Saudi Arabia

 By Anas Abbas 

The Jigawa State Government has collaborated with the Alfurqan Qur’anic Foundation, a Saudi Arabian-based Islamic organisation, to improve the Tsangaya Qur’anic education system. 

A delegation from the Foundation, led by Chairman Sheikh Abdalla Ibn Nasir Al-Utaibiy, met with Governor Mallam Umar Namadi at the Government House in Dutse on Friday to establish a collaborative relationship. 

The partnership aims to modernise the teaching of the Qur’an by employing new techniques to facilitate quick comprehension and memorization, particularly for the deaf and young children. 

Governor Namadi expressed his gratitude for the visit and the relationship being established, noting the significance of the Holy Qur’an.

The method will aid the deaf and young children in Jigawa State’s people. The state government has committed to prioritising Qur’anic education, with plans to integrate Islamic and Western education, as well as provide training in crafts and skills. 

Notable achievements include the establishment of three mega-Tsangaya schools, one in each senatorial district, and the creation of a special agency, the Tsangaya Board, to regulate and upgrade traditional Qur’anic education methods. 

This partnership is expected to transform and modernise the approach to Qur’anic education in Jigawa State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Media reports from Iran and Saudi Arabia stated that the leaders of the two countries discussed the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a telephone conversation for the first time since the restoration of diplomatic relations between them. 

They said that President Ebrahim Raisi and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman discussed the need to end what Raisi described as war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. 

The Saudi Press Agency said that Riyadh emphasized its support for the Palestinians and the need to overcome the situation through diplomatic means. 

The Saudi prince confirmed that the Kingdom is doing its best to negotiate with international and Middle Eastern countries to stop this raging war, as quoted by the Saudi Press Agency. 

The company reported that the Prince stressed that Saudi Arabia rejects any plans to attack civilians anywhere. 

The United Nations says 340,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as Israel continues its offensive in response to Saturday’s attack by Hamas. 

Israel has prevented people from leaving anywhere, although some residents have managed to cross from Gaza Strip. 

However, countries and organizations continue to call for the creation of conditions for aid in Gaza and for refugees to leave. 

By Muhammadu Sabiu

In a significant development in the world of football transfers, it has been confirmed that Sadio Mane’s agent, Roof Björn Bezemer, is set to embark on a trip to Japan to negotiate terms with Al Nassr.

The Saudi Arabian club has expressed keen interest in acquiring the talented winger from Bayern.

Last week, Sadio Mane gave his initial approval for negotiations with Al Nassr, signalling his willingness to consider a potential move to the Middle Eastern club.

However, it’s worth noting that Mane had expressed his desire to stay at Bayern Munich and was adamant about remaining with the team.

Despite the player’s stance, Bayern Munich has decided to part ways with Mane, making it evident that they are open to his departure.

This development has provided Al Nassr with a glimmer of hope to secure the services of the highly regarded footballer.

Roof Björn Bezemer, the intermediary representing Sadio Mane, is now entrusted with the task of sitting down with Al Nassr officials to discuss the terms of the potential deal.

The negotiations are expected to be crucial in determining whether the transfer will come to fruition.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool midfield maestro, has successfully passed his medical examinations as the newest player for Al Ettifaq Football Club. 

The eagerly anticipated news has now been confirmed, signalling an imminent transfer that is set to shake up the football world. 

After weeks of speculation and negotiations, both clubs have reached a contractual agreement. 

Liverpool has agreed to a £12 million fixed fee for the transfer, with additional add-ons included in the deal. 

Jordan Henderson’s impending move to Al Ettifaq has been the subject of intense media attention, with fans on the edge of their seats as they await the official announcement.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Former Liverpool star forward Sadio Mané appears to be open to negotiating a potential move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Reports suggest that the player has expressed his willingness to explore this option despite his desire to remain with Bayern Munich for a fresh challenge.

Sources close to the situation reveal that while Sadio Mané had initially hoped to continue his career with Bayern Munich, the club has decided to part ways with the talented forward, prompting him to consider other opportunities.

During discussions, Sadio Mané has consistently expressed his preference to stay at Bayern Munich, but it seems the club is eager to move on and is actively seeking to sell him.

With this development, the door has opened for a potential transfer to Al Nassr in the Saudi Professional League.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Saudi Arabia, often described as the Middle East powerhouse, and Iran have summoned Swedish diplomats to denounce the Stockholm’s permission for protests that meant to desecrate Qur’an, the Muslims holy book, on free speech grounds.

The calls by the two majority-Muslim countries, which came separately, were in statements made available late Thursday.

This is coming amid heightened tensions between Sweden and Iraq over a Sweden-based Iraqi refugee, who last month burnt pages of Qur’an outside Stockholm’s main mosque.

The Daily Reality learned that, in the latest such incident on Thursday, the refugee, Salwan Momika, stepped on the Qur’an but did not burn it.

Monika’s action was considered to be the reason that triggered the renewed condemnations and calls for protest across the Muslim world.

According to a foreign ministry statement, Saudi Arabia, it would hand the Swedish charge d’affaires “a protest note that includes the kingdom’s request to the Swedish authorities to take all immediate and necessary measures to stop these disgraceful acts”

Nasser Kanani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said Sweden’s ambassador to Tehran had been called in to censure the permit granted to Momika’s protest and to warn Stockholm of the consequences of such actions.

“We strongly condemn the repeated desecration of the holy Koran and Islamic sanctities in Sweden and hold the Swedish government fully responsible for the consequences of inciting the feelings of Muslims around the world,” Kanani said.

By Muhammadu Sabiu
 
In what could potentially be a significant transfer move, Al Ahli FC is intensifying its efforts to secure the services of Riyad Mahrez. 
 
Talks between the Saudi Arabian club and the Algerian winger have been progressing steadily since June, with indications that Mahrez is ready to accept Al Ahli’s bid.
 
However, despite the positive developments on the player’s side, Manchester City, Mahrez’s current club, is still eagerly awaiting an official proposal and the necessary documents from Al Ahli. 
 
This crucial stage must be completed before proceeding with the booking of a medical examination for the player.
 
The finalisation of the deal is expected to be the main topic of discussion next week, as both clubs look to bring the transfer to a successful conclusion. 
 
Al Ahli’s pursuit of the talented Algerian international is seen as a significant statement of intent, showcasing their ambition to bolster their squad with high-profile signings.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Al Nassr, marking a significant transfer deal. 

Personal terms have been settled, and Ziyech is expected to sign a contract until June 2026. 

An agreement has also been reached with his current club, Chelsea, with contract finalization pending. 

The move signifies the advancing partnership between Chelsea and Saudi Arabian football. 

More details to follow as the deal progresses.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 
 
In a significant transfer development, N’Golo Kanté, the revered French midfielder and a longstanding figure at Chelsea FC, has officially signed a four-year contract with Al Ittihad, a Saudi Arabian football team.
 
The transfer marks the end of an era for Kanté, who has become an emblematic player for Chelsea and an integral part of their success in recent years.
 
Reports suggest that the financial terms of the transfer are substantial. Kanté’s total salary over the duration of the contract amounts to a staggering €100 million. 
 
Kanté’s departure from Chelsea evokes a sense of nostalgia among fans and the football community as a whole. 
 
The diminutive midfielder, known for his tireless work rate, exceptional ball-winning ability, and precise distribution, has etched his name into the club’s history. 
 
His contributions were instrumental in Chelsea’s success, including two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and a UEFA Champions League.
 
During his time at Chelsea, Kanté has established himself as one of the world’s premier midfielders, earning plaudits for his consistent performances and humility both on and off the field. 
 

By Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim

It is a human trait, especially in this digital era, for people to take pictures in memorable places, should they have the privilege of travelling to those places. This is because we humans love to capture our favourite moments in memorable places or with memorable personalities so as to treasure the memories. It isn’t ‘always’ a show-off, as some people misinterpret it to be.

A good example of the manifestation of this trait is how almost, if not all, Nigerian graduates have a picture of them in NYSC Camp wearing their NYSC uniforms, how almost every married person treasures the picture of his/her own wedding ceremony, and of course, how almost all privileged pilgrims take pictures in front of the iconic Ka’abah in Makkah when they go for pilgrimage.

However, I still can’t understand why some holier-than-thou folks quickly conclude without any unambiguous Quranic and Hadith references that anybody who takes pictures in Makkah lacks ‘Ikhlās’, i.e sincerity to Allah, whereas the same people will snap pictures at their respective Juma’at Masaajid after every Friday Prayer, take pictures of themselves learning under Islamic scholars and the likes, without anybody questioning their Ikhlaas.

If there’s anything the pilgrims are showing-off when they travel for Hajj, then it will be the beautiful and memorable locations they were privileged to travel to and not their act of Ibādah that took them there.

I mean, Makkah, aside from being a very beautiful place, is a dreamland to all Muslims across the globe and a place they rarely have the privilege of going to. As such, you shouldn’t expect them not to want to treasure the memories of the once-in-a-lifetime experience they have there.

I understand that some pilgrims allow snapping of pictures to interfere with their acts of Ibādah during Hajj, and that is wrong, but even at that, we aren’t in the position to judge them, as the sincerity of intention is only known by Allah, the all-knowing.

Even where Allah talked about giving alms in the Qur’an, as sacred as it is, he mentioned in Qur’an 2:271 that revealing alms-giving to the public is okay, but concealing it is much better.

We can analogically deduce that it’s actually better if you decide not to take pictures for fear of ‘show-off’ when you travel for Hajj.

However, it is wrong to bully those who choose to take pictures, especially if their intention is to treasure their memories.

We take pictures at important places, in cars, in aeroplanes, and other places. I feel that’s human nature. Do Muslims have any better place than Makkah? Still, I reason that we should guard our Iman and take our pictures with Ikhlas.

Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim