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SKELETON IN MY CLOSET! MUMMY IN YOURS! By Gubli Natogmah

I love to write. You have probably noticed that by now. As to whether I write well or not, get my point across or not, effect change with my write-ups or not, is for you my audience to decide. I decided that since there was a power outage during the day, with my planned meetings having been scuttled, I would spend my night writing. So it was that I opened MS word, poised to write, yet all I could type was ‘A’. 

So I took a break. I spoke to a couple of loved ones on phone, trekked to Adenta station to print some documents and buy one or two items. I returned still not sure what to write. I sat in front of the TV, and a movie I had watched some time back was showing. It took my cousin to remind me of the title, LIKE STARS ON EARTH! Then there was a discussion on why Ghanaian movies can’t portray conditions like Malaria too. I thought Malaria was too well known to sustain a full length quality movie. 

Then the idea came to me. I realized then what I should write about. It was a Thursday. I had made my way to Adenta Station as usual to board my trotro bus (not that I owned one). I took a seat on the front row and as usual avoided the window seat right behind the driver because the sun’s rays shining directly on me usually made me sweat, one thing that could spoil my morning very easily. Next to me was a mother with her daughter. This child who looked like she was around 5 years was held in her mother’s arms quite tightly. Not that she was sleeping or feeling sleepy. Even in that position, she was very agitated and restless. Knowing how uncomfortable mothers can become when they realize their children are a source of discomfort, I ignored the kicks I received from this little girl struggling to break free. Intermittently, she would reach for her mother’s dress around her ‘chest’, just as a hungry 6 month old does when he/she wants breastmilk. Yet this girl was far too old for that. 

Along the way, we picked up a lady. She sat in the front seat. Judging by how neat her abundant natural hair was kept, a lot of time and effort must have gone into keeping it. So imagine then how this lady reacted when the little girl reached for her hair. 

It was Neuro Clinic day. I sat in one of two consulting rooms dedicated to our special patients. (Of course can’t possibly sit in two, duh!) From nowhere, bumped a girl into my room. I turned around to see which patient had strayed. Wow! It was her! The same girl who kicked me in the car. The same girl who held another passenger’s hair. The same girl who was restrained by her mother throughout the journey. It was the same agitated girl. I inquired. Of course I was curious. I was told she had ADHD. If you are looking forward to expatiation on this topic, sorry to disappoint. Please help yourself to it. 

She was not the only one that day with that condition. In fact there was a girl whose ADHD was even more serious. She ran around the consulting room all that while. Any intervention to keep her still elicited a temper tantrum- she fell to the ground, crawled around and cried. She picked a pen and asked for a paper. Did she even write anything? She burst her balloon and seized another child’s. She ran to her mother and back. Her mother was obviously worried. Yet how on earth were we who are supposed to know and understand her condition going to be unaccommodating? Admittedly though, due to her destructive powers, I started feeling uneasy. Multiply these two children seen one morning by 100 and we get 200 kids with this condition. ( wish I had data on Ghana). 

There is a child in class caned everyday because he probably has this condition which leaves him hyperactive and unable to stay put in class. Such a child will be caned all the time in class for mutiny. At home such a child will be branded as a rascal and disobedient, etc. Then next time you or I are tempted to brand someone and punish them for being their natural selves, please think ADHD first. It has been 24 hours now since I started writing. Initially I was short of writing material, yet now I am overflowing with ideas. Where did they come from? 

Well, watched another movie that moved me emotionally- FRONT OF THE CLASS! It was also about a health condition- Tourette syndrome. All throughout the movie, my mind wandered back to my time as a teacher in a basic school after SHS. I was the friendly teacher who wanted to impart knowledge to all. I rewarded and punished. I tried to stay away from the latter much. Yet there was this one intellectually challenged child who just couldn’t get it. I tried hard, yet he still just couldn’t get it. I became frustrated. I started caning him, sometimes out of my own frustration. I look back today and wonder if he had a real health concern. And there are many reasons medically for intellectual handicap. 

Rewind even further. The year was 2000 or 2001. I was in either class 6 or form one. I usually taught my younger brother and his friend. They were, if I remember rightly in class one. I knew my brother was sharp from his class performance, but he just would not outperform his colleague during our lessons. I tried to get him to concentrate and learn to spell his name rightly in addition to accomplishing other class appropriate tasks, but his friend was mostly a step ahead. That too was frustrating. I became impatient and frustrated. I thought he was slow and not as intellectually capable. I told him off. Today he is an electrical engineering student in his first year of study. Watching him grow, we all knew his hyperactivity and dexterity will come in useful one day, obviously that was years later after my tutorials ended. 

I have my own story to tell. I didn’t have a clean bill of health growing up. I had issues. I still do, though. I always knew there was something wrong, but neither I nor the doctors could figure it out. It was a requirement that all first year students find out their sickling status. I did. On the request from it was written- SICKLING POSITIVE! Even before I could submit it to the doctor for review, my curiousity wouldn’t let me sleep in peace. I thought I now knew why I had those health issues growing up. I knew very little about sickle cell disease, but I knew enough to start worrying. I got so worried that I searched our library extensively for information. I saw one useful book on the subject written by Prof. Ahulu. I can’t remember the title though. I read and read and read. I got worried knowing all that. I checked for life expectancy and if I remember rightly, the oldest patient known to have the disease was Nigerian in his 70s or so. 

These were tough times. These were the first few weeks in school. I remember calling home and asking my parents about their statuses. In my mind, they were to blame for my plight. Review date came and I submitted the report. I was now asked to do an Hb electrophoresis. It was at this point that I realized that I was AS. Then I knew what ignorance had led me into. 

Fast forward to this very day, and I know there are many who don’t know their sickling genotype. Many of those who do are health professionals. It is they who constantly are reminded about the difficulties children with sickle cell disease go through. It is they who see the frustration and regret parents who care for such children silently express. Others simply don’t care. They leave the decision to God. If He has taken care of generations before us who didn’t know their statuses, won’t He do same for us? Well I am a realist. I know that ignorance sometimes is our way of escaping responsibility, but just you wait till you are tested. 

I know an enlightened father, who before he married his wife got tested. He was AS. So he knew he couldn’t marry another AS based on the chance that they could bear children with the disease. His wife got tested and was declared AC. The lab technician who conducted the test told him that once she wasn’t AS, they could get married with no issues. So the two love birds got married. Their daughter fell sick very often and went from hospital to hospital. She was treated for malaria most of the time only to fall sick after a short while. It was during one such hospital attendance that she was tested. She was found to be SC. Imagine the shock and anger her father expressed on hearing such news. Even the laboratory man who advised had erred to the extent that a lifelong consequence was being felt. He intimated that he wouldn’t have married his wife if he knew. He said he would have the other child tested. He even suggested divorce! Where did all the love go? 

I have many other such experiences. Even personal once exist. But those should be for another day. What I have tried to highlight are: knowledge should abound. All should be informed about the various health issues that exist, which though may not be as obvious or prevalent as malaria and pneumonia, can either be prevented or managed to ensure that people don’t unduly suffer, for, for lack of knowledge, people perish. Also the information should be properly packaged for widespread consumption. And as I have sought to highlight, movies are a very useful medium. After knowledge becomes widespread, individuals should make informed choices however hard in the interest of those unborn, regardless of religious inclinations or the strength of the love bond shared, for as I have come to see, the emotional and financial cost involved in caring for children with special needs can weigh down and wear out whatever love there ever was. 

Finally, can’t we have a national policy which ensures that all students entering SHS should be tested and know their statuses before admission. This would precede the time when boys and girls start taking decisions with lifelong consequences. Education should be intensified. A foundation can be set up to fund research and educational campaigns. Movies should be acted. Documentaries should be made. All these in a bid to promote awareness and render this morbid threat extinct.

By Gubli Natogmah

CHANGE OF HEART (From the DEEN SHOW & I summarized it just for you!)

READ & LEARN

A young man accompanies his newly wedded wife to see an old friend.  As they got to the place she sees her friend and he goes off to the nearest shop to buy them a drink. As he comes out of the shop with the drinks he bumps into an old friend and they were surprised to see each other.

 His friend asked him what was going on with him and he says that he is a project manager for a company and that he was taking a few weeks off because he just got married. His friend is surprised and he reminds him of what he used to say about wanting to be a player of women rather married all his life. He tells his friend that he had changed.
His friend points to his wife and her friend who were happily chatting and he tells him that it looks like that girl had changed too because she used to “get around” as well. He thought his friend was referring to his wife’s friend who was not in Hijab so he tries to explain that she was his wife’s friend only to find out that his friend was talking about his wife when he referred to her scarf and all (his wife had a beautiful Hijab on).

His friend leaves him in shock and he couldn’t believe it. The words kept re-echoing in his head and his wife comes to him only to realize that he was annoyed with her. He tells her what his friend had just told him and she couldn’t defend herself. He goes home alone and she goes off to her parents’ house. She tries to call him and she sends him messages but he wouldn’t respond. He felt very disappointed.

A week later, he goes to his friends’ for a chat. One of them advised that he left his wife for a new wife because she is a shame to him. The other tried to make him realize that he also used to be a player of women and he did a lot of bad things before. He explains that it is different when you are a man but he actually saw his wife as the perfect woman for him who had helped him to better his religious life and it was difficult for him to think that she had been that bad.
The friend convinced him to talk to his wife about it because it wasn’t fair to any of them that he leaves her hanging in there. He tells his friend that he doesn’t know what to say to her and his friend advised that he tells her how he feels. He goes off to do that.

His very religious wife sat in her room reading her Qur’an and her little sister enters. She asked her sister why her husband had left her and whether she had done anything wrong to him. This was what she said;

“It is kind of a hard story Aa’isha. You know how I always tell you the readings of the Qur’an could benefit you in this life and the next?”

Her sister says; “Yes” and she continues;

“And you know I always tell you that Allah is the Most Merciful that can forgive all sins?”

She says; “Yes” and she continuous

“Well, sometimes even if Allah forgives a person of their sins, that sin can still affect them in this life,”

The girl says; “Ok. So it happened with you?”

She says: “Yes, that’s what happened with me.”

The man goes to his wife’s parents’ house and he asked of his wife from her mum. The wife comes to him and they go for a walk.

HUS: How is your family?

WIFE: Good

HUS: I just want to talk to you

WIFE: Ok

HUS: I really don’t know what to say

WIFE: Just say what you’re thinking. That your wife is a whore, you can’t stand and don’t wonna be with?

HUS: No, that is not what I’m thinking

WIFE: So what are you thinking? What do you want from me? You made it seem like I deceived you. Like you’re perfect, like you never made mistakes

HUS: That is not what I meant

WIFE: So what did you mean?

HUS: I don’t know. I didn’t mean to do anything. I just wanted to wake up next to the perfect wife that I had married. But instead, I go out and some next man tells me things about my wife. It’s disturbing to even think that my wife could ever have been with another man. It kills me just to think about it.

WIFE: But you knew I wasn’t practicing when I was young. You know I struggled with the deen when I was growing up. What did you want me to do? Confess my sins to you? Are you a priest?

HUS: No. But I think that may be you should…

WIFE: But what? I made tuba. I repented to Allah. Do you want me to come and tell you about my ex-boyfriends?

HUS: No, of course not.

WIFE: I made a lot of mistakes.

HUS: I made a lot of mistakes too but it’s just different for a guy.

WIFE: Why is it different? IS IT DIFFERENT IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH?

HUS: No, of course not.

WIFE: I regret my past and if I could take it back, I would. Not even for you, for myself but I can’t.

HUS: I know

WIFE: I don’t expect you to accept me for who I was but I hope you would accept me for who I am and if you can’t then, I UNDERSTAND.

HUS: It’s not even like that. It’s just… I looked at you like you were my dream girl, perfect in every way. You were my world so when Kelvin told me about you, it was like my world was turned upside down.

WIFE: I’m flattered that you’ve held me so highly but I am a human being. I am not perfect and nobody is.

HUS: I know. Let’s go home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS LADY'S SHOE TO KNOW HOW SHE'D FEEL NEITHER SHOULD YOU BE IN THE MAN'S SHOE TO KNOW HOW HE FEELS, JUST THINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNK & REFLECT!!! Don't let the Islamic spirit of anyone die.....................

REVIEW OF 'A LETTER TO THE MAKER OF LAWS'

A Letter to the Maker of  Law is a fascinating comedy about a young girl, barely sixteen years of age, whose passionate feelings for her Islamic belief moved her to express her sentiments and the sentiments of others through a letter addressed to the government. It’s astonishing to believe there are many others who felt the same as she and even older than her, but she felt a responsibility to be carried out on behalf of the entire Muslim Ummah, even though she was young. She could have ignored addressing the government just as many have, but because of her strong passion for what she believes in, she confidently carried a part of the load on herself through writing a letter to the government, demanding the government to acknowledge the right and freedom to worship.

Fatimatu Zahra was the name of such gallant and passionate girl who made that immense endeavour. Meanwhile, a lot of incidents had happened which made her had an informed decision to write the letter. Some of the incidents were the awful experiences she had as a student  and the discriminatory experiences of others including her closed relatives. There has been discrimination of her Islamic beliefs for so long a time, but this was the moment she uncomfortably felt so many thorns in her body and would have to let the government be aware of the discrimination that is suffered by the Muslim Ummah. Though she initially doubted how she was going to achieve that alone, she still felt she needed to and later had others to offer her unflinching support to realize her intention.

Interestingly, the play had much figurative essence which I really admired. There were stage flashbacks to show some of the past incidents recalled by the subject on her decision to write the contents of the letter. This figurative essence made the audience realize what she wanted to write in the letter. The flashbacks were demonstrated awesomely by means of having the light off and coming back on a new setting depicting past incidents of which she had in memory and had to write about.

Also, the narrator’s presence had involved the audience much, which makes the audience have a real time feel of the incidents and perhaps may be thinking of contributing their part to intention the subject had. Most of the hilarious incidents had Kramo, a servant in the subject’s household, creating much amusement.

An English teacher to the subject in the play was initially a villain who aggravated tension because of the misconceptions he had about Islam and so abused the right of some of the Muslims. After the English teacher’s encounter with an influential Muslim, who intended to prosecute him, he regretted having verbally abused the man. The subject in a way took that opportunity to enlighten the English teacher about Islam. Eventually, he changed his attitude towards the Muslims and later helped in the course of the subject by distributing the copies of the letter. An incident when the English teacher realized to seek the help of the subject’s parent to resolve issues with that influential Muslim man was emotionally heart-touching. Here, it was discovered by the subject’s parent that she wrote to the English teacher the letter with words that appealed to their hearts and even moved her mother to shed tears.

Her parents had felt really incredible for the thoughts their daughter had in addressing her English teacher. A lot of suspense was created whenever the narrator comes on stage and the actors in a setting on stage become motionless depicting a soliloquy which seemed the narrator was talking alone. Fatimatu Zahra, the subject, demonstrated her immense passion of her beliefs of the Islamic creed and implemented them. One of her intriguing characters was smiling to even non-believers: the English teacher and Patrick, her class mate.

The play had some cantatas, having some of the actors sing in relation to the incidents they depicted and served interludes to the audience.

Frankly, the play was awesomely written by the playwright with a theme that is inspiring. It tells us- the passionate ones who have the religion at heart- to contribute our quota by presenting the true religion of Islam to the world. It makes me think that
no matter the size of a person and problems one faces, for as long as they believe in what they do with passion; they would eventually have a following that would support and help them to accomplish what they believe in.

Parents such as Lawyer Musa and Mma Safia Nurse would certainly be grateful to God for such a wonderful daughter who accomplished something in life. For all those who help the subject to accomplish that task would also be proud with their relationship with the subject. And to whomever the affairs of the Muslim Ummah concern, he or she would love to be a part in accomplishing the course that would bring to light the right of a Muslim to practice his religion without fear of being discriminated.

Actually, I liked the play because it was inspirational. It made me felt an awakening of my spirit to stand and take action even with a little bit I have to represent Islam. It emotionally touched my heart, thinking of the passion exuded by a young girl to the astonishment of others including her parents. I liked the fact that a young girl’s faint voice was about to be heard by the whole nation by addressing the maker of the nation’s law through a letter and her effort about to result in a liberation of Muslims to practice their religion. This indeed should have been spearheaded by the Muslim leader, but no, it taught me taking leadership in my own small ways to enact change since I am also part of the makers of law.

 Muhammad Taha Shuaib

Lab Technologist

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN: The Two Dreams of Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (radiyal Laahu anhaa)

Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan (radiyal Laahu anhaa) popular known as Umm Habibah had two most important dreams.

1. She had dreamt whiles in Abyssinia with her husband, Ubaydullah bin Jahash, that her husband's face had been badly mutilated. Later, her husband had told her that he had left the fold of Islam. Then she told him about her dream but it didn't stop him.

Soon he started drinking heavily.She bore her misfortune in patience and prayer and prayed that her daughter, Habibah, will be protected from her father's influence. Soon Ubaydullah died out of extreme drinking.

2. She dreamt that someone addressed her as 'Mother of the Believers,' a name that was given to the wives of the noble Prophet Muhammad (sallal Laahu alaihi wassalaam). She was overcomed with joy.

Through a conversation with one of the Muslims who was in Abyssinia, the Prophet had been told of the trying times Umm Habibah, (the daughter of a very influential man, Abu Sufyan) was going through. He sent a message to her, through the King, Najashi, that if she wanted, he would like to marry her.

Najashi had sent his slave girl, Abraha, to let Umm Habibah know of the Prophets intention.

More to come on this amazing woman whose two dreams came to pass.Source: www.islamswomen.com

THE PROPHET LISTENED TO THE LENGTHY WOMEN TALK...

Once the Prophet sat down with ‘A’ishah −may Allah be pleased with her− who began to relate to him women’s talk, as the Prophet attentively listened to her. She was speaking at length and in detail, and despite the Prophet’s busy life, he kept listening to her with keen interest and commenting where needed, until ‘A’ishah −may Allah be pleased with her− finally finished.

So what was the story that ‘A’ishah was relating to him?

She was relating a story about a gathering of eleven women in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance who promised not to hide with regards to their husbands. They began to mention everything about their husbands without concealing anything. So what did they say?

The first woman said:

“My husband is like the meat of a useless camel on top of a mountain. It is neither easy to reach to the top of the mountain, nor is the meat good that it should be carried down.” She likened her husband to a difficult mountain on top of which there is unpleasant camel meat, such that no one likes to obtain it due to the difficulty in climbing the mountain.The meat is also very unpleasant in that it is not worth tiring oneself to obtain it. Meaning, he has bad manners and is arrogant, even though he has nothing to be proud of, since he is stingy and poor.

The second woman said:

“I would not describe my husband for fear of leaving him,and if I begin to describe his faults I would be relating terrible things.” Meaning, her husband had many faults and she feared that if she were to describe his faults and the news of it reached him, he would divorce her. She was stuck with him due to her children.

The third woman said:

“My husband is a tall man. If I describe him (and he hears of that) he will divorce me, and if I keep quiet, he will leave me hanging.” Meaning, her husband was tall, ugly and very ill-mannered. He never overlooked her faults and was like the edge of a sword hanging over her. She lived under the constant threat of divorce. Her words to him were unbearable, and whenever she complained he would divorce her. He would not treat her as a husbandshould treat his wife. Hence, she was left hanging, neither married, nor divorced.

The fourth woman said:

“My husband is a moderate person like the night of Tihamah which is neither hot nor cold. I am neither afraid of him, nor am I discontented with him.” It is known that the night of Tihamah is neither windy nor dusty, which the inhabitants find quite pleasant. She described her husband as being nice to her and having moderate manners– a man who never hurt her.

The fifth woman said:

“My husband, when entering (the house) is a leopard, and when going out, is a lion. He does not ask about whatever is in the house” Meaning, when he enters the house he behaves like a leopard. The leopard is considered to be generous and active. When he leaves the house and mixed with the people he behaves likea lion due to his bravery. He was also very tolerant, such that he did not ask detailed questions about what his wife took or spent.

The sixth woman said:

“When my husband eats, he eats too much, and if he drinks he leaves nothing, and if he sleeps he wraps himself up and does not stretch his hands here and there in concern for my sorrow.” Meaning, her husband ate so much that he did not leave anything for his family. He likewise drank too much to leave anything for anyone. When he slept, he wrapped himself up in a blanket leaving none of it for his wife. When she felt sad, he never cared to bring his hand closer to her and be kind to her to find out the reason for her sorrow.

The seventh woman said:

“My husband is a wrong-doer and imprudent and foolish. All defects are present in him. If you speak to him, he may insult you. If you joke with him, he may injure your head or body or both.”

The eighth woman said:

“My husband is like a rabbit to touch (i.e. very soft). He smells like a Zarnab (a kind of good smelling grass). I overpower him, whilst he overpowers the people. (i.e. he was very easy going with her and gave in to her demands, yet, was a hero and therefore overpowered others. He had a strong personality).”

The ninth woman said:

“My husband is a tall generous man wearing a long strap for carrying his sword (i.e. his house is large and always open to his guests). His ashes are abundant (i.e. he is always lighting fires to cook for his guests). His house is near his meeting place (i.e. the place where he meets his friends is near his house out of his concern for his family). He never eats to his fill in a gathering (i.e. he does not eat much when serving the guests). He does not sleep during the night of fear (i.e. if there is danger at night from an enemy, etc, he remains awake to guard and watch).”

The tenth woman said:

“My husband is Malik, and what is Malik? Malik is greater than whatever I say about him. Most of his camels are kept at home and only a few are taken to the pastures. When the camels hear the sound of the lute they realise they are going to perish.” Meaning, her husband’s name was Malik, and no matter how beautifully she described him, she would not be able to do him justice. His camels were always kept near him and they were hardly taken to pasture so that they were always ready for milking and slaughtering for guests. When the camels heard thesound of the lute, they realised that they were to be slaughtered for the guests.

The eleventh woman said:

“My husband is Abu Zar’, and what can I say about Abu Zar’? He has given me many ornaments and my ears are heavily loaded with them and my arms have become fat. And he has pleased me, and I have become so happy that I feel proud of myself. He found me with my family who were mere owners of sheep and living in poverty, and brought me to a respected family, having horses and camels, threshing and purifying grain. Whatever I say,he does not rebuke or insult me. When I sleep, I sleep till late in the morning, and when I drink water (or milk), I drink my fill.

The mother of Abu Zar’ and what may one say in praise of the mother of Abu Zar’? Her saddle bags were always full of provision and her house was spacious. As for the son of Abu Zar’, what may one say of the son of Abu Zar’? His bed is as narrow as an unsheathed sword and a small portion of baby goat meat satisfies his hunger.As for the daughter of Abu Zar’, she is obedient to her father and to her mother. She has a fat well-built body and that arouses the jealousy of her co-wife. As for the slave-girl of Abu Zar’, what may one say of the slave-girl of Abu Zar’? She does not uncover our secrets but keeps them, and does not waste our provisions and does not leave the rubbish scattered everywhere in our house.”

She then said, “One day it so happened that Abu Zar’ went out at the time when the animals were being milked, and he saw a woman who had two sons like two leopards playing with her breasts. Upon seeing her, he divorced me and married her. Thereafter I married a noble man who used to ride a fast and tireless horse and keep a spear in his hand. He gave me many things, and also a pair of every kind of livestock and said, ‘Eat (ofthis), O Umm Zar’, and give provision to your relatives.’” She then said, while describing her love for her first husband, “Yet, all those things which my second husband gave me could not fill the smallest utensil of Abu Zar’s.”

This was the end of the long story about the eleven women. We can deduce from this just how long the Prophet spent listening to the story from his beloved wife and life-companion, the mother of the believers, ‘A’ishah – may Allah have mercy on her. The Prophet was listening attentively, while responding positively and showing his interest and enjoyment as ‘A’ishah spoke. He did not exhibit signs of boredom, despite being tiredand busy.

When ‘A’ishah −may Allah be pleased with her− finished her story, in order to show that he had understood the story, and that he was listening to her and not lost in another world as she was relating it, he said to her in response, “I am to you like Abu Zar’ is to Umm Zar’.’’

SOURCE: Enjoy Your Life (A book by Dr Al-'Arifi)

WHERE ARE THOSE WHO REFUSE THE MARRIAGES OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?

Ok, so this issue is gnawing at me this morning and I seem to be reading about people's post on it...

A teenage girl is impregnated (both the guy and her are Muslims). She loses the child at birth. Now, she is pregnant for him again. Funny enough, he also just got married to another lady. No one seems to be bothered. (True Story)

Another case was, a guy impregnates two ladies, one long before the other. Next, he goes to marry the first lady he impregnated (they are all Muslims) and leaves the second one hanging. (True Story)

Yet another case is; a very young girl (barely 13) gets impregnated by a boy in class six. I was just a little older than the girl then. She is still unmarried and her baby is grown. Both of them are Muslims. (True Story)

Yet another case; she was in SHS 3 when a boy in SHS 2 had gotten her pregnant. She could not write her WASSCE. (True Story)

And such issues keep cropping up everyday. So why are we vehemently against the marriages of young sexually vibrant people like these ladies.

I remember listening to Shamima Muslim interview a 16 year old girl whom Great Lamptey Mills had married. The girl had said;

'Let the media leave me alone. What is their concern with my life. This man had married me and he is taking very good care of me when I was so much in need. What will they do if I had gone off doing prostitution or getting pregnant for guys and on the street? Nobody would have even cared about my story. Let everyone leave me alone...'

In my words.

And I remember the great passion with which she had said it. Plus, I agree with her because it was the truth she said. See the situations of the few girls listed above, and there are millions of ladies going through this same situation. We could not tie them down to stop having sexual relations with the guys. Besides, how many ladies and guys are able to hold unto their chastity these days?

Don't we see young people living together almost like husband and wife? The girl cooking, washing, sweeping, and doing all the other things we see married people do? So then what?

So, if you have a sister, would you love to see her in such a situation? If you truly love her, no! Would you love that your brother does that to other people's sisters? Definitely no.

And what will the human right activists do for these girls? They will just tell the guys to take care of their kids giving them some meagre amounts and the next thing we know, they are engulfed in more haraam relationship, giving birth to more children outside of marriage.

But what will agreeing for these girls to marry do? Would you not prefer that they marry and even come back home when they cannot take it anymore instead of live such disgraceful lives?

Well, let your mind ponder...