Muslims

By Muhammad Sulaiman

California has officially recognised Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law on September 28, 2026.

The new law adds the two major Islamic festivals to California’s list of state holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, while Eid al-Adha is observed during the Islamic pilgrimage season and commemorates the sacrifice associated with Prophet Ibrahim.

The legislation also allows state and school employees to observe the two holidays using existing personal holiday credits or other available leave. K-12 public schools and community colleges may also close for Eid through locally negotiated agreements.

However, the law does not automatically require every school or workplace to close on the two occasions. It also excludes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha from California’s judicial holidays.

The move formally recognises two important religious observances of California’s Muslim community and reflects the state’s religious and cultural diversity.

By Uzair Adam

Africa Academy, an Islamic online learning platform under Africa Media Network, on Saturday graduated 3,500 students who completed its free Diploma programme in Islamic studies at a ceremony held at Bayero University Kano (BUK).

The graduation marked the academy’s second convocation, established to make Islamic education accessible to Muslims regardless of location, occupation, or level of formal education.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Africa Media Network, Dr Habib Tijjani Tahir, said the academy was created to give people the opportunity to acquire Islamic knowledge despite their busy schedules.

He explained that the initiative was driven by the need to help Muslims understand how to worship Allah correctly, stressing that people were created to worship Him.

According to him, the academy provides free online lessons that enable students to learn at their convenience from anywhere.

Tahir said the curriculum covers various areas of Islamic studies, including Fiqh, Seerah, Tafsir and Hadith, among others.

He said the academy also encourages academic excellence by rewarding outstanding students.

Tahir said top-performing students would receive incentives, including Umrah packages and cash rewards, while other outstanding students would also receive financial rewards.

He further announced that the academy would sponsor the marriages of four students by covering major wedding expenses, including dowry, wedding trousseau, rent and other associated costs.

“We want to encourage our students not only to acquire knowledge but also to remain committed to their studies and strive for excellence,” Tahir said.

He said the academy initially offered short one-week Islamic courses with certificates but later introduced its free Diploma programme, known as “Tsangaya,” following increasing demand from learners.

Tahir noted that 2,200 students graduated in the previous edition, while the number rose to 3,500 this year.

He said the academy was targeting between 50,000 and 60,000 graduates in subsequent years, or even more.

According to him, any Muslim who can read and write and meets the required level can enrol in the programme without presenting a previous academic certificate.

He added that the initiative therefore gives students of Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools, as well as people with conventional academic backgrounds, an opportunity to acquire further Islamic knowledge.

Representing the teachers, Prof Abdulqadir Ismail congratulated the graduates and prayed that Allah would make the knowledge they acquired beneficial to them and society.

He urged the graduates to put their knowledge into practice and use it to benefit others.

“Knowledge becomes more valuable when it is practised and used to benefit other people,” Prof Ismail said.

He also appealed to the graduates to continue praying for the academy as it works towards introducing online degree programmes similar to those offered by universities around the world.

Also speaking, Sheikh Abubakar Abdussalam Baban Gwale said opportunities to acquire Islamic knowledge through platforms such as Africa Academy were not readily available in the past.

He recalled that even people with the financial means sometimes struggled to find accessible opportunities for Islamic education.

“Today, Allah has made it easy for people to acquire this knowledge,” Baban Gwale said, urging parents to encourage their children to participate in such programmes.

He added that even people with conventional academic qualifications could benefit from the opportunity, describing access to Islamic education as a blessing.

Among the graduates, Fatima Usman, 40, emerged as the best-performing student.

A mother of nine, she said she learnt about the academy through a television announcement and continued following its activities until registration opened.

“I was determined to study despite my responsibilities as a mother of nine children,” she said, adding that she remained committed to her studies throughout the programme.

Muhammad Saminu, who came second, attributed his success to consistency and effective use of the academy’s learning materials.

He said he listened to audio lessons while travelling or working and studied the PDF materials more thoroughly whenever he had time to sit down and concentrate.

Amira Nuhu Umar, who emerged third, described her success as a source of immense joy, saying the lessons had significantly influenced her life.

“My joy cannot be described. The lessons have had a great impact on my life,” she said.

She thanked her parents and teachers for their support and dedication throughout her studies.

By Muhammad Abubakar 

The Ulama Forum in Northern Nigeria has strongly condemned the killing of 37 young Nigerians, including teenagers as young as 16, by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

In a press release signed by Convener Aminu Inuwa Muhammad and Secretary Engr Basheer Adamu Aliyu, the Forum described the killings as “shocking, disgusting and dastardly” and called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation.

The Forum also raised alarm over reports of armed tribal militants attacking Fulani settlements in Mbamnga, Mambilla, Taraba State, particularly Wuro Geroji, where several people and livestock were reportedly killed, homes burnt, and hundreds of women and children forced to flee to Cameroon.

The Ulama Forum urged the Federal Government to ensure appropriate compensation and relief (diyyah) for victims’ families, strengthen security in vulnerable communities, prosecute those found culpable, provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons, and facilitate the safe return of those who fled to Cameroon.

It emphasised that the protection of human life remains a fundamental responsibility of government and security institutions, stressing that every Nigerian deserves protection regardless of ethnicity, religion or location.

The Forum extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for eternal rest for the departed, healing for the injured and displaced, and lasting peace, security and justice for Nigeria.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam in Doha, Qatar, where he currently plays club football.

A video circulating online shows the Nigerian international reciting the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, marking his reported conversion to Islam.

Troost-Ekong, who has captained Nigeria at international level, has attracted widespread attention from football fans following the development.

I write this as a concerned citizen of Kano who genuinely wants your administration and our state to succeed.

First, I must acknowledge the progress your administration has made. The visible investment in road construction, rehabilitation and urban infrastructure across Kano deserves recognition. Your government has also intervened in education, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors. These efforts should be sustained regardless of political differences.

However, Your Excellency, I believe Kano can do even more.

The recently concluded mass wedding involving 1,500 couples, reportedly gulping the state more than ₦1.5 billion, has made me reflect on our priorities. 

I am a Muslim, and I respect marriage and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW). I therefore do not oppose helping genuinely vulnerable people to marry.

My concern is sustainability and priority.

Marriage does not end at the wedding. After the ceremony come food, rent, healthcare, children’s education and other responsibilities. If someone lacks the economic capacity to establish a household, helping him marry does not necessarily solve the problem that made marriage difficult.

We should not only help people get married; we should help them build families that can stand on their own.

This is why I respectfully urge your administration to place greater emphasis on the following:

Education: Kano’s children are our greatest investment. We need stronger public schools, better teacher development, learning materials, technical education, girls’ education and serious programmes to return out-of-school children to classrooms. Questions have already been raised about the relatively small allocation to some out-of-school-girl programmes compared with the mass-wedding expenditure.

Youth employment and skills: Our young people need sustainable opportunities, not only temporary grants. Vocational training, agriculture, ICT, manufacturing, apprenticeships, and affordable business financing can help young people earn and eventually support their own families.

Healthcare and water: Functional primary healthcare, maternal care, essential medicines, clean water and sanitation must reach ordinary citizens, particularly in rural communities.

Agriculture: Kano has enormous agricultural potential. The government should strengthen irrigation, storage, processing and market access so that farming becomes a profitable industry and a source of employment.

There is also the important issue of monitoring government assistance.

I recently saw a large number of mattresses being distributed under the mass-wedding programme, which raised questions for me about what happens to them after distribution. I cannot confirm whether what I observed involved legitimate transfer, resale or something else, and I do not wish to accuse anyone without evidence.

But it highlights an important question:

What mechanism monitors government assistance after it reaches beneficiaries?

I respectfully suggest post-distribution verification, proper documentation and follow-up assessments. The government should know who received assistance, whether they received the full allocation, and whether the intervention actually improved their lives.

Public money deserves public accountability.

Your Excellency, you have shown that your government can build roads.

Please build people too.

You have shown that government can support marriages.

Please build the economic foundation upon which those marriages can stand.

Let us measure Kano’s progress not only by kilometres of roads constructed, but by how many children are in school, how many young people have sustainable jobs, how many families escape poverty, and how many empowerment beneficiaries remain economically active years later.

I do not want a Kano where people continually wait for government assistance.

I want a prosperous Kano where the government creates the opportunities that allow people to become self-reliant.

That is the Kano many of us want.

Umar Abdullahi Huguma writes from Kano State and can be reached at umarhuguma2023@gmail.com.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) has been declared Shariah-compliant following a Shariah screening exercise conducted by Qistal.

Prof. AbdurRazaq AbdulMajeed Alaro, one of the scholars involved in the assessment, said the screening examined the refinery’s compliance with Shariah standards, including its business activities and income sources.

According to Prof. Alaro, the assessment found that the Dangote Refinery IPO shares are currently Shariah-compliant. However, he stressed that Shariah screening is not a one-time exercise and that subsequent reviews will be conducted periodically to ensure continued compliance.

The announcement provides guidance for Muslim investors seeking to determine whether investing in the refinery’s shares aligns with Islamic investment principles.

By Khalid Imam

On Tuesday, 2nd September 2026, Triple R Kannywood Renewed Hope, led by Alhaji Dauda Adamu Abdullahi Kahutu Rarara, organised a grand Maulidin Nabiyi (SAW) at the Aminu Dantata Trade Fair Complex, Kano.

The event was chaired by Alhaji Aminu Alfandaj, Head of the LOC, and commenced with a recitation of the Glorious Qur’an, followed by a welcome address by Tijjani Asase, the PRO of Triple R Kannywood Renewed Hope.

The gathering featured inspiring religious lectures, devotional songs and poetic praises celebrating the noble life, virtues and exemplary character of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The atmosphere was set by a fascinating and thrilling succession of cantatas, devotional songs and poetic praises celebrating the extraordinary and stellar personality of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The performances, delivered by some of the finest Islamic song-artists, beautifully captured their profound love, reverence and admiration for the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

Malam Nafi’u Adam Sha’iri set the floor ablaze at exactly 11:58 a.m., opening what became a deeply moving and spiritually uplifting session of devotional songs. He was followed by Sayyada Faiza Amatullah, Sayyadi Sojan Ma’aiki, Sayyadi Malam Kabiru Kiya Ambato, Malam Mustapha Zakariya and Malam Ahmad Gwangwazo, among many others.

The likes of popular composers of Soul-Stirring Cantata in Praise of the Prophet (SAW), led by Sheikh Hafiz Abdalla and Malam Bashir Ɗandago, added their melodious voices with heartfelt verses and evocative performances; the artists celebrated the noble character, unparalleled virtues, mercy, compassion and exemplary life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Their renditions created a unique atmosphere of spiritual reflection and renewed love for the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

At exactly 12:27 p.m., Malam Bazallahi Sheikh Nasiru Kabara was invited to speak on Mu’amalatu Maʿaiki wa Ṣaḥabatihi—the uncommon relationship and interactions of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) with his reverential Companions. 

He described the bond between the Noble Prophet (SAW) and his Companions as one founded upon profound love, mutual respect, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion. Their relationship was not merely that of a leader and his followers; it was a remarkable bond built on faith, loyalty, compassion, trust and a shared commitment to the cause of Islam.

He also stressed that the Companions loved the Prophet (SAW) deeply, honoured his guidance, stood by him through hardship and were prepared to make tremendous sacrifices for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, citing the Battle of Uhud as one of the true tests of sacrifice that the Prophet and the Sahaba went through together. In turn, the Prophet (SAW) treated them with exceptional kindness, dignity, compassion and understanding, nurturing them into a community bound together by faith and brotherhood.

He further highlighted that the Prophet’s interactions with them therefore provided a timeless model of leadership characterised by compassion, dignified fellowship, and loyalty founded on faith. The relationship between the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions remains an enduring example of how love, respect, sacrifice and devotion can transform individuals into a united and purposeful community.

As the special Maulidin Nabiyyi session drew to a delightful close in the evening hours, several scholars took to the podium to deliver educational admonishments to members of Triple R Kannywood Renewed Hope and dozens of enthusiastic guests in attendance, urging them to emulate the noble character of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and to use their influence in Kannywood to promote unity, discipline, and moral values in society, while prayers and commendations marked the end of the spiritually uplifting gathering.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Bank of Ghana has appointed prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), to chair the council overseeing interest-free banking operations in the country.

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Pandit Asiama, formally inaugurated the new members of the council at a brief ceremony held in Accra.

Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar’s appointment highlights the growing role of Islamic scholars and experts in the development of interest-free banking and Islamic finance.

Professor Umar is a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and a prominent scholar of Islamic studies. The council is expected to help ensure that interest-free banking operations in Ghana comply with the principles and requirements of Islamic law.

The appointment comes at a time when Islamic banking and finance are gaining increasing acceptance in different parts of the world.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Tazkiyah University, Zaria, the first all-female university in Nigeria, has opened applications for admission into its 2026/2027 academic session.

Based in Kaduna State, the university is inviting qualified female candidates to apply through UTME, Direct Entry and transfer admission routes for programmes across Allied Health Sciences, Management and Social Sciences, and Computing.

Available programmes include Nursing Sciences, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Taxation, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering and Information Technology.

Operating under the philosophy of “Blending Knowledge with Noble Character,” the university says it is committed to providing quality education alongside character development.

Students will have access to modern facilities and dedicated faculty, while scholarship and financial aid opportunities are also available for eligible students, including orphans.

Interested candidates can obtain further information and apply for admission through the university’s official website, www.tazkiyah.edu.ng.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Since I came to France for work, I have been extremely cautious about criticising Israel or Benjamin Netanyahu. Often, though wrongly, people conflate criticism of an entity or a person with criticism of an idea or of an entire ethnic or religious group.

Soon after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, I felt driven to write about the unresolved conflict. It was difficult to ignore the subject. Yet I was also concerned that expressing my views might affect my employment or even my residency status in France. To be certain, I reached out to our Human Resources department for guidance.

We essentially agreed on an important distinction. Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu are not the same as the Jewish people or Judaism. One can criticise the policies of the Israeli government or the actions of its prime minister without expressing hostility towards Jews or the Jewish faith. The same principle applies elsewhere. A person may criticise Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman without being an Islamophobe or an enemy of Islam.

This distinction is fundamental in any society that values free expression and intellectual honesty. Democracies depend on the ability of citizens to question governments, leaders and public figures. If every criticism of a political leader is interpreted as an attack on an entire religion or ethnic group, meaningful public debate becomes impossible.

I was reminded of this principle after listening to new songs released yesterday by the Nigerian political singer, Dauda Kahutu, popularly known as Rarara. The songs appear to criticise an opposition politician in Gombe State, Sheikh Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who is also a respected Islamic scholar.

Unfortunately, I have seen some people make the same mistake that often appears in discussions about international politics. They have framed criticism of Pantami as though it were criticism of Islam itself.

Pantami does not represent Islam. He is a Muslim and an influential public figure, but he remains an individual whose political choices, public statements and actions are open to public scrutiny, just like those of any other politician. Defending him is entirely legitimate, but such a defence should be based on facts, evidence and reason rather than on the assumption that any criticism directed at him is an attack on the religion he professes.

By any definition, both the singer and the governorship candidate he appears to criticise in his songs are Muslims. Neither of them represents Islam. Their political disagreements should therefore remain political disagreements. Turning them into religious disputes serves neither truth nor the public interest.

This tendency to wrap political figures in the cloak of religion is dangerous. It discourages accountability and deepens unnecessary divisions within society. Once religion becomes a shield against legitimate criticism, it becomes difficult to separate public responsibility from personal belief.

Nigeria’s diversity demands greater care in the language we use. Political competition should not be transformed into religious confrontation. Citizens should be able to disagree with politicians, governors, ministers or scholars without being accused of attacking an entire faith.

The lesson is simple. We must distinguish between people and the principles they claim to represent, between governments and the nations they govern, and between political leaders and the religions they practise. Failing to make these distinctions only fuels misunderstanding and polarisation.

Criticise ideas. Debate policies. Defend people if you wish. But let us avoid presenting political disagreements as battles for religion. In the long run, both politics and religion are better served when we keep that distinction clear.