanyan” (sanyan is the traditional “aso oke” cloth meant for the waleemah event), “igba-Iyawo” (arrangement of bride’s belongings) “imu’yawo” (picking of wife), “igba’yawo” (receipt of wife, done by the most junior wife in the compound) and so on.

In the past all these customs might be performed for days (sometimes a week). But in recent time, it has been reduced to two (2) or three (3) days.

As Muslims, we must be careful in whatever we do. As we can see, some of these customs contravene the Sunnah, while some are not entirely against the Sunnah. Nevertheless, I still think there are ways we can fine-tune these customs for them to be in conformity with the relevant principles of shar’iah. We can remove the haram and keep the halal.

Based on the cultural belief that it is shameful for a woman not to go through all these ceremonies before going to her husband’s house, even if the couple had gone through the process of “iyoju” (introduction), “ikobi” (exchange of kolanuts), “idupe” (appreciation), nikaah (exchange of dowry) and had had several children, a woman can still be recalled for her “Alamisi”.

A woman with up to four (4) children would invite you to her wedding, and when you asked why: your wedding or your sister’s wedding? She says: I only did nikaah, not wedding. What is nikaah and what is wedding? This only shows that many people in our society only go into marriage, without proper understanding of what marriage is all about. The ceremonies are more important to many people than the marriage proper. This tradition is not strange to any person who is brought up in Ilorin, even if he is not a native. Despite the fact that scholars have been condemning this practice for years, many people are still doing it. If this is not israaf (extravagance), what is it?

I am not a fan of over-simplification of marriage, as some people tend to use it as an opportunity to do some evils. But I am strongly against wastage and shameful ways of conducting weddings in the name of culture.

May Allah guide us. Aameen.

Tales From The Qur’an: The Boy Whose Death Was a Blessing

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When stories are cited in the Qur’an, they are meant to be pondered upon and lessons are meant to be extracted from them; how much then, have you pondered upon the lessons in the beautiful story you read every Friday?

Suuratul Kahf, verse 74 tells us the story of the Prophet Musa and Khidr, who was sent by Allah and taught Musa some important lessons on their journey.

“So they set out, until when they met a boy, and al-Khidhr killed him. [Moses] said, “Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing.”

Did I say ‘beautiful story’? You may want to ask what’s beautiful about a messenger sent by God killing an innocent boy,
and if it had been your son in a similar situation – you may wonder if Allah is truly merciful; you may wonder why he would take your only son and allow such a little boy go through the pains of a gruesome murder.

The beauty in the story lies in the explanation Khidr would later give to Muusa during the latter stages of their journey, when he said:

“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.”
-Sura Al-Kahf, Ayah 80

“So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.”
-Sura Al-Kahf, Ayah 81

The latter part of this story tells us that the boy was killed as an act of mercy upon his parents and even himself, for if he had been allowed to live longer, he would have died a disbeliever worthy of Jahannam and would have caused his parents to die as believers too.

Not only that, but even in worldly affairs, he would have been an undutiful child to his parents and would have caused them misery in this world even before they return to face Allah.

Out of Allah’s mercy however, he allowed the boy to be killed while he was young and innocent, so he would be of the people of paradise, and so Allah would replace him with a more pious and merciful child to his parents, and the parents would die as believers and all would be United again in Jannah.

Do you think about this story when something goes wrong? Do you think about it when you fail your exams, when you lose a contract, when you lose a loved one? Do you remeber this story and understand, that it may be that you nailing that which you wish would cause you unrest both in this world and the next?
Verily there is a reason behind The Prophet asking us to recite these verses every Friday – but if we do and the lessons in the stories are not applied to our lives, what do we gain then?

Lan Rey Hasan

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