MY HEART IN PAIN… NEVER EVER LET YOUR DAUGHTER GO THROUGH THIS

Seriously, my heart is teary right now as I write this article. It is 9:10am (Monday, 06/05/2013) and I suddenly feel so sad about something that has been on my mind for a while now. I am reading a book entitled; ‘The Relief from Distress, an Explanation to the Du’a of Yunus,’ by Ibn Taymiyyah and I have reached a point where we are given examples of prayers by the Prophets, who admit their weakness before asking Allah for forgiveness.

I am thinking, even Prophets, who are known to be righteous were trying so hard to establish a most beautiful relationship with Allah.

Something happens that makes me pause my reading. So much sorrow in my heart that I thought I should share my thoughts in the best way I can; ‘Writing.’ Probably, someone would read and benefit and I would be glad.

We are told by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in various ahaadith that when you have a daughter, she could be your source of Jannah. Among these are;

'Uqba ibn 'Amir reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "If someone has three daughters and is patient with them and clothes them from his wealth, they will be a shield against the Fire for him."

‘Ibn 'Abbas reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "There is no Muslim who has two daughters and takes good care of them but that he will enter the Garden."

Subhaanal Laah! Just read that! What a blessing the girl child could be for parents. But do some parents really understand this? I guess they don’t understand that at all. If your daughter could shield you from the Hellfire, then that should tell you that you cannot just give birth to her and ignore her and expect her to be that ‘daughter who shields you from fire.’ No, you shouldn’t.

Aren’t most of our daughters turned to the ‘Slavery of begging?’ When fathers and mothers have refused to take up their responsibilities towards their daughters. They do not care what they wear or how they get what they wear, what they eat, how they get their money, the work they do, and all others.

This reminds me of one key thing about my mum, the moment she sees me with anything that she didn’t buy or any family buy, then she would have to find out where I got it. So, the moment I have something, I have to explain to her how I got it until now that I am matured and very trusted by her not to enslave myself to men and others. It is quiet recently that I bought my own phone which I am very proud of and she also knows that I am able to buy it. But even with that she still asked me. And recently, I sewed a dress for myself, she saw me in it and asked me about it. Is this not what most of our parents are lacking?

Indeed, we are fast to blame our daughters for their easy ways but sometimes, it is our own doing. It is especially sad where the guardians are able to afford a good life for their daughters yet they neglect them to themselves in these times when most men have turned into wolves waiting to devour girls with some dispensable presents, the popular one of which is a phone. Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! Do ponder dear reader! Please ponder!

It saddens me so much and I wish I had a way of stopping this. But how can I? I can only appeal to whoever is reading this article to not just read for reading sake but to really think and reflect and take heed. We have sisters and we sometimes watch them cater for their lives without knowing their source of finance. It is even more painful that some of the guardians tend to accept presents from such daughters and they are proud that they are able to cater for themselves. Subhaanal Laah! What ignorance!

It is indeed very pathetic to witness a girl who prays that someone might give her something so that she could take care of her something when her parents are alive and kicking and have the means to give her that something to take care of her something. Yaa Allah! It is really painful. Why would you as a parent wake up in the morning, eat and leave your daughter to be thinking of what to eat for the day and then she begins to expect calls from the men so that they could get her some money to cater for herself. Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah!

May be I am lucky to belong to a family that understands that I am their responsibility and they must provide my needs before I even dare think of alternatives, so I could say all these. May be I am lucky to belong to parents who understand that for me to be a source of Jannah for them, then they need to invest in me enough for that to happen bi iznil Laah (by the permission of Allah). But shouldn’t all Muslims who believe in Allah give their daughters this privilege as well if they can? And if they can’t, aren’t there better ways of struggling for survival for themselves and their daughters rather than watching these precious daughters enslave themselves to this social canker?

And it is funny how we do not see how disastrous this issue is to our Islam. No matter whom a woman is, whether ugly or beautiful, rich or poor, there are men who will come after her for various reasons except in rare cases. Some of these men are mostly in to destroy her and leave her in that destruction. Should the guardians not therefore do all they can to protect their daughters from such an unfortunate situation?

Even emotional help for our daughters is lacking. Parents do not let their daughters feel their love at all. The father and daughter are like a cat and a mouse. How could they confide in them with their troubles? Mothers cannot sacrifice for the well-being of their daughters anymore and sometimes, they even plunged their daughters further into this evil. They have caused their daughters to treat them in such a disrespectful manner and it only reminds us of one of the signs of the Day of Regrets told to us by the noble Prophet;

‘The slave girl will give birth to her master.’

And doesn’t a father or a mother find joy in seeing his or her daughter trek a path towards righteousness rather than this shameful path? Alhamdu lil Laah for my family; my mother especially. She is a terrific mum. May Allah make Jannatul Firdaus her final abode. And this is a woman who had no secular education. She called me ‘Masoo iya’ ‘My love,’ ‘Abuya’ ‘My friend’ and other affectionate names and she doesn’t just say it, she makes me feel it and when I am about to do something that is not right, she lets me know. That is not to say that she is not stern; she could be the sternest when she has to be.

And my father, may Allah shower an abundance of His Mercy on his soul, was indeed a bosom friend that I miss so much. He makes me feel his love so much that I cannot simply forget him. Alhamdu lil Laah for him.

Now, I give examples of my family to make a point. We can all be the excellent kind of parents who strive to see that their daughters are provided for and content with life so that they could trek the right path that will lead them to Jannah. But of course, to every rule there is an exception. Some of our daughters could be our test in this life because for whatever we do, they will still enslave themselves to men but let us try hard and harder to be best to our daughters and family as we are told by the Prophet Muhammad (saw) that;

‘The best of you are those who are best to their families and I am the best of you.’

Allah says in Surah At-Tahreem (the Prohibition), Chapter 66:6 that;

‘O you believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones…’

Preventing our daughters from this kind of slavery is to me some sort of salvation for our daughters. Subhaanal Laah! Imagine, a girl trying all she can to get a man to buy her a phone or some food items or pay her fees or take her places, or buy her a dress and others like that when her parents can afford that a thousand fold yet how dare her request that from them because they don’t care and they have made her understand that she must fend for herself as a source of financial relieve for them… Subhaanal Laah! When Allah stopped us from the ignorance of killing our daughters, do we think that we do those daughters any good by letting them live only to grow up into such a mess? Ponder! Really, ponder!

Think & Reflect and never ever let your daughters or sisters or anyone go through this whiles you can.

May Allah reward you with goodness for reading this. May Allah give you the ability to implement this, ameen thumma ameen.

And Oh! Is that not one of the causes of ‘Cohabitation?’

Jazaakumul Laahu khairan brother and sister!

By Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

ASK THEM IF THEY CAN SPEAK… THE HIKMA OF PROPHET IBRAAHEEM

Really, it is very interesting how very ignorant some of us can be sometimes.

Is ignorance not a disease?

Is ignorance not the vice of the soul?

So then why do we settle for ignorance? Especially in things that really matter.

We are constantly reminded by our Creator, Al-Khaaliq, to ponder, to think, to reflect and to try to understand. Subhaanal Laah (glorified is Allah above all else), there is a lot of wisdom (hikma) in pondering.

Indeed, from pondering, we derive ilm (knowledge) which may be useless for us if we do not have hikma and hukm (wisdom and understanding). Like the donkey from the parable Allah gives us; ‘The donkey who carries books yet benefits not from the books.’ Unfortunately, some of us have knowledge without the second two. May we be granted these by Al-A’leem (the Knowledgeable), Al-Hakeem (The Wise). Ameen.

Today, I read for the umpteenth time the story of how our noble Prophet, Prophet Ibraaheem (Abraham), peace be upon him, tried his best to dissuade his people from worshipping idols instead of Allah, their Creator and His Creator even as a young man.

THE STORY GOES…

Allah tells us about Prophet Ibraaheem’s question to his father in Surah Maryam, 19:41- 45;

‘And mention in the Book, Ibraaheem. Verily, he was a man of truth, a Prophet. When he said to his father: ‘O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything? O my father! Verily, there has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me, I will guide you to the Straight Path. O my father! Worship not Shaitan. Verily Shaitan has been a rebel against the Most Gracious. O my father! Verily, I fear lest a torment from the Most Gracious should overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan.’

Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! We definitely have to ponder on these questions even now. Very powerful statements from which we can derive so much more than we can ever imagine. Yet, what did his father say?

‘…‘Do you reject gods, O Ibraaheem? If you stop not, I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely.’

Same Surah: 46

Allahu Akbar! Look at the effect of ignorance. Do we sometimes find ourselves in such situations where we are cautioned by the people around us over something bad that we are doing and we refuse to even give ourselves the chance of pondering and realizing the truth in what they say? Rather than going straight to feel offense and react to it?

It reminds me of the story of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) uncle, Abu Tualib. On his death bed, the Prophet had wished him to say the shahada (the testimony of faith) so that he could intercede for him on the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain even though he hadn’t lived a Muslim. His uncle, for the pride of his forefathers and constantly being reminded of that by Abu Jahl, another uncle of the Prophet who was very bad, had not said the shahada. Subhaanal Laah! Such a great loss!

Let us take heed brothers and sisters. Let us take heed whiles we still breathe. But the noble Prophet did not give up. He had said;

‘… ‘Peace be on you! I will ask forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily, He is unto me Ever Most Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides Allah. And I shall call upon my Lord and I hope that I shall not be unblest in my invocation to my Lord.’

Same Surah: 47-48

Will you and I do this? After trying to convince someone towards the truth, we get such a reaction and we still continue in a peaceful way? We indeed must learn brothers and sisters.

And Allah tells us again in Surah Al-Ambiya (The Prophets), Chapter 21:52 about Prophet Ibraaheem’s interaction with his father and his people.

‘… ‘What are these images to which you are devoted?’

They answered;

‘… ‘We found our father’s worshipping them.’

Ayah 53

Well, I guess a lot of us are like that. We see our parents or family doing things and then we want to continue their tradition. In a case where it happens to be a bad tradition, couldn’t we reconsider and be the change of the lineage? Prophet Ibraaheem had said;

‘…‘Indeed, you and your fathers have been in manifest error.’

Ayah 54

And then they asked him a question.

‘…‘Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who play about?’

Ayah 55

And he answered them saying;

‘… ‘Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth, who created them and to that I am one of the witnesses. And by Allah, I shall plot a plan to destroy your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs.’

Ayah 56-57

What a bold young man he was. He would do anything to save his people. They would really regret not taking heed to his cries on the day of REMORSE AND REGRETS. May we never be like them. Ameen thumma ameen. Allah tells us;

‘So he broke them to pieces, all except the biggest of them, that they might turn to it.’

Ayah 58

I wonder how one can destroy people’s so called ‘gods’ so easily huh. Surprised at who could have dared destroy their objects of worship, they said;

‘Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers.’

Ayah 59

Heheheeeeeeeeeee! Isn’t it interesting how our ignorance could cause us to do things way beyond the line? Just imagine them! Some people had an idea and they shared it with them saying;

‘… ‘We heard a young man talking against them, who is called Ibraaheem.’

Ayah 60

Immediately, they wanted him summoned;

‘… ‘Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify.’

Ayah 61

When he was brought before them, they asked him;

‘… ‘Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Ibraaheem?’

Ayah 62

May Allah save us from ignorance. Ameen. He replied them saying;

‘… ‘Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it. Ask them, if they can speak!’

Ayah 63

Alhamdu lil Laah for making me a Muslim! You? Allah tells us;

‘So, they turned to themselves and said; ‘verily, you are the wrongdoers. Then they turned to themselves and said: ‘Indeed, you know well that these speak not!’

Ayah 64-65

Subhaanal Laah! Just listen to them? What really is this? The noble Prophet had said;

‘… ‘Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? Fie upon you and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no sense?’

Ayah 66

I can just feel the Prophet’s annoyance and surprise at their ignorance. Have they then no sense? For is this not senseless? Worshipping things that one has created him/herself? Subhaanal Laah! And after he destroyed them, nothing happened to him and nothing happened to them also? But are some of us not doing these same things even today? Aren’t we worshipping the luxuries of this Dunya? Aren’t some of our people making Prophet’s their gods? And what are we doing about it? Hmmm! May Allah indeed save us from the evil that dwell within us. Ameen. And in their ignorance they had decided to burn him. They said;

‘… ‘Burn him and help your gods, if you will be doing.’

Ayah 67

Can you believe that? They were those who had to help their gods by fighting their killer. Subahaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! But Allah, the Supreme, the One with all the Power, the Great, the One who begets not nor is He begotten, the One who deserves our worship solely, the one who Created those people and the items they used in making their gods, the one who created the Prophet Abraham and the fire they sought to burn him in had commanded the fire saying;

‘… ‘O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibraaheem!’

Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! Subhaanal Laah! Allahu Akbar! Indeed, when Allah wills for something to be done, He only says to it, ‘Be’ and it is. Do not doubt Allah’s Might! Do not doubt His Oneness! Do not doubt anything about Him!

Look at the land! Raise your head to the sky! Don’t you see the rain? Don’t you feel the breeze? Don’t you breathe in the air? Won’t you look at the Seas? Won’t you look at the animals and the food you eat? Won’t you look at yourself and how you form? Subhaanal Laah!

Time is not a friend or a foe; it will never benefit us until we do in it what we need to do before it is too late. Let us turn to Allah brothers and sisters. Do not look at the pressure from the Dunya. No, don’t. Make the right trade off. Give it all to Allah. Do as He says and don’t let this temporary world deceive you.

From this story, we derive lessons. Our ignorance of Allah goes against ourselves only. Perhaps we are not worshipping idols today, but what is the essence of us saying we believe when we disobey Allah out rightly whiles we know? Think! Reflect! Ponder!

May Allah make us among those who take heed. Ameen thumma ameen. Pray for the writer of this ‘reminder’ that Allah should not make her do what she reminds against.

LET US TAKE HEED WHILES WE STILL BREATHE!!!

By Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu

ABDUR RAZAK SULEIMAN DISCUSSES FIRE IN THE BELLY

BOOK DISCUSSION ONE

The play “Fire in the Belly” touches on the plethora of problems that our communities are marred with. Intriguing is the idea of the author raising most of these issues in one piece of writing as this.

The focus of the play is how people consume the properties of orphans without regard to explicitly stated divine injunctions. This attitude is expressed in characters such as Jamal who has taken all that belongs to his friend’s wife, Hajia Nura, and her children leaving them with nothing without them knowing where the next meal might come from. Abdul Laah, an orphan, is also a victim of such maltreatment. Abdul Laah – a brilliant student faces problems of continuing with his education because his uncle, Baaba Iddrisu, refuses to take care of him from the properties he has inherited from his parents. As if that is not enough, he was finally thrown out of his parent’s home by his uncle.

The extent to which people can go to make money is also demonstrated in the play. Mallam Ibrahim and Ustaz Hussein make their money through fictitious photographing of school children and community members, presenting them, to philanthropists as orphans who need support. When the support finally comes, they misappropriate it by spending it on their families; ‘pimping’ their wives (Mallam Ibrahim) and when the money is spent on an outsider it is done for self-glorification (Ustaz Hussein).

Other identifiable societal problems the play raises include: not responding to greetings, lack of contentment, wishing for things without knowing their source, arrogance, encouraging others to do bad deeds and utter negligence to religious obligations.

The angst in all the issues raised is that the knowledgeable in society who are supposed to serve as guardians and reminders of Allah’s injunctions are the same people violating them. The legitimate question is, what will the ignorant do?

Amidst all these, there is still a glow of hope for the society because we still have honest and kind people like Mallam Mohammed who do not fear to speak the truth; Sheikh Nuruddeen who prays to Allah for wealth to help the poor and needy in society; Jamal who acknowledges his sins and turns to his victims for forgiveness; Hajia Nura who after everything done to her gladly forgives without  any misgivings and Maame Sakina who is willing to give up everything she has after having discovered the source of income of her husband.

In view of all these, the writer has taken a step towards highlighting some of the pressing issues that need the immediate attention of every good meaning member of the society. I thus conclude by saying that the writer has achieved some success in that regard.  Only Allah Knows better! I pray that Allah grant us the wisdom to live by his laws. Ameen!! But wait a minute there is always a but...

Abdul Razak Suleiman

Assistant Lecturer

Linguistics Department

University of Ghana