Humanity

As the world continue to battle with the economic hardship created by the ravaging and deadly Coronavirus Disease, otherwise known as COVID- 19, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria have distributed food items worth millions of naira to the poor and vulnerable within Ojokoro Area, Ijaiye in Lagos State. The food items were distributed to over 500 families by the Humanity First International Nigeria Branch; a non-governmental organization founded by Ahmadiyya Community saddled with the responsibility of providing humanitarian services to the people affected by natural disasters. Other activities of Humanity First International include women empowerment, knowledge for life, gift of sight, water for all, medical services, disaster service, food for life, orphan care, among others. The organization has been firmly established in 52 countries. The Amir (National Head) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria Alh.(Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, represented by the Naib Amir (Deputy National Head) Finance and Administration Alh.(Engr.) Mufadhil Bankole at the handing over of the food items to Humanity First, enjoined Nigerians to be law-abiding, obey the stay at home directives and implement all other precautionary measures outlined by the government and health authorities to halt the spread of the pandemic. He said the continuous provision of palliatives to the poor should be the social responsibility of government at all levels as well as well-meaning Nigerians, groups, and organizations in order to cushion the effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which has now affected over 180 countries in the world with more than two million people infected. The Muslim organisation also donated food items and face masks to the Nigerian Union of Journalists as a mark of recognition of the tremendous works of the media in sensitising and enlightening the public on the pandemic. The items were received by the Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Lagos State, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, who later appreciated the kind gesture of the Muslim body. Alh. Bankole further disclosed that the local branches of the Muslim Community across Nigeria had earlier provided food items and relief materials to the vulnerable at the grassroots.

By Mansoor Clarke There is no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic is a terrible state of affairs. The loss of even one life is one too many, and the ramifications of the outbreak will, it is predicted, be felt for years to come. But as we stock up on tinned foods, dust off the family board games and log in to the office conference call, we should remember, that what we in our seemingly impregnable societies see as a state of emergency, others around the world experience as regular day to day life. Covid-19 has laid bare the vulnerabilities in a system that we believed to be unbreakable. From disruption in the transport and education systems to power outages and the unavailability of food or medical treatment, these may feel like unprecedented times in many people’s lives, yet there are others around the world who very much see this as the norm. In 2018 I was fortunate enough to be sent as a missionary to Sierra Leone for a few months. While I was there, I saw both what you would expect from a bustling center of culture and business, but I also met with some people who had never had electricity at home and didn’t have access to clean drinking water, let alone medical assistance or proper education. There is nothing wrong with feeling the pressure of today’s predicament, but it should lead us to building a strong sense of empathy and compassion for others who have to endure much worse from birth. If ever we feel that ‘this is too difficult’, try to look at the circumstances of those who don’t have the privileges and ease that we often take for granted. This concept is explained to us in a narration of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) when he stated: ‘Look at those below you and do not look at those above you, for it is the best way not to belittle the favours of Allah.’ (Bukhari and Muslim) Just a few days ago a friend of mine dropped off a 3kg bag of uncooked pasta, I had a time deciding whether to go with fusilli or penne. The very fact that I had the luxury to be able to make that choice and yet still feel pressured speaks volumes about the luxuries and ease we have become accustomed to. The fact of the matter is that there are many innocent people who are losing their lives as a result of this tragic pandemic. Where we mourn for them, and applaud the NHS for their mammoth efforts, we should also harbor and hold the same admiration and affection for those around the world who endure the very same thing, but all year round. As we endeavor towards finding a vaccine and a cure for Covid-19, remember that around 300-600 million people a year suffer from malaria, a disease which in most cases is completely treatable, and yet a million of those cases still end in death. God willing, the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic will soon come to an end, but with its passing, we should not forget the relative suffering that we have undergone over the past few months. We have had just a small taste of what others around the world are forced to endure all the time. The difference being of course, that their ‘state of emergency’ won’t come to an end in 3 months’ time. So over the next few weeks, while we make the most of family time, playing carrom board with the kids, or tutting over the hiccups in our video conference call, let’s also take a moment to contextualise our ‘suffering’. Take a moment to think about those that have lost their loved ones to this pandemic, and to those that have to endure these difficulties for the rest of their lives. If we do so, and inculcate the advice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), we just might start to appreciate the wonderous favours that Allah has bestowed upon us. About the Author: Mansoor Clarke is an Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community currently working in the community’s International Press and Media Office in London. He also serves on the Editorial Board of The Review of Religions. Source: The Review of Religions

Today, when the novel Covid-19 pandemic is ravaging the world, cleanliness, especially hand washing, has become a most prescribed means to forestall its further spread. Millions of dollars have been expended globally by governments and corporate bodies on advertising the importance of washing of hands in this trying time. This campaign of regular washing of hands has rent the air of the world through both the traditional and the new media. Scrubbing of public places and joints have also become regular duties in many cities around the world. It thus appears that all human beings are just waking up into a new culture and tradition! In his submission on “Disease Control via Handwashing: An Effective Tool in the Health and Safety Arsenal”, Michaels B. (2003) takes us to memory lane on how effective has handwashing been in containing diseases: “The history of handwashing practice is as old as dirt itself… Modern principles of handwashing (friction, dilution, disinfection and drying) were established long ago. Just as in architecture, personal and hand hygiene had a role in shaping history: the Greeks were victorious over the great naval fleet led by Xerxes because the Persian forces were incapacitated by dysentery…The human hand and its role in germ transmission, was well documented in ‘The Sources and Modes of Infection, 1910’, by Charles V. Chapin MD, one-time Boston health officer. Since the hands touch all parts of the body, other people, objects, domestic animals and food, it follows that a diverse microbial flora can exist on the hands. Hand transfer was thus identified as a significant mode of transmission for bacteria, such as Salmonella typhi (source of Typhoid Mary Mallon’s fever) parasites and viruses from person to person, in zigzag fashion: from person to surface, from surface to person, and from person to food. This explains the value of “hands free” hygiene systems seen in modern public facilities… And thus, as it has been and shall ever be, let’s all remember to wash our hands!!” Well, for those of us who attended primary schools before and around four decades ago – a period when the real Nigeria Education Policy held sway; we had the opportunity to be taught with the languages of our immediate environments. Where this writer attended primary school, Yorùbá was the language of communication both on the assembly ground and classrooms. This made the lessons to sink well in the mind. During the daily school assembly, several moral and ethic-ridden nursery rhymes in the local language were taught and must be recited by us every morning before matching to our respective classroom. One of such rhymes that still resonates in mind and which is apt in this Covid-19 era is reproduced below: Ìmọ́tótó;Ó lè ṣẹ́’gun àrùn gbogbo.Ìmọ́tótó ilé;Ìmọ́tótó eyín;Ìmọ́tótó ara;Ìmọ́tótó oúnjẹ;Ìmọ́tótó;Ó lè ṣẹ́gun àrùn gbogbo. Translation:Cleanliness;It can prevent every disease.Home CleaningCleanliness of teethBody hygieneFood hygiene.Cleanliness;It can prevent every disease. Additionally, once weekly in school, we were taken through practical session of cleaning that included clipping of nails, brushing of teeth with any available chewing stick, washing of our hands and faces, etc. These school extra-curricular activities complemented the daily routine of cleanings at home. Those were the days when civil responsibilities were held high by teachers above material rewards and pecuniary gains. Perceptions of cleanliness and dirtiness have been used as yardsticks with which individuals and groups of different social, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds are measured. Villages, cities and nations have also been assessed and ranked with scale of cleanliness. Countless similes and metaphors, too, have been employed by different linguistic entities to create mental images of how clean or dirty a person, animal, place or thing is. This article intends to bring home the Islamic concept of cleanliness as it relates to the current trend. It seeks to serve as a reminder for us who are already aware of the teaching, and also to inform those who may find it strange that the Islamic concept of cleanliness is so in-depth. Afterall, ‘For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning…’ [Romans 15:4] Islam is a religion that discusses all universal concepts in ways that every curious mind would have its own take-home. In contrast to what has been erroneously believed, teachings of Islam are meant for all mankind. The Holy Quran declares that the light it has come to beam knows no boundary. It says: اَللّٰہُ نُوۡرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ مَثَلُ نُوۡرِہٖ کَمِشۡکٰوۃٍ فِیۡہَا مِصۡبَاحٌ ؕ اَلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِیۡ زُجَاجَۃٍ ؕ اَلزُّجَاجَۃُ کَاَنَّہَا کَوۡکَبٌ دُرِّیٌّ یُّوۡقَدُ مِنۡ شَجَرَۃٍ مُّبٰرَکَۃٍ زَیۡتُوۡنَۃٍ لَّا شَرۡقِیَّۃٍ وَّ لَا غَرۡبِیَّۃٍ ۙ یَّکَادُ زَیۡتُہَا یُضِیۡٓءُ وَ لَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡہُ نَارٌ ؕ نُوۡرٌ عَلٰی نُوۡرٍ ؕ یَہۡدِی اللّٰہُ لِنُوۡرِہٖ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ یَضۡرِبُ اللّٰہُ الۡاَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۳۶ “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from a blessed tree — an olive — neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah knows all things full well”. [Q.24.36] The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, himself, who graciously conveyed the light to us was commanded in the Holy Qur’an chapter 7 verse 159, to inform all of mankind that he is a prophet to all. In Islam, every matter that has far-reaching effects on physical, moral and spiritual lives of man, including cleanliness, has been considered significant. Whereas, to many, cleanliness falls to the insignificant category of concepts; hence discussing it is a hair-splitting exercise. Holders of such notions have forgotten so quickly the maxim that ‘Great things are done by a series of small things brought together’. Cleanliness is established in Islam as a part of faith.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. He is one, without any partner. I also affirm that Muhammad Mustapha (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah and His servant. We invoke Allah’s blessings on Muhammad and his household and on his true followers until the Day of Judgment. I wish to congratulate the entire Muslim Ummah, especially my brothers and sisters in Nigeria, for the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast. The holy month of Ramadan was observed in an unusual way this year, occasioned by the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus also known as Covid-19. Our condolences go to all those who lost their loved ones due to the pandemic. We pray for the quick recovery of those afflicted and for Allah’s protection on all of us. We urge all Nigerians to faithfully follow the guidelines issued by the government and health authorities. We should seek forgiveness for our sins and beseech the Almighty Allah for His mercy. We urge all Muslims to imbibe the lessons taught by the Ramadan and to live our lives in practical demonstration of such lessons in order to improve our relationships with our creator. This is the only way we can claim to be fulfilling the purpose of our creation. The intensity of our prayers during the Ramadan should continue. We should constantly pray for our country, leaders at all levels and all citizens. To create the right environment for the acceptance of our prayers, we should live pure lives, devoid of sinful acts, hatred, disobedience, nepotism, corruption and other vices – most of which were avoided during the Ramadan. Going back to these acts is a vitiation of our sacrifices during the Holy month of Ramadan. We should see our disposition to unrighteousness during the last one month as a template to go through the next eleven months before the next Ramadan. As Muslims, we are expected to be our brothers’ keeper. We should rededicate our lives to the service of Allah and of humanity. It is against the noble teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) for Muslims to be engaged in rebellion, religious intolerance, corruption in all of its ramifications and arrogant behaviour. Remembering the Day of Judgment and the consequences of our actions here on earth should be enough to keep us off of these vices but unfortunately, we behave as if there is no life after death. We call on our political leaders and all those who are in position of authority to adhere strictly to the rule of law and to maintain justice. There can be no peace in the absence of justice. Our public office holders should harness our God-given resources to develop the country, rather than concentrating on selfish interests. As citizens, we also owe it a duty to support the government by being lawful citizens and doing all those things that are required of us to develop the country, as the government alone cannot achieve this goal. We pray for Allah’s guidance on our leaders, His mercy on all of us and the acceptance of our prayers. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak!! Eid Mubarak!!! SignedAlatoye Folorunso AzeezAmir (National Head)

As a General Practitioner, it was only a matter of time before getting infected with the coronavirus. Despite working with full PPE, it remains a huge challenge to avoid a Covid-19 infection as we’re exposed daily to it through patients. After catching it, I kept a daily journal about my symptoms and parameters. On a Thursday when I came home, I was extremely tired which was not unusual due to a lot of workload in recent months. Suddenly I felt very dizzy. During the night, my fever started with chills and night sweats and I was deprived of sleep. I started with isolation in my home to prevent spreading this to my family. My dad wrote a letter immediately to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper. The next day my fever increased as I felt more ill. Muscle pains and cramps started all over my body, especially in the back, neck and legs. It was impossible to leave my bed. I also had a runny nose and a sore throat. During the day, I started to develop gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (no vomiting), abdominal cramps and diarrhea. I lost my appetite and noticed the total loss of my taste and my smell. On day three, my fever remained however the muscle pains got tolerable, but I still could not leave my bed. The upper respiratory symptoms (throat pain and runny nose) were now accompanied with a non-dry cough. This cough was paired with a lot of mucus which led sometimes to moments of shortness of breath. A chest pain started, it felt like a heavy pressure in my chest, leading to breathing difficulties. In these episodes of shortness of breath and chest pain, an anxious feeling would overcome me. This was something which I never have felt before. My gastrointestinal symptoms vanished; however, my appetite was still lost. On day four, my fever finally dropped, and I could get out of my bed. My body still felt cold, but I was very happy that my muscle pains disappeared totally. However, my non-dry cough increased in frequency and intensity, especially at night. The chest pain became continuous and these both led to shortness of breath. The positive element of this day was that my appetite was slowly coming back. I could eat fruits and vegetables. Over the next few days I was feeling much better than the past days. The cough turned into a dry cough however I experienced no more breathing problems. Occasionally I felt out of breath, for example going up the stairs or walking in the garden. I also performed a nose swab test on myself to check for Covid-19. It is an unpleasant test but not painful. It was positive for SARS-Cov-2 or Covid-19 infection. By the grace of Allah, symptoms reduced as the month went by and my sense of smell and taste returned. I still felt extreme fatigue, but I was recovering. On day 21, I did a blood test to check for antibodies against Covid-19. It is important as a doctor to know if I have antibodies as my job exists of being in daily contact with Covid-19 patients. The blood test showed that my body had developed antibodies against it. From what I have experienced, a Covid-19 infection is different than a regular flu or a common cold. The unusual and disturbing symptoms were mostly shortness of breath and chest pain which lead to uncertainty. Also, the loss of smell and taste are very common symptoms. However symptoms vary from person to person but, for the most part, have a common trend. It is also important to quarantine at home immediately, as soon as the first symptoms occur, and preferable in one’s own room (with a separate bathroom) to avoid other family members getting ill. In the period of my illness, sadly everyone at home got sick at the same time. Before and during my illness, I was continuously taking homeopathic medicines advised by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Before the infection, I was taking AAG (Aconite, Arsenic Alb, Gelsemium 200) two times a week and Chelidonium Majus (1x) three times a week. After experiencing the first symptoms on day 1, I added BIDO (Bacillinum, Influenzium, Diphtherinum, Oscillococcinum 200) and Chelidonium Majus (1x), both twice a day, for two weeks. I kept taking then until my symptoms disappeared, and then returned to the previous prescription. It is also important to stay cautious as this is a new illness. It is advised to have a thermometer and a saturation (or an oxygen meter) at home to follow the disease properly, it will also lead to appropriate communication with your doctor which are mostly telephone based right now. Fever usually starts above 38°C (100°F) however some studies suggest that the body can feel feverish from 37°C (98°F) in a Covid-19 infection. An oxygen or a pulse meter measures the blood oxygen in the blood through a sensor placed on the fingertip. Normal oxygen in the blood is between 96-99% and it is a good parameter to evaluate the clinical condition when feeling shortness of breath. Guidelines recommend that when the blood oxygen is 92% or below, one should contact their doctor. Covid-19 infection gives an array of symptoms. Fever usually comes with chills and night sweats which leads to excessive loss of water. Thus, is it very important to drink a lot of water. Also, if clothes get soaked from sweating, changing them immediately can avoid quick temperature changes. For the fever and muscle pains, your best option is taking only paracetamol (acetaminophen) occasionally. I would take only before sleeping to have a good night rest (8-10 hours of sleep). The loss of appetite happened due to several reasons but mainly because of the nausea feeling. For this, my father, a homeopathic doctor, would give me Ipecacuanha 30 which gave me quick relief from nausea. Besides patience not much can be done for the loss of the taste and smell. During

It was interesting participating in the national webinar on Tabligh (religious outreach) organized by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria earlier today. Although, toward the end of the 5-hour national programme, a respected lady walked into the premises of my office at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat mosque, Lokoja, Kogi State, and so, I had to come out of the mission house to meet her. “I am Mrs. Yakub. We’ve just parked into a building in the neighbourhood and I’m directed here to make an enquiry whether a daily Qur’anic class for children is being run here,” she said after our initial exchange of greeting of peace. “Yes,” I answered, and further gave her some details about the school, adding that though we’d temporarily shut down due to the Covid-19 lockdown but hoping to resume soonest. Impressed, perhaps, by the short introduction I made about the school and the missionary activities of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and service to humanity, she further asked me whether there is an organized class for adult women. She explained that she’s an ex-Christian who has just recently converted to Islam and deeply interested to learn more about the Islamic faith and practice. The sound of the words “ex-Christian” and “new-convert” really prompted a wave of impetus in me such that after responding to her enquiry in the affirmative, I briefly made some remarks on the peaceful teachings of Islam and how it has nothing to do with terrorism, killing and violence. She, too, corroborated with some impressive comments on Islam and particularly told me how she’d found her way to the fold of Islam. During our conversation, this respected lady who belongs to Ebira extraction of Kogi State let me know that her eldest child, a 9-year old girl, has been battling with some congenital anomalies that have rendered her dumb and cripple ever since birth. She mentioned how she’d taken the girl to various hospitals across various states of the federation but to no avail. More particularly, she related how, as a distressed mother desperate for whatever could cure or whoever could heal her child, she was taken by two of her siblings to their pastor who owns a church in Lagos for prayer and miracle, possibly. Unfortunately, however, instead of encountering a church of solace for her, she was disappointed finding herself in what could best be described as a ‘business center’ where the pastor, whom her younger sisters had earlier glorified to the high heaven, was only engaging in a sheer commercialization of prayer as a means of religious vulturism for materialistic ends. “You are going to pay a sum of one hundred and twenty two thousand naira,” she quoted the self-styled man of God as billing her. “But, what is that for, sir?” she asked. Justifying, the pastor replied that the amount is “for both the holy water and anointing oil.” With a disenchanted facial expression, she instantly whispered to her sisters of her readiness to leave. “My inner spirit doesn’t trust this pastor,” she thought within. But the enchanted sisters stubbornly tried to persuade her to play along. They entreated that, although they’d anticipated nothing less than a disapproving reaction from her, but she’s got no option other than to give the pastor a trial. Unconvinced, she rose and walked out; leaving behind only a vain promise that she will come back to the pastor. She said she further warned her sisters that if they don’t desist from going to the pastor, he was going to milk a hell out of them. But the obdurate sisters foolhardily persisted, and not until they’d fully paid the price before they eventually left the church for another. Ending her narrative, she remarked how, to her dismay, the practice of commercializing prayer has become rampant in our contemporary time among many of the clergymen across various religions. “Yea, you’re right,” I said concurringly, and went ahead to relate similar cases I had gathered. I told her that, just the way she’d walked into my compound, one Mr. Onimisi, a Muslim youth, had recently come in and related to me a similar experience he’d had from such kind of clergymen, an Imam, in this case. As he entered my office and we began to converse, he told me that he’s come to join the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. “That’s an interesting and inspiring decision,” I exclaimed impressively. Conversing further, however, my intuition beaconed at me to ask him what had inspired this decision of his. So, I asked, “Could you, please, tell me why you’ve decided to become an Ahmadi Muslim?” Responding, he told me that two things had influenced his decision. Firstly, his negative experiences from the way Islam is being practised in his place. The second reason is that through his recent attendance of Friday services at the Ahmadiyya mosque here, he’s been exposed to the pristine teachings of Islam being preached and practiced by Ahmadiyya. Narrating some instances of the previous disappointing experiences he’d had with some Muslim clergymen, he said once he and his friend both went to an Imam in his hometown for prayer. On being welcomed, they complained of their continued joblessness in spite of their qualifications and persistent searching for job and then requested him to pray for them. To their surprise, the Imam did not waste time before billing them. “Each of you will have to pay a sum of ten thousand naira,” he told them. He said, although he received this with a negative impression, yet, he still felt he need not bothered too much by it anyway. However, what next was a conversation that lasted for some minutes as they continued to negotiate the price. “Please, could you kindly reduce the price for us?” “We’re extremely lacking financial means; even we’d had to borrow the transport fare we paid to come here,” they begged. Trying to concede to them, the Imam asked how much they can afford. They said they would appreciate if he could collect three