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HOW WELL DO CONTEMPORARY MUSLIMS REPRESENT ISLAM?

By
Olusola Rahmatullah
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There are so many religions in the world, of which one of the major ones is Islam. The religion of Islam preaches monotheism, which translates to the belief in the existence of one God, called Allah in Arabic. Followers of this religion are called Muslims. The Holy Book of the Muslims is called the Quran, which was revealed to the Prophet (SAW), through the angel Jubril. At different times, prophets were sent to people, communities, tribes, and nations alike, but the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent to all of mankind.

The first step to building a house is to have a strong foundation. Time and detail are put into ensuring the foundation is firm, strong, and solid. This way, such a house can withstand any element. The religion of Islam is no different. There are five pillars which uphold the religion of Islam. They are called the five pillars of Islam. They are Tawheed, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. They mean the testimony of Faith, Prayer, Mandatory Alm, Fasting, and Pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Makkah.

Similarly, Islam is constructed upon six fundamentals of the faith. They are: belief in Allah, the Angels, the Revealed Scriptures, the Divine Messengers, the Day of Judgement (Quran, 4:137) and Destiny (Sahih Bukhari).

An adherent of Islam is expected to not only profess the articles of faith and observe the five pillars of Islam, but also follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (saw). As Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described the Prophet (saw), he was like a walking Quran. That means that he followed the tenets of Allah.

Long before Muhammad (saw) was appointed the prophet of Allah, he had always been of good conduct and spoke the truth. That was why he was called al-Amin, the trustworthy. Many people of Arabia would keep their trust with him and they would get it the same way he as given.  Most times, he was called upon to settle disputes because he is known to be fair.  As the prophet of Allah, he was kind, caring, accommodating, and was generous with wealth and knowledge. As the leader of Muslims, he showed exemplary bravery and support for his followers. He was kind where he should have been, strong in situations that called for it, and silent when he disliked or shunned an act. In summary, he was a diplomatic leader.

Also, even though he was the prophet of Allah, that did not stop him from doing the major acts of worship like praying, giving zakat, fasting, and even going for pilgrimage from Madinah.

An important question we need to ask ourselves is this, how did the Holy Prophet (saw) relate with his companions and neighbours? The Holy Prophet (saw) was kind and caring to all and sundry. To the disbelievers especially did show kindness. It is related that a woman used to pour dirt and sharp objects at the door step of The Holy Prophet (saw). The Holy Prophet (saw) never shouted at the woman or rebuked her in any way. He would pack such garbage and proceed to the mosque. It happened that the woman became ill and could not do her usual rounds of pouring dirt at the entrance of his house. He inquired about the woman and was told that she was ill. He asked for her house and went to visit her. He spoke kind words to her and offered her his assistance. She was ashamed of her actions at once. Deeply affected by the kindness of the prophet, she was convinced of the teachings of Islam as shown by the Holy Prophet (saw) and that made her accept Islam.

There is another narrative of an old lady who heard of the words of The Holy Prophet (saw) when he began to spread Islam but has never seen him. She had on a heavy load, and while passing, The Holy Prophet (saw) offered to help her. He offered her a good company and accompanied her to her home. On getting there, she was touched by his actions as it was rare in Makkah at the time, and decided to thank him by passing him a good word, she so thought. She told him to beware of Muhammed who was going about telling people not to worship the gods of the land, but worship Allah alone. She said he incited children against parents, and slaves against masters. She told hm not to heed his words. When he was about to leave, she asked for his name and he told her that he was the Muhammad she had heard of. She was surprised, but recalled his kindness. She thought, if this is what his religion preaches, then she must be a follower. She accepted Islam on the spot. With these narratives, it is clear that The Holy Prophet (saw) spread Islam not only through his words, but also through his good conduct and behaviour.

The Prophet Muhammad (saw) was both the spiritual and political leader of Muslims. Although he was the political head, he was never autocratic. In the Battle of Khandaq (the Ditch), Muslims were outnumbered by the coalition of the enemies. When the former was to be attacked by the latter, the Holy Prophet (saw) called together his companions and sought for their opinions. Suggestions were given as to what to do. Salman Al-Farisi, a companion of the Holy Prophet (saw) suggested that a ditch be dug wide enough such that the enemy would not be able to build a passage across it. Unprepared for the ditch they met, the coalitions of the Arab armies camped and plotted ways to cross. There was a one-on-one battle between the coalition and the Muslims. The enemy was represented by Amr, a renowned warrior, and the Muslim by Ali. The Muslims were victorious. The weather conditions were also not in favour of the enemy. With a decline in the provision and obvious stress, they returned to their homes. This battle was a battle of wits.

In times of pain and anger, humans are prone to react violently. In the case of the Holy Prophet (saw), that is not so. Related to us is an incident which happened at Taif when the Prophet (saw) went to preach Islam. When he began preaching, the people of Taif pelted him with stones and garbage. He was deeply bruised and in pains. The angel Jubril visited and asked if he should crush with mountains, for it was placed between two mountains. The Prophet (saw) replied in the negative, saying that there were people who would still revert to Islam among them. That is an example of love shown to others, even when they are not known to us. A tradition of the Prophet (saw)  is related that “No one of you truly believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself”. (Sahih Bukhari) The care for fellow Muslims is so important that Allah says in the Quran that “And worship Allah and associate naught with Him, and Show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbour that is a kinsman and the neighbour that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, Allah loves not the proud and the boastful. Quran 4 vs 37.xamples from the life of the Prophet show that one should be compassionate and forgiving. It teaches men to help one another, and to overlook the others short comings.  Can the life of Muslims of this age be likened to that? How much do the contemporary Muslims represent the noble teachings of Islam and the exemplary character of the Holy Prophet (saw)?

Muslims are supposed to be the champions of peace in the world. Alas, they find themselves locked in a state of war. From Syria to Libya and Egypt etc., Muslim countries are facing internal crises. These countries have allowed themselves to be used by the Western countries, which benefit financially from these crises.

All over the world, there are terrorist organizations springing up, and claiming roots in Islam. There are different terrorist groups, of which the most notorious ones are ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabab. Their claim is to fight against all things western, both civilization and doctrines. They claim that they were ordained by Allah to kill. However, Allah says in the Quran 2 vs 191 that “And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors.”. This verse clearly explains that when Muslims are pushed to war, they are allowed to defend themselves within the boundary set by Islam. These boundaries are that the aged, women and children should not be killed, and farm lands destroyed. It shows that even during the time of war, the safety of individuals is paramount, and Muslims should only fight those who wage war on them.

With the political, social, and economic terrain of the world of today, more pressure is put on Muslims to portray the teachings. The role of Muslims in the society should be such that they should be the pioneers of peace and not the creators of violence. Even the greetings of the Muslims is one of peace: As salam alaykum wa rahmatullah  wa Baraktu, which translates to “may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon you”.

A candid advice for Muslims would be to emulate the attributes of the Prophet (saw). They are enjoined to be accommodating, supportive, generous, kind, and caring for other humans like they would care for themselves. They are enjoined to represent Islam and its Noble Prophet (saw) well. To walk this talk, the very first step would be to start from care of the neighbours, as they are trust on us.

ATTAINING NEARNESS TO ALLAH SHOULD BE OUR TARGET

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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“For such people who have attained nearness, all sins will no longer be attractive to them and all sins become hateful and ugly to them.  They will then experience true dreams and mighty signs of Allah’s Pleasure that exhibits itself in wonderful acceptance of progress.”

The above statements were the submissions of the Amir (Head) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola during his Friday sermon at Tahir Mosque Ojokoro Lagos where he discussed on the modes and guidelines of seeking nearness to Almighty God.

Dr. Fashola defined seeking nearness to Allah as seeking His communication by studying, reflecting, and acting upon the Holy Qur’an because to seek and know Allah, one has to study His greatness communication to mankind, His address to mankind as to what He desires.

In line with the teachings of the Holy Prophet(saw) and the Promised Messiah(as), Amir said one of the steps to be taken in seeking nearness to Allah is to engage oneself in constantly and carefully studying the Holy Quran, reflecting on it, and conducting one’s life strictly in accordance with its injunctions. This, he said, will make such person attain the status of Muhsin, the doer of good deeds.

He noted: “A major aspect of a Muhsin is that he engages in prayer (salat) so constantly, soulfully, humbly and with awe of Allah, as if he sees Him, and with perfect faith in His Mighty, Majesty and Mercy.  A Muhsin believes that Grace comes from Allah only and that is His Pleasure only that should be sought at all times and in all circumstances.  “He added that Salat constitutes the ultimate in the remembrance of Allah, which Allah declares as the greatest striving in the Way of Allah, that Salat is comprehensive and encompasses all aspects of Dhikr, including Darood (eulogizing the Holy Prophet).

The Amir stated that imbibing the spirit of humility before Almighty God is another step towards attaining closeness to Allah.  He said all mankind must be humble before Him considering Allah’s Might and Majesty compared with one’s helplessness, lowliness, and shortcomings.  The quality, he said, will reflect in one’s humble supplications for guidance on the straight path that leads to Him and for strength to develop the discipline and steadfastness in His path as well as seeking assistance for one’s needs and to surmount all problems and prevail over all enemies.

According to him; “Humility in prayer before Allah will also reflect in one’s humble attitude towards all His Creation, without any iota of arrogance and self-conceitedness, realizing that one has no credit in any excellence of social and intellectual achievement, human quality or beauty of one’s physical attributes.”

Members were also enjoined to imbibe the spirit of justice, charity, and self-sacrifice for the love of all greatness without personal hatred and injustice to any, as a reflection of the Divine Spirit of Grace, Mercy, and Justice.  Amir added that those who live comfortably in luxury cannot come closer like those who endure deprivation with steadfast devotion and commitment to Him in all ways.

He stressed: “The love of this world is a great barrier to achieving nearness and that is why you are not ready to sacrifice what you love most.  In this respect, the examples of Hazrat Ibrahim with his family members are sufficient lessons for us.

The fourth attribute of attaining nearness to Almighty God according to Dr. Fashola is to imbibe the spirit of courage and jealousy for the honour and Majesty of Allah in the sense of spreading the message of Oneness and Glory of Allah and the truthfulness of His Messenger, standing firm against disbelief, injustice and wickedness and the preparedness to sacrifice one’s health and person in this respect.  He said one should love all but never love the ways of the evil ones and of the enemies of God and never in any way cooperate with their evil ways and idolatry.

While highlighting the spirit of extra-ordinary strivings in the way of Allah as the fifth step to be taken towards attaining nearness to Almighty God, the Amir said believers will continue to experience trials in their paths of seeking nearness to Allah.  He said: “Trials will still continue to descend through the devil.  At that stage, the devotee of Allah will tend to receive true dreams, the true inspirations and communications from God.  But the devil will attempt to interfere and hinder the spiritual progress of the wayfarer by mixing true and false dreams and revelations which will constitute a test of one’s humility and devotion to the worship of Allah alone and not of the self.”

Giving a piece of general advice on seeking nearness to Almighty God, Dr. Fashola said: “Individuals must abstain from shirk and wickedness at all costs, give glad tidings of Allah’s benevolence and maintain perseverance and patience, never get frustrated or fed up.  Reflect on His blessings and take to prayer, be grateful and seek for forgiveness always.”

Anti-Corruption Crusade: Reform the Judicial System Now

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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In an effort to minimize the spate of corruption and sanitize the entire system in the Country, the Federal Government has been urged to embark on the total overhauling and reformation of the judicial sector.

This was the highlight of the communiqué issued at the end of a one-day interfaith and media engagement forum on anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria organized by Interfaith Anti-Corruption Network in collaboration with Strength in Diversity Development Centre (SDDC) Nigeria.

The programme, with the theme; “Harnessing Interfaith and Media Potentials in the fight against Corruption in Nigeria” came up at the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre Alausa, Lagos.

Stakeholders affirmed that corruption was a cankerworm and a monumental endemic that had eaten deep into every fabric of the Nigerian society, hence the urgent need for the government to reform and strengthen the judicial system towards handling corrupt cases.  The sector is expected to ensure that all perpetrators are made to face the full wrath of the laws irrespective of religious affiliations, political parties, language differences, creed, ethnic or cultural background.

The forum also called on the government to ensure that convicted persons are not allowed to hold any public office in the country to serve as deterrents to others who may be nursing corrupt ambition.

The federal government was also admonished to establish Ministry of Religious Affairs where religious leaders will always meet to discuss common challenges of the society including corruption and find means of sensitizing their numerous followers on the evil effects of corruption.

The stakeholders further advised the government to include in the curriculum of the schools from primary to tertiary, civic education that will enlighten more on the qualities and duties of a public office holder.

Heart of the Problem:

One of the discussants, Ambassador Segun Adeoye stated that corruption is not only attached to politicians but everyone within the society.  That the endemic cuts across all institutions – churches, mosques, homes and among artisans.

He said: “Corruption is not only in Nigeria but all over the world.  It has to do with our nature as human beings.  We are very selfish intrinsically.  “The heart of the problem is the heart of man.”

Need for Improvement on Journalists’ Welfare:

The President, National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Lagos State Chapter, Mrs. Sekinah Lawal has clamored for a drastic improvement to the general welfare of journalists if we indeed expect an accurate and objective report from them.  She said media practitioners easily fell to the financial inducements from well to do Nigerians due to poor incentives, thereby hampering the objectivity of reports.

“The real problem of media practitioners is very simple.  You put them as watchdogs of the society but the dogs are very hungry, so what do you expect? Journalists who also have family members to take care of are being owed several months.  How do you expect him to be just in his findings?  There are so many things journalists can do to keep a check on the activities of the government but there is need to improve their take-home pay so that they will perform the role of watchdog effectively and diligently,” she opined.

Mrs. Lawal also believed there will be the law of karma on those who diverted public funds for personal use.  That whatever is amassed legitimately or illegally will be accounted for, on the day of judgment.

Welfarism of Religious leaders also paramount:

There was also a call for better welfare for all religious leaders in a bid to achieve success in the anti-corruption crusade.  Religious leaders are expected to live above board in the society but they tend to be corrupt due to a poor standard of living.  The stakeholders further admonished religious leaders to work on their spiritual upliftment and capacity building.  They were also urged to be upright and righteous.

Hate Speech is Evil:

The second part of the conference centered on the development and signing of character on anti-hate speech and incitement to violence along religious and ethnic divides.  Hate speech was described as a satanic, unproductive and counter-productive statement which could destroy patriotism and lead to civil war.

As a way of eliminating hate speech in society, the stakeholders proposed that the National Assembly must quickly pass a bill against it.  They also requested the enforcement agencies to make scapegoats out of many offenders to serve as deterrents.  Also, it was suggested that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be strengthened to sensitize the general public on the dangers of hate speech while the primary and secondary school curriculum must be expanded to include instructions on hate speech.

While speaking at the forum, one of the invited guests Imam Sulaiman Adangba stated that there was a need to understand the deep meaning of a person and personality.  That the combination of a habit and character leads to an attitude which makes a person.  He said this was very essential when guiding against hate speech.

He said it was disheartening to realize that religious leaders and media practitioners are no longer recognized in the country because they have lost their positions due to their quest for materialism.

The co-convener of the programme, Imam Abdul Kareem Majemu stated that the conference which was the second edition was a three-year project.  He reiterated that the programme aims at finding means on how religious leaders and media professionals can work hand in hand to support the anti-corruption campaign and hate speech in Nigeria.

All participants later adopted and signed the charter on Anti-Hate speech and incitement to violence along religious and ethnic divides.

Ahmadiyya Head Warns Of Intensifying Global Hostilities and the Risk of Disastrous Nuclear War

By
admin
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On 9 March 2019, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered the keynote address at the 16th National Peace Symposium hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK.

His Holiness highlighted that nuclear war was no longer a remote or distant prospect, but rather a growing threat that could no longer be discounted or ignored. 

He mentioned a number of pressing catalysts including tensions between nuclear powers, conflicts and proxy wars in the Middle East, far-right nationalism, anti-immigration sentiments, economic frustrations and isolationism that continue to push nations towards nuclear war and global destruction. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad warned of the catastrophic nuclear destruction that could ensue if nations did not show tolerance or strive to break down the causes of division between them. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“If there is a nuclear war, we will not only be destroying the world today but we will also be leaving behind a lasting trail of destruction and misery for our future generations. Hence, we must pause and reflect on the consequences of our actions. We should not consider any issue or conflict, whether within a country or at an international level, to be insignificant.” 

Commenting on escalating tensions between nations, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“During the past year, the United States claimed with a degree of confidence that it was close to securing an historic peace deal with North Korea but in recent days it has become clear that nothing of substance has been achieved.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued: 

“In recent days, the world witnessed a sudden escalation in tension between India and Pakistan. Both countries are nuclear powers and both have built alliances with other nations, whether openly or in secret, which mean that the potential consequences of a war would be extensive and far-reaching.” 

His Holiness stated that nations are using conflicts in the Middle East as a tool to create dominance by building alliances and igniting further conflict. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“On one side, Russia and Turkey are aligning, whilst on the other side, the United States and Saudi Arabia are joining together and are ratcheting up pressure on Iran and seeking further sanctions against them. Political experts are openly expressing that the objective of these nations is to dominate the Middle East.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated: 

“Time and again, we have seen examples of countries that have intervened in war-torn nations or given aid to deprived countries on the pretext of bringing peace but have attached strings that enable them to take control of the weaker country’s resources. Rather than being content with their own wealth, powerful countries seek to assert their control over weaker nations.” 

His Holiness cited Syria as an example of a war that had caused endless misery and remained in a precarious state. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“Over almost a decade, Syria has been ravaged by bloodshed and torn asunder. It is said that the civil war is now edging towards an end but what has the past decade achieved except the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the displacement of millions of others? Nothing positive has emerged and the future remains uncertain and precarious, as tensions rise between nations who have their own vested interests tied into the future of Syria.” 

He mentioned that although these nations attempted to defeat extremist groups like Daesh in the Middle East, they have in reality, only allowed their hateful teachings to spread further. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“It is said that the terrorist group Daesh is on the verge of collapse and that their so-called Khilafat is finished. Yet experts also warn that though Daesh has lost its territory, its hateful ideology persists and its members who have survived are now scattering and could eventually regroup and perpetrate attacks in Europe or elsewhere.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also emphasized that nationalism continues to rear its ugly head and that far-right parties are gaining popularity globally. He explained that a core reason underpinning far-right popularity has been widespread immigration. 

His Holiness further explained that feelings of resentment stem from the belief that existing indigenous citizens are being short-changed in order to fund and support immigrants. He provided both a long term and a short term solution to resolve this pressing issue. 

Explaining the long term solution, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“The long-term solution to the immigration crisis has to be to establish peace in war-torn countries and to help the local people, who have been forced to endure lives of misery and danger, to live peacefully.” 

Discussing the short term solution, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“In the short term, where refugees or asylum seekers come to the West due to the prevailing political or religious conditions in their own countries, they should be treated with dignity and respect. At the same time, whatever support they are given should not be at the expense of existing citizens. Immigrants should be strongly encouraged to enter employment as soon as possible, rather than living off benefits for long periods. They should work hard, seek to stand upon their own two feet and contribute positively to their new society. Otherwise, if they are continually funded by tax-payers money it will inevitably lead to grievances.” 

Furthermore, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated his belief to be, that the underlying cause of most resentment in society tends to be economic and 

financial frustration and that this inevitably leads to the spread of Islamophobia and xenophobia. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“Certain groups take advantage of such anxiety by laying the blame at the feet of immigrants or at the followers of religion and incite sentiments of hatred towards them. Thus, an impression has developed in Europe that Asians, Africans and particularly Muslim immigrants are a threat to society. In the United States, there are similar fears regarding Muslims and also Hispanics seeking to enter the country through Mexico.” 

His Holiness explained that the root cause of frustration and the resulting hostility, whether in the East or the West, is economic injustice and so it is essential that a concerted effort is made to bridge the economic divide amongst nations and their people. 

He stated that if such countries, that have been centres of war or division, are enabled to prosper economically, they will no longer harbour frustrations or bear hatred for other nations. Nor will their people be forced to migrate. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also addressed the widespread uncertainty and anxiety in the UK regarding Brexit and the UK’s future relationship with the European Union. 

His Holiness mentioned that he made his views on Brexit very clear during an address at the European Parliament in 2012, when he stated that the strength of Europe lies in its remaining united and together as one. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“In my speech seven years ago, I focused upon the importance of removing the fears of the public about immigration and emphasising the benefits of unity. However, people’s concerns were not adequately addressed and so, increasingly, people across Europe have come to question the benefits of the European Union…Hence, where I had hoped for greater unity in Europe, the past few years have witnessed increased division and turmoil.” 

Citing Islamic teachings to offer a solution to this turmoil, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated: 

“The Islamic viewpoint is that peace can best be achieved through unity. Yet, regretfully, instead of uniting, we are seeking separation and prioritising our individual interests over the collective interests of the world. I believe that such policies will, and already are, undermining the world’s peace and security.” 

Explaining how Islamic teachings provide peace to the world, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: 

“To get an accurate portrayal of Islamic governance and leadership we should look to the era of the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). After the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated to the city of Medina, he formed a covenant with the Jewish people, whereby the Muslims and the Jewish citizens were to live together peacefully and with a spirit of mutual sympathy, tolerance and equity.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued: 

“The covenant proved to be a magnificent charter of human rights and governance and ensured peace between the different communities living in Medina. According to its terms, all people, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, were bound to respect the rights of one another. Freedom of belief and freedom of conscience were cornerstones of that treaty.” 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded his address by praying for the long term peace of the world. 

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad prayed: 

“May Allah the Almighty enable true peace to emerge and may the long shadows of war and conflict that hover above us be replaced by blue skies of peace and prosperity. I pray for an end to the frustrations and deprivation that have plagued the lives of countless people and have fuelled devastating wars and grievances across the world…I pray that we show tolerance of each other’s beliefs and customs and value the diversity within our societies. I pray that we come to see the best in humanity and use each other’s strengths and skills to build a better world for our children and to cultivate lasting peace in society.” 

Prior to the keynote address, a welcome address was delivered by Rafiq Hayat, the National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

Thereafter, the Most Reverend Kevin McDonald, Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark thanked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for its strong resolve in promoting peace. 

The Most Reverend Kevin McDonald said: 

“This initiative is quite unusual and different and imaginative, bringing together people of different religions, different faiths, people in the public and private sector, people of different walks of life to reflect on peace, because peace is an issue for all of us… I thank the Ahmadiyya Community for drawing attention to the centrality of peace, for inviting people of different faiths and norms to come together. I hope we can get together around this conviction that there can only be peace enough in the world if there is peace within us.” 

Whilst accepting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace, Dr. Fred Mednick, founder of Teachers Without Borders, said: 

“With this award, Your Holiness, the Ahmadiyya Community has heard the teacher’s voice and has heard the teachers song…I can only say here today, honoured by the hospitality and warmth and openness of this community, [that] it is a special honour to receive this award; we shall do our best, Insha’Allah [God willing], to reach every teacher we can on this planet and even more teachers and more children in those small places everywhere on Earth.” 

The event concluded with a silent prayer led by His Holiness. 

Both before and after the proceedings, His Holiness met personally with various dignitaries and guests and held a press conference with journalists and members of the media. 

Wassalam

Dr Abid Ahmad

UPLIFT THE STATUS OF JAMIA

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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The new principal of Jamiatul Mubashireen (Ahmadiyya School of Theology) Ilaro Ogun State Maulvi Abdul Azeem Ahmed has been urged to uplift the status of the institution in line with the vision and mission guiding its establishment.

The charge was given at the official hand over of leadership by Maulvi Nadeem Ahmad Waseem to the new principal Maulvi Abdul Azeem following the approval of change guard in the institution by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

In his remarks at the handing over ceremony at the institution conference hall in ilaro, the Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mashuud Aderenle Fasola said the essence of the event was to appreciate the good works of the outgoing principal and also to pray for the incoming head.

He affirmed that members must appreciate Almighty God for being magnanimous in providing for the Muslim community one true leader Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V who oversees the activities of the organization worldwide.

He enjoined Staff, students, and Jama’at members generally to give physical, moral and spiritual support to the new principal towards achieving the goals and objectives of the institution beyond the expectation of the supreme head. The Amir said  ‘’It is incumbent on the incoming principal to build upon what is on the ground. All of us must support the new administration of the institution and pray for the success of all our institutions in Jamia premises.’’

Dr. Fashola urged members to always honour and obey those who are in positions of authority and when having contrary opinions to issues, they must be presented with utmost respect and humility.

He further advised the new principal not to abandon projects of his predecessor but must strive to improve on them.

In his words, “Leadership is the major characteristic of Allah’s creation. We are fortunate to have one spiritual leader worldwide. For various institutions within the Jama’at, we have leadership. Leadership is not eternal but ephemeral in nature. A leader must represent Allah. He must please Allah alone and should not fear anyone in the course of discharging his duties. All followers must give support and obedience to leaders. In the case of divergent views on issues, present your opinions/observations/comments in a polite and decent manner.’’

Uphold the spirit of dedication and Taqwa

The Missionary Incharge Murabbi Afzaal Ahmad Rauf stated that missionaries of the Jamaat are expected to be under the service of Almighty God and the main quality of the life of a Mubaligh should be dedicated He said all Ullama (scholars) are expected to be Godly and pious people.

He advised the new leadership of the institution to instil Taqwa (fear of Allah) into the students if they want them to be role models and good ambassadors of the Jamaat in the outside world after graduation.

On the pursuit of a materialistic world which has grossly affect the spiritual upliftment of members, Murabbi Afzaal said: ’’we all need a practical change in our daily lives.

Progress was so slow within the Jamaat because we are both religious and worldly, hence we remain stagnant. We should be more religious than worldly. If we divert from the objective of the system, we will not get to the promiseland.’’

Good behavior and knowledge

Naib Amir (Deputy Head) South West  Alh. Abdul Azeez Alatoye said it was high time the organisation focused on both the good behaviours and knowledge of our scholars than their knowledge if indeed we intend to reform the system and achieve positive results

High Sense of Appreciation

While handing over officially to the new principal, the outgoing head appreciated staff   who  worked meritoriously with him for more than five years to achieve a reasonable success.

My Journey

Maulvi Abdul Azeem gave a synopsis of his background en route to becoming an Islamic scholar and opined that it was the blessings of Almighty God he has been enjoying till the moment.

‘’Human efforts cannot go beyond the decree of Allah. By the grace of Allah, the institution will continue to wax stronger. It is indeed the engine room of the organization. It is a big task to manage the institution. I therefore humbly request all members to remember the new administration in prayers,’’ the new principal appealed.

 

India-Pakistan Crisis: Ahmadiyya Leader Calls for Peaceful Resolution

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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Following the lingering crisis between India and Pakistan which is on the brink of degenerating to a major confrontation, the worldwide head of Ahmadiyya Community Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Almighty Allah be his Helper) has appealed to world leaders to rise up to the occasion to prevent what could lead to World War III.

Hazrat Masroor was wary of the nuclear and sophisticated weapons in possession of these two warring countries which could trigger a major global crisis, hence the need for the so-called ‘”super powers” to intervene in the differences and ensure peaceful resolution between them rather than capitalizing on the crisis for selfish interest.

Already, the supreme leader has directed all members of the community not to relent in fervent prayers for amicable peaceful co-existence between India and Pakistan. The birth of the community could be traced to Qadian India. There were thousands of its members in the two countries.

The leader was known as a promoter of world peace. He had made several visits and addresses to world leaders including the United Kingdom and the United States of America, where he discusses ways of ensuring a peaceful atmosphere globally.

Tensions resumed at the two Asian countries recently when India bombed targets inside Pakistan following a deadly Kashmir attack.

The genesis of the crisis

Even before India and Pakistan won their independence from Britain in August 1947, Kashmir was hotly contested.

Under the partition plan provided by the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir was free to accede to India or Pakistan.

The Maharaja (local ruler), Hari Singh, chose India and a two-year war erupted in 1947.

A new war followed in 1965, while in 1999 India fought a brief but bitter conflict with Pakistani-backed forces.

By that time, India and Pakistan had both declared themselves to be nuclear powers.

Reasons for unrest

Many people in the territory do not want it to be governed by India, preferring instead either independence or union with Pakistan. The population of the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60% Muslim, making it the only state within India where Muslims are in the majority.

High unemployment and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces battling street protesters and fighting insurgents have aggravated the problem.

The violent insurgency in the state has ebbed and flowed since 1989, but the region witnessed a fresh wave of violence after the death of 22-year-old militant leader Burhan Wani in July 2016. He died in a battle with security forces, sparking massive protests across the valley.

Wani – whose social media videos were popular among young people – is largely credited with reviving and legitimizing the image of militancy in the region.

Thousands attended Wani’s funeral which was held in his hometown of Tral, about 40km (25 miles) south of the city of Srinagar. Following the funeral, people clashed with troops and it set off a deadly cycle of violence for days. More than 30 civilians died, and others were injured in the clashes. Since then, violence has been on the rise in the state.

More than 500 people were killed in 2018 – including civilians, security forces and militants – the highest such toll in a decade.

Ceasefires

India and Pakistan did indeed agree to a ceasefire in 2003 after years of bloodshed along the de facto border (also known as the Line of Control).

Pakistan later promised to stop funding insurgents in the territory while India offered them an amnesty if they renounced militancy.

Then, in 2014, a new Indian government came to power promising a tough line on Pakistan but also showed interest in holding peace talks. Nawaz Sharif, then prime minister of Pakistan, also attended Indian PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.

But a year later, India blamed Pakistan-based groups for an attack on its airbase in Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab. Mr. Modi also canceled a scheduled visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for a regional summit in 2017. Since then, there hasn’t been any progress in talks between the neighbours.

Recent Events

The bloody summer of street protests in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2016 had already dimmed hopes for lasting peace in the region. Then, in June 2018, Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party pulled out of a coalition government run by the People’s Democratic Party. The state has since been under direct rule from Delhi, which fuelled further anger.

Tensions have risen since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based armed group, Jaish-e-Muhammad(JeM), in Indian-administered Kashmir killed at least 42 Indian paramilitary forces on February 14.

But the risk of an all-out conflict rose dramatically last Tuesday when India launched air raids on what it said was a JeM training base.

On Wednesday morning, New Delhi and Islamabad were engaged in a battle of conflicting military claims.

At least four Pakistani civilians were killed late on Tuesday in the cross-border fire between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.

A BOOK REVIEW ON “AN ELEMENTARY STUDY OF ISLAM”

By
Olusola Rahmatullah
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  • AUTHOR: Mirza Tahir Ahmad
  • Book Title: An Elementary Study of Islam
  • First Published: First Published in 1985

THE REVIEW

As a budding writer, and one who is still learning the ropes, I feel honoured to write a review of the work of Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the fourth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, titled “An elementary study of Islam”. Born on 28 of December 1928 in Qadian, India. As a visionary leader, he started many charitable organizations such as Humanity First and the popular television station Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International. He has written many books and given various lectures.

According to the foreword to this book, this book is a documented and amended report of the speech given by Khalifatul Masih IV Mirza Tahir Ahmad on March 12, 1990, at the invitation of the Department of Islamic Studies, Seville University, Spain, titled “A Discourse on its Elementary and its Fundamental Teachings”. The aim of the book is to serve as a source of enlightenment and guidance to help understand the basic teachings of Islam. Apart from talking on the pillars of Islam to better understand the essence of Islam, the book also treats other subjects while answering the question. It treated the questions of having similar teachings with other religions, the concept of the jihad, and reconciling the concept of predestination with free will.

Beginning with the first pillar of Islam, which is the existence of one God, the author explains that even with different sects from the Sunni to the Shiites, Muslims generally believe in the Oneness of Allah, whichever sect they belong to. Showing this, he explains that God does not have a father, mother, and wife, hence he begets no son or daughter. He explains that there is a complete concurrence between the word of God and the Act of God. He places the belief in One God as the pedestal for other forms of belief.

Talking on the angels, he explains that there are different concepts depending on the various religions, although all belief in their existence. In the bible, he relates an incidence of Jesus’ baptism, where the holy spirit descended on him like a dove. In Islam, angels are known as celestial beings who worship Allah and do the duties for which they were assigned. He explains the misrepresentation of angels in human form in most religious books but affirms that angels can take on any form, and sometimes of man when discharging messages. He cites an instance of a man who came to the mosque to ask questions from the prophet so that people would learn of that particular knowledge. When he left, the Prophet (SAW) said that the man was angel Jubril who had come to teach them their religion. He also gave an example of the battles of Badr and Uhud.

Moving to the third articles of faith, the author states that although the Muslims have the Quran as their religious book, they are supposed to believe in the revealed books of others like the Taurah, and the Injil.

While other religions do not affirm the prophethood of Muhammad (saw), it is a necessity for Muslims to believe in the revealed books. The author explains that prophets were sent to not just the Arabs, but to other nations and communities as well. Hence, the authenticity of their prophethood cannot be sidelined. He shows that the Quran states that prophets were sent at some point to different people and nations, hence the Quran makes it incumbent on every Muslim to believe in all prophets. Islam acknowledges the source of other prophets. He explains that the foundation of sending prophets to other regions has prepared the ground for a universal prophet, provision of which is not present in other religions.

Prayer is a very important factor in all kinds of religion. The modes of prayer differ according to religion though. The author states that worship is prescribed for the sake of the believer as the praise of Allah by adherents does not remove a dime from His Majesty. The author explains with a quote from the Quran that prayers prevent the worshipper from indulging in anything that is not decent. The institution of prayer in Islam as explained by the author talks on the five daily prayers; the dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and night prayer. He explains that prayer can be said in a congregation and also individually.

Spending in the cause of Allah is mandatory for Muslims as there is an institutionalized and non-institutionalised mode of spending for Muslims. The author states clearly that the Holy Quran is clear on which spending Allah will accept or reject.

On the topic of Hajj, the author explains that it is a re-enactment of what happened in the building of the holy Kaaba, and Hagar’s search for water in the run between Safar and Marwa.

Here, the author talks of fasting as a developed institution in Islam. He states clearly that there are two types of fasting; obligatory and optional. Understanding that Muslims follow a lunar calendar, it then means that each month changes according to the movement of the moon. Fasting in Islam begins with the appearance of dawn and ends with the sunset. He explains though that fasting is not just to refrain from food, but also from vain talk, quarrels, fights, and from any occupation that is not of a true believer.

Apart from the pillars of Islam, the author discusses the Holy War and the difference between predestiny and free will. The issue of the Holy War relates to the instrument of propagation of the religion. Seeing as the religion of Islam is tagged as a religion of using violence as a means to spread its message, the author clearly explains that the Quran acknowledged other prophets and absolves them of the use of coercion in relation to the spread of their message. It, therefore, cannot be said that it is the said Quran that cries for war and bloodshed. The author explains here that the Holy War called the Jihad is a holy campaign, and with the help of the Quran sparks a spiritual revolution in the world. He emphasizes though that there can be defensive war in the case of an attack by other people.

The concept of life after death is one that has troubled followers of all religion alike. There are some though who deny that there is any life after death.

In my opinion, the significance of this work in the understanding of the basics of Islam would not only help adherents of Islam in understanding the source and origin of their religion, but it would also help scholars, philosophers, people of knowledge, and people of other religion to know more about the religion of Islam. In a time where no one has the ease and patience to listen to a long lecture regarding the history of Islam and the necessity to follow such a cause, this book serves as a summary that explains in the simplest of form the religion of Islam.

HUZUR APPOINTS MAULVI AZEEM AS NEW PRINCIPAL JAMIATUL MUBASHIREEN

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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The worldwide head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (May Almighty God be his Helper) has approved the appointment of Maulvi Abdul Azeem Ahmed as the new principal of Jamiatul Mubashireen (Ahmadiyya School of Theology) Ilaro, Ogun State.

The appointment of Maulvi Azeem who replaces Maulvi Nadeem Waseem takes immediate effect. He was hitherto the vice principal of the institution.

Born in April 1982 Maulvi Abdul Azeem was the first child of the fourth generation of Ahmadiyya Jama’at in his family and completed his O’Level education in 1997 at Government Pilot High School in Kotli, Azad Kashmir Pakistan.

He got admission into Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah same year. In 1999 he passed the Intermediate Examination (FA) as a private candidate with Grade B from Faisal Abad Board of Intermediate. In 2001, he completed his programme in Arabic Fadhil as a private candidate with Grade A+ from Faisal Abad Board of Intermediate, surpassing past records and therefore received a gold medal and Certificate of Excellence. Maulvi Azeem eventually completed his studies at Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah in 2004 under the category ‘’Shahid’’.

His first point of call was a village called Khanamiyanwali District Narowal where he was posted to, as a missionary and served for six months before being posted to Nigeria on the 11th of November 2005 to serve as a teacher at Jamiatul Mubashireen Nigeria. He was made the Acting Principal of the institution sometimes in 2006 for four months in the absence of the then principal, Maulvi Imtiaz. He was appointed the vice principal in 2010 and has been working in that capacity since then.

His quest for further education led to his enrolment for Masters Degree in Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and he emerged the best graduating student from the department. For this feat, he received a medal and Honorary Certificate from the Khalifah at the 2017 Germany Jalsa Salana.

He was a member of the immediate past The Truth Editorial Board, National Tabligh Strategy Committee and has also been working in the different standing committee of Majlis Mushawarat Nigeria.

In 2017, the supreme leader of the community appointed him as the Head Ummul Alsinah Project in Central Research Cell Rabwah Pakistan and was still active in the project up till now.

Maulvi Azeem has therefore requested for fervent prayers from all and sundry for a successful and hitch free regime as the head of the institution.

President Buhari Re-Elected

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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President Muhammadu Buhari has been re-elected in a keenly contested 2019 Nigeria’s Presidential election.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made the pronouncement at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

According to him, President Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) garnered total votes of 15,191,847 from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 36 States in the country to defeat the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,262978 votes.

The election was a two horse race between, Muhammadu Buhari of APC and Atiku Abubakar, PDP, pulling crowds and votes in the six geo-political zones of the country.  While the President Buhari enjoyed the support of states in the North-East, North Central, North-West and few from South-West; Alhaji Abubakar gained incredible support from South East, South-South and some from South-West and North.  In the end, the incumbent President won the election by a margin of 3,928,869 votes.

In his gratitude message to Nigerians, President Buhari promised that the new administration will intensify efforts in security, restructuring of the economy and fighting corruption.

“We have laid down the foundation and we are committed to seeing matters to the end.  We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out,” he stated.

While thanking millions of volunteers, self-appointed overseers, canvassers, agents, escorts and sentries who sacrificed so much of their time and resources to ensure success of the election, he expressed his sadness over the grievous loss of lives during the election and vowed that security agencies will step up their efforts to protect voters in the forthcoming State elections.

President Buhari said: “Although Saturday’s elections were relatively peaceful, troublemakers in a handful of states attempted to disrupt an otherwise orderly process.  Security agencies will bring to justice all those arrested in the process.  I would like to commend our security agencies, as severely overstretched as they are, for handling the difficult task of securing the country during the election period.”

 Neighboring Countries Presidents congratulate PMB

Few minutes after INEC pronounced President Buhari as the winner of the 2019 elections, three Presidents from the West African had sent congratulatory messages to the Presidency.

According to Femi Adesina, a Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, ”the Presidents are President Nana Koffi-Addo of Ghana, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and Macky Sall of Senegal, who himself just won re-election for a second term.”

“The Presidents felicitated with President Buhari, saying his reelection was a demonstration of the confidence Nigerians had in him and wishing him greater exploits.”

Democracy will not be emasculated in Nigeria:

The flag-bearer of the main opposition party, Atiku Abubakar has however refused to concede defeat and congratulate President Buhari as he declared that the February 23 polls were not free and fair.  According to him, there were “manifest and premeditated” malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.  He, therefore, promised to seek justice through democratic means by heading to court.

He said; “With regards to the Presidential elections that took place on February 23, 2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.  The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship.

“If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.  However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019.  It is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.  Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019, sham election and will be challenging it in court,” Alhaji Abubakar submitted.

 

Ahmadiyya Commences Women Empowerment Programme

By
Nurudeen Akinreti
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In its efforts to promote poverty alleviation programmes in the country, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria has kick-started Women Empowerment Programme at Jamia Ahmadiyya Ilaro, Ogun State.

The empowerment scheme, which was planned and organized by the newly constituted Economic Empowerment and Development Committee (EEDC) will run for three (3) months. Pioneer beneficiaries would be trained on sowing and crafts making. Equipment on the ground for training are sewing (straight and steaming) and over-locking machines.

Dr. Mashhud Fashola, the Amir, while commissioning the programme, gave thanks to Almighty God for actualizing the dream of EEDC and stated that the objective of the programme was to eliminate poverty.

“Those who drive away poverty are those loved by Almighty God. The major objective of religion is taking care of humanity at large. We must ensure no one lacks the basic needs, food, clothing, and shelter. Hence, the objective of the empowerment scheme. The programme is laudable and divine. If the government fails to make provision for basic needs, we as a religious organization must not fail in this aspect,” Amir noted.

Amir appreciated the efforts of the Naib (Deputy) Amir South-West, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Alatoye and the Chairman of EEDC for taking the initiatives as well as providing material and financial support towards the success of the training.

He said: “It is incumbent on all of us to put down whatever we have in the cause of Allah. The Committee is commended for this great initiative.”

Dr. Fashola believed poverty can only be alleviated through legitimate means such as skill acquisition and development. He described skill development as a major step towards promoting gainful employment in the country.

Alhaji Alatoye while making his speech, congratulated the first set of candidates selected by the committee for the training and urged them to maximally make use of the rare privilege. He said: “it is my belief that the rules of the programme have been shared with all the participants. Please ensure that the rules are strictly adhered to as business discipline is part of the training. I also implore you to listen to and obey your instructors for easy administration.”

He affirmed that the goal of the programme was not to make the participants become worldly in any way but rather to improve their economic conditions to enable them to serve Almighty God better.

He stated: “It is important to mention that by the special grace of God, Lajna Imaillah (Female Wing of AMJN) has been leading various financial sacrifices and it is aimed that this training will contribute to it immensely.”

The Naib Amir emphasized that the programme was a national and continuous programme and that the dates of the next session will be fixed immediately at the expiration of the session. He also promised that the committee will put in place separate training hall and accommodation facilities from next session.

Coordinator of the training, Mrs. Maryam Sanni said 20 candidates were selected out of 30 applicants. She said the aim was to train the candidates so that they will empower themselves. She also said catering services will soon be added to the list of courses.

According to the Amir, the best three (3) candidates at the end of the programme in April will be fully empowered by the management while the others will be given financial support.

Among the entourage of the Amir to the programme include the General Secretary AMJN, Alhaji Abbas Iromini; the National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Abdul Ghaniy Idris and the, Jalsa Officer, Alhaji Mufadhil Bankole.

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