Islam

By Sadam Abubakar

We all know and believe that marriages are associated with numerous cultures. These cultures come together to add flavour to the unforgettable memories that would be created in the minds of the brides and grooms during so many events of marriage celebrations.

The indelible joys and memories of marriage ceremonies usually transcend to even the minds of parents, friends, and relatives of both the brides and grooms. So, the importance of all the events associated with marriage ceremonies cannot be overemphasised in many cultures.

However, adopting the so-called Western civilisation has marred many events associated with marriage ceremonies, especially in the Northern-Muslim societies of Nigeria. 

For instance, not more than a decade ago, the bride’s popular “Kamu” or “Sa lalle” usually took place in a sister’s house to the bride’s mother. And the people that would be in attendance at this event will comprise only the closest friends of the bride and some of her few female acquaintances.

Unfortunately, today, such events usually take place in outside rented event centres where the groom and his friends could be in attendance too. Not only that, it’s possible for a dance competition between the groom and bride, or between the groom’s friends and the bride’s friends during this historically decent event.

The most moving part is that it’s now a normal and unpreventable trend in so many events associated with marriage ceremonies that the brides must appear almost half-naked. So instead of the decent “riga da zani of Atamfa“, the bride will wear a Western wedding gown. 

Even if the dresses are tailored locally, they will not only be diaphanous that one can see through, they are ensured to be tight enough to reveal all the contours and bumps in the bride’s body. And it’s in this kind of dress that the dancing will take place. So common. Are we really in our senses?

Remember, I insinuated earlier that parents usually attend these kinds of events. Can’t they stop it? Is it now normal for them too? I am sure our forefathers are not like this. And they didn’t train their children to be like this. Why only us? 

May ALLAH guide us right, amin.

Sadam Abubakar can be contacted via sadamabubakarsoba@gmail.com.

By Dr Musab Isah Mafara 

I think Muslims need to be careful with this ‘alphaness’ ideology that some of our brothers are advocating among Northern Nigeria’s netizens. They seem to encourage men not to sympathize with women, especially their wives, and to show no empathy when dealing with these women entrusted with them as wives. Most of these views come from what is termed ‘taken the red pill,’ essentially, men who have been awakened from feminist delusion to the supposed reality that society is fundamentally misandrist and dominated by feminist values.

This is contrary to the teachings of Islam. And while ‘taken the red pill’ advocates go this extreme as a counter to the other extreme of feminist ideologies that openly promote rebellion and hate against the menfolk, both perspectives tend to be against the teachings of Islam, which expect Muslims to take the middle course, often. And although we see writings from some Muslim women in the North suggesting that they have imbibed these feminist ideologies, there is no justification for going the other extreme.

The Prophet (SAW) said women were created from the most crooked rib, and if you insist on straightening her, you will break her, which means to divorce her. He (SAW) taught Muslim men not to expect perfection from women. Even his wives, the mothers of the believers, were cautioned in the Qur’an on some of their behaviours towards the Prophet (SAW). How, then, could one expect perfection from other Muslim women?

Yes, Islam expects total obedience to husbands from women in what is not Haram, and a woman who fails to obey her husband is living in sin. She is to serve him and should not even go out of her home without his permission, among other duties. The Prophet (SAW), after an Eid prayer, went to the women’s side and informed them that one of the reasons that some of them may be taken to hellfire on the last day is their disobedience towards their husbands.

But as humans, some women will fail in fulfilling the rights of their husbands just as some men will fail in their responsibilities too. Some women are evil in their actions and treatment of their husbands, just as some men are next to Satan in the way they treat their wives. These are by no means reasons to hate on the womenfolk, in general, nor the men in toto.

Husbands, as leaders, are expected to be full of forgiveness and understanding and should show appreciation for the good side of their wives. Qur’an Chapter 30:21 says, “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.” This is the way a couple should be seeing themselves.

Again, being kind, helpful, and emphatic to your wife is Sunnah. It is even commanded in the Qur’an, Chapter 4:19 says, “… And live with them in kindness …” The Prophet was helpful to his family in every way possible. He wasn’t washing plates nor sweeping the apartment every day as some Muslim women want to emphasize, but it is on record that he did help – maybe a few times. A Muslim man will earn rewards if he helps with the intention of following the Sunnah. He will earn rewards when he is helpful, kind, and generous to his wife(s). He (SAW) said the bests among you are those who are best to their wives.

A wise man once said to me that one of the ways to have a healthy marriage is to be as patient as possible with your wife when she fails to fulfil your rights (not adorning herself to your taste, for instance), but you should not ignore her actions when the rights of Allah are not fulfilled (for instance, when she is committing sins, you have to stop her because she is under your care and you will be asked by Allah). 

As Muslims, we do not ‘throw women on the street’, and our women do not ‘belong to the street’ regardless of how much we feel they wronged us. We call our wives even if they do not call us; we just assume they are busy with the children or work. We do not live in a tit-for-tat kind of setting with our spouses in which we take revenge for every wrong one does. We do our bit as Islam commands us, even if the other party is not reciprocating as they should. We believe this temporary world is a test, and we do our best to pass this test with the hope that Allah will reward us with the best of His Jannah in the hereafter.

Both men and women should learn from the Prophet’s teachings in their marital lives and not copy the tone of the ‘red-pilled.’ They are reacting to the misandry that they believe is prevalent in the Western world.

Musab Mafara, PhD, can be contacted via nmusabu@gmail.com.

By Dansaleh Aliyu Yahya

The way time skyrockets must frighten the humanity of every human. It was like yesterday we started to fast the holy month of Ramadan, but today, it has gone like a blink of an eye. And, later, it will come back like a sudden show of lightning—those that will live to the time will see it.

For the reason above, I would like to advise us all by saying; that time isn’t something we’ll play with—one has to milk every opportunity that comes to them. And, don’t dare to lose any worthwhile thing that may come to you in your life—when you do so, it’s challenging to have the ability later.

Secondly,  we all remember the good deeds we did during Ramadan, give, read the Quran, perform Tahajjud, and learn numberless things and teachings by listening to our scholars that did Tafseer during the month. So let us continue doing all the profitable workouts, by doing so, our societies will change into a splendour that must attract all people around the globe.

Ultimately, I’ll use this medium to admire each Muslim from every part of the world — precisely, those from Africa who fasted under the taxing situation of sunshiny days and many obstacles. Although, they could eat in their closed rooms and drink when performing ablution, in toilets, offices, and others. However, they didn’t,  due to their beliefs that their creator is with them everywhere and in every situation. Therefore, we must be praised, indeed!

May Allah SWT accept our deeds, amin.

Dansaleh Aliyu Yahya wrote via dansalealiyu@gmail.com.

By Ishaka Mohammed

There is a clause that is capable of solving many problems, but most of us often use it only to defend our flaws. The clause is: Nobody is perfect. Instead of internalising and living with this priceless statement, we tend to remember it only when people criticise our misbehaviour or mistakes. This clause is much more than a defence tool. Its proper use comes with an invaluable gift: open-mindedness.

Almost every time I come across a war of words (especially such that involves religion) between ordinary people on social media, I quickly blame our inability or refusal to listen to alternative views. I find it unfortunate that my guesses regarding such unhealthy behaviour are usually right.

We sometimes hold certain opinions so strongly that every other view becomes repulsive. This is one reason that makes me doubt if I will ever forget the year 2007. It was a time when I realised the danger of obstinacy. I discovered that a single source or person could never attain a true scholarship. Although it is still a work in progress, when I receive an important piece of information from anyone, I try to examine it or consult other sources to confirm its reliability. 

I’ll explain my point with a few examples. In my quest to upscale my communicative competence in English, I follow certain scholars online. One of them, a professor of English, once made a social media post about English grammar, and I noticed a “wrong” pattern in the post. In an attempt to know if that was an exception to the general rules, I told him what I knew about the pattern. He never replied; he only liked my comment. If it were today, I would try to ignore his “mistake” because, considering his status, such a question could embarrass him.

Three years later, I bought a book he authored, and I noticed about six “wrong” patterns, including the one I had asked about on social media. Although the book is an interesting read, when a colleague of mine asked how she could get it for her daughter, I discouraged her because I feared that the teenager might internalise some “wrong” patterns.

Much as I would refrain from stating categorically that the prof is completely wrong, all the sources I have consulted, including the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, point to that.

Away from English grammar, there is a renowned Islamic scholar who has been on the international scene for decades. Today, like many other people, he stresses the need to avoid castigating Muslims who try to mend their ways in Ramadan, arguing that the season is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. However, I once heard him criticise the same category of people, calling them Ramadan Muslims (who are disbelievers for 11 months, only to become the most sincere believers in Ramadan). I would say that his earlier statement was either a mistake or due to a gap in his understanding. He is a human being.

In addition, my little exposure has revealed certain mistakes my teachers (from elementary classes to university) made while I was under their tutelage. I have also realised some of my mistakes as a teacher. My students could discover even more.

This discussion points to one fact: Humans are fallible. If you pointed out one perfect human being today, I would argue that you do not know that person. Therefore, it is advisable to tread very carefully in our interactions with human beings. Although I respect my teachers, [religious] scholars and elders, I believe that there is no single person in the world today whose lifestyles are completely worthy of my imitation or whose statements are totally deserving of my adherence. Instead, I strive to expose myself to multiple sources before taking a stand on issues, especially religious ones. It is dangerous to be obsessed with a single scholar because nobody is perfect.

Ishaka Mohammed wrote from Kaduna. He can be contacted via ishakamohammed39@gmail.com.

By Hajara Shehu Esq.

A broken marriage can have adverse effects on the custody of children. In many cases, when a marriage ends, the focus of each partner is solely on how to hurt the other, regardless of the impact on their innocent children.

Nowadays, custody of children has become a weapon of choice in this scenario. As a result, the battling parties are often blinded by fury and anger, sacrificing their children’s well-being in the process.

Unfortunately, the person fighting for custody may not have a conducive environment to raise the child/children. The primary objective is simply to separate the child/children from the other parent as a token of hatred. The main problem is that whoever wins the custody case often destroys the child/children’s lives. In most cases, the child loses the love, care, and affection of the parent who lost the case due to anger, and the parent who wins may not offer the best life for the child.

For instance, if the father wins custody, he may not be married and may live with an elderly mother. In this situation, the child/children often wander around without proper and adequate care. In another scenario, the father may be married and take the child/children to a stepmother. However, this can lead to complete abandonment from the stepmother due to the father’s attitude and behaviour, overprotectiveness, and unending interference.

Similarly, if the mother wins custody, the father may neglect the child/children and completely surrender them to the mother. Unfortunately, most mothers from less privileged families or orphans may find it difficult to meet all the financial needs of the child/children.

While credit is given where it is due, a mother always tries her best until she remarries and has other children. Then, the children will automatically suffer the same fate as above, except in favourable situations where the mother is privileged.

Leaving a child/children to their maternal/paternal grandmother is not a bad thing. However, it is not the best option considering the grandmother’s age and the need for a child to have love, closeness, and affection to be a good individual. The most disturbing circumstance is when both parents are married and have other children, and the child/children are left alone under the care of their dearest grandmother. In such cases, the child/children become hardened by circumstances and are forced to grow faster than their age.

Every child needs to be allowed to grow according to their age in love, care, and affection. Every child deserves the love, respect, and affection of both parents. It is not a privilege but a huge responsibility placed on them by Allah, the Most High, which they shall account for. The Prophet (PBUH) said we are all shepherds and shall account for it on the last day.

Many victims of broken marriages have grown up to become drug addicts, thugs, armed robbers, thieves, and engaged in many other crimes. Love, care, and affection are the foundation of a good individual. Where these are lost, most children go astray except those that Allah guides.

It is disheartening to witness parents cursing, abusing, and calling each other names while holding each other responsible. However, the truth is that these kinds of parents are equally and jointly responsible.

In conclusion, no matter how a marriage ends, Allah’s precious gifts (children) are not the reason and should be kept away from battles. Instead, parents should allow each other to play various roles in the child/children’s life. Relationships might end, but the child/children’s relationship with the ex-partner will forever remain. Children deserve a good life filled with love, care, and affection; parents should ensure they have it!

Hajara can be reached via Hbshehu301@gmail.com.

By Abdurrahman Muhammad

The University of the Holy Qur’an and Taseel of Sciences of the Republic of Sudan awarded Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and renowned Islamic cleric, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), with an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Qur’anic Science.

While the Honourable Minister was awarded in May 2021, he received the award certificate and shared the same on social media only recently.

According to the official social media handles of the Minister, he was the first person in sub-Saharan Africa to receive the award. The statement, in part, reads:

“With the exemption of North Africa, he was the first African to receive the recognition on the Glorious Qur’an.”

During Ramadan, Sheikh Pantami delivers Tafsir at the Annur Masjid in the Nigerian capital, FCT Abuja. He also holds other preaching sessions outside the Holy Month at the same mosque or elsewhere.

By Salim Samaila Marafa

It was like yesterday, The crescent of Ramadan was sighted, and we started fasting. But here we are today, with a few days to Eid-el-Fitr. Indeed, the speed at which time flies is amazingly alarming.

Among God’s creatures, time is an independent creature that exists without hinging on anything. It flies without waiting. It comes and goes without notification, so you either learn how to manage it or fall victim to “lack of time.”

Time is an undefeated warrior. It saw the rising and falling of great heroes and significant events and memorable moments. But, It put all of them in the bin of history. That’s all. The only warriors who can defeat time are those who know how to use it well. Therefore, we should learn how to use and manage our time to our advantage before it shows its habit of slipping away without notice. Since our time is limited and our days are numbered.

Ramadan is the month’s name in the Islamic calendar, while the month is a small portion of the time. Therefore, we should use this time, Ramadan, wisely, positively and to our advantage.

Ramadan is Islamically considered a holy month of blessings and Allah’s abundance of mercy. Our beloved prophet (pbuh) even narrated that during Ramadan, Satan is chained, doors of hell fire are closed, and those of paradise are widely opened.

Also, Ramadan is Islamically considered a glorious period during which Allah spreads the mat of his forgiveness to his servant. So, as we are observing the fasting of day 18 today, skip reading this reminder and ask yourself this question “From day one of this month up to date, what did I do that can earn me Allah’s  forgiveness and blessing.” 

If the answer to the above question is ” I did this and that”, it is okay, but not enough. Redouble your effort within these few remaining eleven or twelve days. To have more blessings in your possession.

 However, if the answer to the above question is ” I did not do anything good,” then this is where your problem started. But don’t panic; you are not that too late. You still have 11 days ahead of you; you can turn over a new leaf before it’s over and be forgiven by Allah the almighty.

What should I do to be forgiven and blessed by Allah? 

This is a good question we should all ask ourselves. There are uncountable positive things one can do to earn Allah’s forgiveness in this holy month of Ramadan. 

First, take your Qur’an, open it with good intentions and read as many verses and chapters as possible. Remember, every alphabet (harafi) of the holy Qur’an attracts ten rewards when you read it in the sacred month of Ramadan due to the holiness and glory of the month. So, if you. You can read two chapters daily, meaning you can read the Qur’an before the month slip away.

Secondly, help those needy people around you. Give out voluntary charity (sadaqah) to those who deserve it. Allah will surely reward you and forgive you for it long as you did it for His sake.

Thirdly, do you have parents alive?

If yes, be obedient to them, and show a kind gesture towards them. Allah loves those who love and take care of their parents. If your parents are no more, Don’t worry, do what you should have done to them, to their friends and to old people in your neighbourhood.

And to your dead parents, ask Allah’s forgiveness and mercy for them whenever you observe a prayer or any act of ibadat. This is another way you can get Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

When night spreads darkness over the world, don’t just sleep from A to Z. Wake up when night ages, perform ablution, observe at least two rakat Voluntary prayer ( salat) and ask Allah whatever you wish. The night is a special period during which Allah accepts the prayers of his servants.

Remember, you can do many other things to get Allah’s forgiveness and blessings, which I did not mention here. Just Do them. This is a Ramadan reminder from your brother in Islam. Have a good Reading.

May Allah accept our fasting, prayers and every act of ibadat. And may He count us among those He forgives in this holy month of Ramadan.

Salim Samaila Marafa wrote via salimsamailamarafa82@gmail.com.

By Abubakar Suleiman

The Holy month of Ramadan is the month wherein the glorious Qur’an was revealed; hence, virtually all practising Muslims worldwide are occupied by its recitation while they ponder its meanings.

Ramadan in Northern Nigeria is greeted with Tafsir sessions, that is, the exegesis of the glorious Qur’an by different Islamic clerics or scholars. Many of these sessions are aired on television, radio and sometimes live on Facebook and other social media platforms.

However, during this period, controversies are unfortunately never in short supply among the Muslim Ummah as scholars from different sects or strands in a sect reel out interpretations of some verses. Scholars who consider some of these interpretations as skewed or deliberate distortions of the intended meaning of those verses dish out rejoinders.

Therefore, rebuttals and counter-rebuttals are being voiced out from pulpits. Followers of these scholars, too, take to their keyboards and engage in online arguments or knowledge exchanges. Unfortunately, sometimes these arguments are not without ad hominem. And if one is not careful, the essence of Ramadan, a month wherein Muslim faithful devote a considerable part of their time to acts of worship, repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness, would be lost amidst fierce arguments on religious matters.

Despite being dead 16 years ago, people usually comb the archives to unearth Shaykh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam’s explanation or exegesis on trendy religious arguments. And often, the resurfaced audio or video clips serve as an arbiter or at least give clarity to the subject matter. Late Shaykh Ja’afar is that blessed.

This morning, I stumbled upon a video clip of the erudite scholar, Late Shaykh Ja’afar, wherein he elucidated the value of constructive argument as he gave the exegesis from the glorious Qur’an. The clip reminded me of my distant encounters with the blessed teacher.

Whenever I was in Kano state while he was alive, I would leave my relatives’ residence in the ancient city just to go listen to his sermon in his Jummuat mosque in Dorayi. After observing the Friday prayers, I would also rush to the mosque in Gadon Kaya and book a place with a praying mat for the Tafsir session that would take place in the evening after Magrib. After quenching my thirst for new knowledge on that day, I always look forward to the following Friday with eagerness and glee.

Far away from Kano, I always stayed glued to the radio with my pen and note to write maxims from Usuul Fiqh, Qawaa’idu At-tafsir, and many poems. I memorised many religious diktats from the late Shaykh long before I eventually came across them in books during my tutelage.

There are arguably many Islamic scholars who are more learned than him in the North, but he is arguably the most eloquent and knowledgeable when it comes to the exegesis of the glorious Qur’an. In addition, his unique style of translating the Qur’an with the Qur’an – the flawless and effortless ability to quote various verses relating to a verse under discussion – endeared him to many.

Plus, his didactic prowess and eloquent delivery are also laced with authentic prophetic traditions as understood by the companions of prophet Muhammad (SAW), who lived with him and were present when the revelation of the glorious Qur’an was taking place.

His telling and bold voice reverberate with powerful and meaningful Islamic knowledge. Furthermore, his ability to decompose complex religious issues into lucid tidbits made him phenomenal and outstanding. 

Despite these qualities, he is not without flaws, but Allah has blessed him with the humility to succumb to superior arguments and even own up to mistakes. He never hesitates publicly, acknowledging his errors, wrong perception, or explanation of a religious topic. It is normal to hear him say my explanation on so and so matter yesterday was not completely accurate, and here’s the correct explanation for it. This humble attribute is not very common among many religious clerics.

I was still carrying the pains of my mother’s death when the Shaykh was assassinated. My mother died six months earlier. However, the news of his assassination sent shivers down my spine. On that very day, knowledge was buried, wisdom was dwarfed and eloquence in didactic prowess nosedived. We seek solace in the fact that his legacies live on in the students he has groomed and his documented audio and video.

May Allah accept his martyrdom and grant him the highest stations in Jannatul Firdaus, amin.

Abubakar Suleiman writes from Kaduna and can be reached via abusuleiman06@yahoo.com. 

By Lamara Garba Azare

A chieftain of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State and former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), Dr Abdullahi Baffa Bichi has distributed essential commodities worth millions of Naira to the needy as part of a humanitarian gesture to ease the suffering of the populace.

The items, which include rice, cooking oil, noodles and other commodities estimated at several hundreds of millions of Naira.

Interestingly, the commodity was given across the board irrespective of the party affiliations of the beneficiaries.

Those who benefitted from the gesture prayed to Allah to reward him abundantly.

A widow with 7 children who said she travelled from a far distance to come and collect the gesture burst into tears of joy when she was given 25kg of rice, noodle and cooking oil, saying the last time she saw rice was about a year ago.

“We have no words to thank Dr Bichi. If he had known how happy we are now, certainly, he would further understand the suffering of many of us. To be frank with you, the last time I cooked rice in my house was a year ago when I was passing by the Kabuga area, and I saw a large crowd of women going inside BUK quarters to collect food items. I joined them, and luckily I was given too.”

The coordinator of the distribution exercise, Honourable Ghali Mu’azu, said several thousands of people male and female from across the state have benefited from the gesture.

According to him, this gesture had been instituted by Dr Bichi for a long period of time, spanning over two decades, and priority was given to the elderly and those with physical challenge cutting across all strata of people.

“We gave out to every lucky person irrespective of his political leaning. Ours is to touch humanity by giving it to the needy among the populace,” he said.

Mr Ghali commended the compassionate attitude and benevolence of Dr Bichi, who he described as kind-hearted and a man with a big heart.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The Bauchi State Government has suspended the much-awaited debate between a controversial cleric, Dr Idris Abdulaziz Dutsen Tanshi, and other scholars who tagged his recent comments about “seeking humanly impossible” help from Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as inappropriate.
 
The suspension, according to the state’s Sharia Commission, is until further notice.

Recall that during a Ramadan Tafsir session, Dutsen Tanshi was quoted as saying, “We don’t need help from Inyass; we don’t need help from Tijjanni; we don’t need help from Abdulqadiri; we don’t need help from Shehu Usman. In fact, even from the Prophet. That’s the end of it.

“Whose help do we need? Allah. It’s left to them to twist my words. The Prophet himself said, ‘If you need help, seek help from Allah.'”

Consequently, in a letter the Bauchi State Shari’a Commission sent to the cleric late yesterday night, it says, “I am directed to write and formally inform you of the reschedule[d] date of the interactive session earlier slated for Saturday, 8th April 2023.

“That the new date will be communicated to you accordingly, please.”