HAJIA SAMIA ZOUAIN SUMS FIRE IN THE BELLY UP

REVIEW OF FIRE IN THE BELLY

We live in a world today where our attention has been diverted away from the essentials of life. The real purpose of our existence is fuzzy or lost somewhere in the periphery of our lives. We devote little or no time to the activity of reflection and meditation for our growth in wisdom and for spiritual development. However it is through this activity that we can learn from our personal and collective experiences and assess and evaluate them so that they affect and nurture our characters for its betterment providing strong value based lifestyles, highly moral and principled stance under all circumstances.

This play is written with the intention of forcing this awareness and therefore it must be commended. The play highlights the cause and effect of some adverse human characteristics. The writer amplifies the vice of materialism and greed which only leads to corruption of the heart and therefore corruption of deeds. As the main theme of the story unfolds she skilfully interplays right from the onset, the negative results of such behaviour which alerts and reminds the reader of accountability. Appropriately, the concept of Repentance and the Mercy of God are introduced as the answer when one finally admits wrongdoing.

The first thing that struck me in scene one was the narrator’s comment, charity for the sake of God being an ‘authentic anthem, a loan to God is commendable’.

Scene two’s introduction of Mallam Ibrahim and Ustaz Husein further hammer the point of charity for the Sake of God. When Jamal the apparent mad man appears some suspense is created. His perfect Qur’anic quotations with references are certainly a contrast to his jumbled nonsensical comments.

In scene three Abdul Laah the young boy who was orphaned when he was ten is introduced. In this same scene we see the extravagant display of wealth by Mallam Ibrahim and his wife Maame Sakina, this clearly signals the contrast that the writer wants to highlight.

In the forth scene we are taken back into time where the root of Jamal’s present condition is explained. A caution is extended here to all, the virtues of trustworthiness, honesty and fear of God is the candid message in this episode. But how does this connect with the unfolding tale?

Ustaz Hussein re-emerges in scene five from scene two but this time we see him in a very comfortable and affluent life style. Together with his friend, Mallam Ibrahim, their appalling and unethical characteristics are exposed and as that makes the clean of heart cringe it also makes you remember and reaffirm the curses of the Qur’an on such characters.

In scene six we see a different Maame Sakina and it is a light of hope but what a dilemma she finds herself in.

Yet again hope in scene seven as the setting delightfully soothes the reader with God’s promise to those who repent. The scene ends with Abdul Laah in a state of panic.

Alas how the ignorant person finds a semblance of fulfilment in the false sense of fame, however short lived it may be. The attention of equally ignorant people who can only qualify and measure success or progress by the amount of material and chattel one is able to muster around him/her self. It is truly a bountiful blessing to overcome this state of mind and the writer must be commended for making this point crystal clear in this eighth scene. Far too many people are deceived into believing that you are special, classy, and elite, of high society when you have wealth and so people will acquire wealth through any means, by hook or crook, in order to gain that false status of fame and popularity, forgetting that it is God who raises humankind to high ranks and lower them to the low of low in society.

Scene nine displays the beginning of the end...... what happens to those who persist in wrong doing? How short sighted they are in their folly.

The writer has brought together all the strands of the play in this final scene in an imaginative way and this has created a multiple array of lessons for those who take heed, truly beneficial for seekers of good both here and in the hereafter. A scene to be replayed again and again!

The short play made me reflect on how the young writer is conscious of her community and the wows that bedevil it. I think I am as troubled as she is by the behaviour of some of the characters in our society and wonder how we can change this. All in all, she brings to bear on the reader the importance of Allah’s Law and even more importantly, the adherence to that Law for peace to prevail in one’s heart and by extension within the environment or community. Because it is written in a play form it can be dramatised for the benefit of our communities and it is suitable for the old as well as the young.

HAJIA SAMIA ZOUAIN

PUBLIC SPEAKER ON ISLAMIC ISSUES

AKOSUA ABDALLAH ON FIRE IN THE BELLY

FOREWORD TO FIRE IN THE BELLY

Two of the most potent and yet neglected spiritual exercises given to man are Forgiveness and Contentment. All and sundry acknowledge the pertinence of these spiritual virtues but not many practitioners of the Islamic faith exercise the discipline to make forgiveness and contentment important regular features of their daily lives.

The Holy Scriptures is replete with men and women who dedicate themselves to these rites and consequently overcome impossible obstacles and won great victories for themselves, their families, their nations and their God. Our Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and the other early Prophets did not move a step without forgiveness and contentment.

Unfortunately, today, few Muslims seem to understand the relevance of perusal contentment and forgiveness to the practical teachings of the Islamic faith.

It is in this light that this Script is such a pleasure to commend. It comes to grips with real work of forgiveness and contentment not in vague theoretical concepts, but in clear guidelines for personal initiative. The treatment is simple, straight to the point, yet thorough and insightful.

Giving authenticity to the script, while enhancing its down-to-earth appeal, (Rubaba) the writer uses effectively the scriptures of the Holy Qur’an to argue out some basic spiritual and emotional principles of the word of Allah, which in the end unties the loose ends of unbelief and misinterpretation of the teachings of the Qur’an and consequently the Islamic faith. What makes this piece revealing is her ability to passionately and decisively combine both spiritual elements to bring to our notice the need to embrace these virtues.

Rubaba teaches that forgiveness is from the mercy of Allah and it starts from the forgiveness of our sins by our fellow men here on earth.

It is only when we exercise such virtue that true forgiveness is extended to us from the Heavens above. This kind of forgiveness by Allah swt is clearly spelt out in Surah Al-Imran, the family of Imran, chapter 3 verses 135-136.

She also exposes the basic truth and the final reward as a result of sincere forgiveness. It is only in forgiveness and in reconciliation that Allah rewards. And it’s a proven fact that forgiveness relieves the forgiver of a huge burden of forgiveness from Allah swt. Here the writer admonishes all and sundry to learn to forgive without holding back.

Touching on her second virtue, she shares her thoughts on riches and precisely puts her words in the mouth of Maame Sakina who says “ Riches does not lie in having many belongings but rather riches lies in having a contented heart and soul”. The heart and soul of man are what tell the quality of life of an individual. The good connection of the heart and soul is the exact channel through which riches are effectively measured. A good heart and a happy soul inspire great riches. It is also important to note that the source of every rich personality is best valued and measured on the free gift of Allah.

Rubaba expresses her thoughts once again that those who unjustly eat up the properties of orphans, eat up only fire into their bellies and they will be burnt with blazing fire.

Indeed such an attitude the writer clearly depicts, send fire in the belly; which gives an often understanding to the fact that with every penny spent out of the account of an innocent person especially an orphan, one take nothing but fire into your belly.

If you find yourself in the category of Mallam Ibrahim and Ustaz Hussein, then Rubaba is urgently pressing on you who have believed to repent unto your Lord, a good repentance.

In conclusion, this script comes as a lesson to those who read! For those who understand! For those who reflect! A sign for those who believe! But! But! But! There is always a but……..

HAJIA SADIA AKOSUA ABDALLAH

NATIONAL THEATRE OF GHANA

YOU WILL NOT READ THIS! ‘Why I like reading.’

They, not me, say; ‘Put it in a book and many will never see it.’

Hahahahaaaaaaa! I hope it is that way Oooo!

Well, that is the truth. Most of us will not see anything so far as it is put in books. It is more like we are ‘ALLERGIC’ to reading anything.

Now, I love reading. I guess I read the very day I was born… Heheheeeee! That is not lying, ok. I am only being ‘theatrical.’ Like using ‘exaggeration’ and all.

Well, ‘from the moment I knew myself, I know I loved reading.’ I will read everything except scary books. Some of the books were really scary you know. Even the title or the cover picture or the summary of the book could repel me like something.

But you know what? In the absence of all other books, I would read ‘even the scary ones.’ Don’t laugh out loud.

I remember reading all the books in my primary school’s library until one day, as a class six student and the girl’s prefect; I was caught in the staff room with a ‘Kindergarten’ story book in my hands…. Heheheeee! Memories, the teachers had a lot to laugh about but of course, as I’ve always been a ‘teachers’ pet,’ I knew it was out of admiration, lol. This isn’t blowing my horn or ‘riyaa.’ I am trying to make a point.

In my Junior High School, the library became my friend but I found out where it was much later after my admission in the school ***the school was big huh with too many rules*** You know S.D.As. But I spent a lot of my money on the bookshops and booktables (by that I mean the books that are displayed on tables) outside of my school.

When I got to Senior High School, I remember going to the Library (It was big with loads of books that students hardly read) with one of my besties (Belinda) to read within the first weeks of our arrival in the school. And then, we wanted to start borrowing already. Subhaanal Laah! The Librarian will never laugh, #I guess he didn’t know about the Prophet’s saying that ‘EVEN A SMILE IS CHARITY’# He wasn’t a Muslim though.

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to borrow books because we were freshers and he didn’t have our list yet but alhamdu lil Laah, the next time we came, my friend got her book even without him looking in the list. When I mentioned my name, he was furious. He accused me of wanting to use my nickname to borrow a book…. Subhaanal Laah! Wayyo! Poor me! So he looked in the list and found ‘Rubaba’ there… that was the beginning of our friendship with the ‘unsmiling librarian.’

As I said earlier, in the absence of all my favourite kind of stories, I would read scary ones. The scariest and biggest book I ever read was entitled; ‘On the Edge of Darkness’ by a woman called ‘Barbara Erskine’ I hope I got that right. The book was so huge that it could almost cover my desk and when I see any of my teachers, I hide it behind me.

And Subhaanal Laah! The book was scary. Very scary! I couldn’t even walk to prep alone because I was imagining the ‘Indian spirit girl’ and the things she could do. Funny enough, at the end of the day, I found out that the one who was telling the story, ‘Abraham’ was just having a dream and he was still a child.

Alhamdu lil Laah, my reading was not only directed towards stories alone. I read literature books like ‘the God’s are not to blame, Edufa, the Marriage of Anansewaa, Anowa, Things Fall Apart,’ and many others from J.H.S to S.H.S. And oOOO yes! I read the Bible too, like a story book. Had some religious books for comparison on Islam and other religions, Christianity especially, and I read these in J.H.S. with my little bro.

Most important of all is my experience with the Qur’an. I could read Arabic and write it as well almost excellently. My primary school was good huh and I had or I have a good IQ, alhamdu lil Laah for His many favours. The problem was with understanding the Qur’an in Arabic. My mum, may Allah swt continue to raise her rank among His many loyal servants, had bought me a Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur’an with the Arabic, some ahaadith and others. I still have it. That and my Arabic Qur’an had been my greatest companions in S.H.S especially. I would read the English Qur’an like a story book and that made me familiar with most of the things in it, alhamdu lil Laah.

Now, enough of all that about me and reading. Why do I like reading? Simply, because I enjoy reading although that isn’t the only thing I enjoy doing though. But as I grew up, I had a much better reason for reading which is that;

‘PEOPLE SPEND DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS TO WRITE WHAT THEY WRITE AND THEN it can take you just a few minutes or days to grab all that they have struggled to gain.’

Subhaanal Laah! That should be a more than enough reason for you to read, at least, the good materials. It doesn’t take a thing away from you. It rather broadens your scope. It helps you to prioritize. It gives you new information and that is enough to want to read. It might even cause you to stop something bad you are doing or even better it.

And of course, isn’t it amazing that the very first ayaat revealed to our noble Prophet, peace be upon him, were;

Recite in the name of your Lord who created

Created man from a clinging substance.

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

Who taught by the pen

Taught man that which he knew not.

Surah Al-A’laq (The Clot), Chapter 96:1-5

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Laa ilma lanaa illaa maa a’llamtanaa! Indeed, we have no knowledge except that which Allah swt teaches us. This is enough a reason for the Muslim to boost his or her reading abilities.

I guess some people will never get to know what is in this article; ‘They won’t simply read.’ Some of course will read to a point and let it be. Yet others like you, will read until the very end.

May Allah swt increase all of us in ‘ilmun naa fi’a’ ‘beneficial knowledge.’ May that which we read draw us closer to our Creator, Allah, glorified be He above all else. Ameen thumma ameen. Jazaakumul Laahu khairan wa baarakal Laahu fiikum. Ameen.

By Rubaba Mmahajia Rahma Sabtiu