tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37349188553710824622024-03-13T20:10:51.335-07:00WALKING WITH MEAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-73867942110324291852016-06-13T05:16:00.000-07:002016-06-13T12:02:07.604-07:00Lessons From My Son<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My wife and son had both been practicing on how he would start walking. He was going to clock one in a few weeks’ time. Sometimes I joined them to encourage him when he stood up to balance and tried to take the first steps and at other times, I just watched him in earnest as he fell several times and did not hesitate to stand up and try again. He did not look worried or sad or dejected when he fell on his bottom. He did not cry or wait a long time before he tried again. Sometimes, I looked at his clear, beautiful eyes and I wanted to ask him so many questions. I wanted to ask him where he got his strength to stand up and try again. I wanted to ask him how he looked so happy even when he fell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I had his strength, I wish I had his resilience, I wish I had his smile even when things did not seem so good. My son did not answer my questions, he just smiled at me. But then I think his smile had all the answers. That even if sometimes life was hard, in the end, everything is going to be alright. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWkVTMUP79HWy10WiLeC9NZysG820mPskpCcK0keRaTTyxJbWWUjKPoq_lHuLYpyuyVaxalqwkOVT5WyYXatcd6OBKCDYdM1JVztTgudtPZT4AmmaJp6xltuwctnFlCA_FCKDaGYcKgIR/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWkVTMUP79HWy10WiLeC9NZysG820mPskpCcK0keRaTTyxJbWWUjKPoq_lHuLYpyuyVaxalqwkOVT5WyYXatcd6OBKCDYdM1JVztTgudtPZT4AmmaJp6xltuwctnFlCA_FCKDaGYcKgIR/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘That’s my boy, come on you can do it’, we all cheered as my son took his first steps on the 12<sup>th</sup> day in January. He smiled happily as his mum grabbed him when he almost tripped on his 5<sup>th</sup> step. We were both so proud of him. It was indeed a joyous moment and now when I call his mom and ask how he is doing as regards his walking. She says proudly that our son now walks confidently as if he never failed at it. I smile with happiness as I realize the great lesson my son taught me… NEVER GIVE UP.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj121_3PdeAqi_SOgxe-U7o7LA8_A19hr6nZyT1Xagqnpph2TyUBuQFPSaVgpN73f_z6dAJFMvQj13GPP2v9c2r5hnnHq9vMT4io2bhQr_EcX1yHp1bg6uZdUB0clYXFQ_V4Oq-NxXhPPv2/s1600/robert_father_child_silhouette1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj121_3PdeAqi_SOgxe-U7o7LA8_A19hr6nZyT1Xagqnpph2TyUBuQFPSaVgpN73f_z6dAJFMvQj13GPP2v9c2r5hnnHq9vMT4io2bhQr_EcX1yHp1bg6uZdUB0clYXFQ_V4Oq-NxXhPPv2/s320/robert_father_child_silhouette1.gif" width="172" /></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-48393808765252560892015-02-03T19:29:00.000-08:002015-02-09T00:13:33.399-08:00SO WHAT HAPPENED TO MUS'AB?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Al'amin. Allah blessed my wife and I with our precious sprout a wonderful baby boy and his name is... Abdus-Samad. Surprised! yes, I know you are. What happened to Mus'ab? may come as a
surprise to some as a lot of people had expected that my son would be named Musa’b
after my favorite companion, Mus’ab bn Umayr in fact a lot of people called him
Musa’b even from the comments on my Facebook wall when I announced his arrival a kunya (A kunya is a refers to a bearer's first-born son or daughter or a nickname) people had attributed to me even before I got married.
Nevertheless, when my son arrived I suggested to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">superwoman</i>
(that’s what a friend here in KFUPM called my wife when he learnt she began and
wrote her exam on the day she put to bed, I’ve decided to let the nickname
stick) that we should give my Dad the honor of naming our first child and though
I could sense<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it that she was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>little skeptical about it, after all, her
friends often called her Umm Mus'ab and she like it and was used to it so I understood
but then she succumbed to my suggestion since she realized the wisdom therein.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8gBZ-4EiywYoDMegS15aH_NBtFwAa7XVdkrePuVSTRmVrvcdkaF7c1z8LwWd1EzmqTfHXcXrr_TgFT7GnRYaAnCGb8XzhgQxNj1vx4ewc70SUNQQm_iY7Zh08TikpbpM5PmU73_HpHDk/s1600/father-holding-baby-in-air-silhouette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8gBZ-4EiywYoDMegS15aH_NBtFwAa7XVdkrePuVSTRmVrvcdkaF7c1z8LwWd1EzmqTfHXcXrr_TgFT7GnRYaAnCGb8XzhgQxNj1vx4ewc70SUNQQm_iY7Zh08TikpbpM5PmU73_HpHDk/s1600/father-holding-baby-in-air-silhouette.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My son is really special. He is
similar to a photon in the sense that his arrival promoted a lot of people just
like the absorption of a photon promotes electron to higher energy levels. His
arrival promoted my wife and I to Mom and Dad, he promoted my parents and
in-laws to grandparents, he promoted my siblings and brothers in-law to Uncles
and my sister-in-law to aunt. He promoted my grandmother to great grandmother.
So you see he’s really special. Though some people believe that it is a custom
amongst the Yorubas that a first child is named by his grandfather, however
this is not common at least not now. I do recall when I was in Secondary school
during the so called ‘summer’ (I don’t know why they call it summer since
there’s no summer in Nigeria) coaching lessons in Regal college Sagamu. One of
the teachers who was (is) a Christian had a daughter who was named Mariam. So
one day, someone inquired why his daughter was named Mariam after all he was a
Christian. He narrated that he was from a Muslim family and so as the customs
of the Yoruba people his father had the honor of naming his first child which
was his daughter and so his wise father named her Mariam. That day, I realized
the wisdom in what my teacher’s father did. He must have still had hope that
his progeny would someday revert to Islam and so he gave his granddaughter a
special name, a name that might someday lead her to Islam her fitrah. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The thought of me giving my
father the honor of naming it just didn’t occur to me. It was something I had
thought of since last year when I asked my longtime friend Abdulkareem Bello
(now Abu Umar) why he named his son Umar after all his kuniya was Abu Abdul-A’alim.
He said he gave his father the honor of naming his son and then that moment I
realized the wisdom in what he did. Abdulkareem Bello and I have been friends
since his pre-degree days in Lautech (then I was in my first year). We were
both regular guys in the beginning and he much more than I did utilized the
advantage of being in the shelter, of becoming a stranger. He became a student
of knowledge attending Madrasah, Halaqahs and even teaching people how to read
the Qur’an though I guess<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the only thing
we had in common in our respective<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>final
year was that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he went on to be the
coordinator of the Muslims in his faculty(Engineering) while I held an
equivalent position in mine(Sciences). However, amongst my friends who became
better Muslims while in school, Abu Umar is one of those very few people who
applied wisdom with the Islamic knowledge he acquired (and that’s why I have a
lot of respect for him) unlike most of us that allow our youthful exuberance in
the name of ‘Agboye’ make things worse rather than make things better. We
forget that there was a time that we didn’t know anything at all and because
now we have had the opportunity to listen to a few lectures, understand some
things about the religion then we can just change things suddenly or feel we
are at a ‘higher level’, we end up cutting family ties and in the end we end up
not achieving that desired change. How soon we forget that the little we knew
or even the fact that we remained Muslims before really understanding the deen
is due to the fact that our parents were Muslims. I recall when I was really
young, I had performed ablution and later I went to urinate. My mum told me to
perform ablution again that my ablution was invalidated. That was the day I
knew that urinating invalidated ablution and my mum taught me that and so now
if I may have more Islamic knowledge than my mother wouldn’t it be foolish of
me if I did not apply wisdom in trying to correct her if she did something
wrong with respect to the deen. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRguEw1Ic6RQgraoZy7qpN2QdaPqWwDBPkCg5L21Y4MQ8xsu35-3N-4Jz43tk4C6KsVLriOTARbPm1kL71d6jbgC_CHAzOni4CFduDdP6nUuFL9wxfAmEd06bGNkZU9qBXxplHXY8lyLt2/s1600/772641_stock-photo-muslim-arabic-traditional-oriental-family-walking-together-beautiful-ambient-in-front-of-the-mosque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRguEw1Ic6RQgraoZy7qpN2QdaPqWwDBPkCg5L21Y4MQ8xsu35-3N-4Jz43tk4C6KsVLriOTARbPm1kL71d6jbgC_CHAzOni4CFduDdP6nUuFL9wxfAmEd06bGNkZU9qBXxplHXY8lyLt2/s1600/772641_stock-photo-muslim-arabic-traditional-oriental-family-walking-together-beautiful-ambient-in-front-of-the-mosque.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
So despite your ‘better’
understanding of the deen, you can still be humble to your parents and honor
them with the great responsibility of naming your child. You make your parents
feel special that you still hold them in high esteem despite the differences
you might have in the understanding of Islam. It is really a good way of
strengthening family ties as long as the name is a good name in the
requirements of the Sharia. So what happened to Abu Mus'ab?…well I am still here...is
just that we might have to wait a little while for that kunya to be official, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe a few years and Allah knows best. For
now, Abu Abdus-Samad will do since that is confirmed. May Allah bless Abdus-Samad, keep his feet firm on the right path and grant him good in this world and the hereafter. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com2King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Saudi Arabia26.3048047 50.14980420000006226.2763362 50.109463700000063 26.333273199999997 50.190144700000062tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-90063361006045425472015-01-13T00:11:00.004-08:002015-01-13T00:20:41.722-08:00CROSSING THE BORDER LINE-(Al-Barkah)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I flashed back as I
saw the tall tower as it glowed brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You could not miss it. It was the tallest building in the school. The
landmark that gave KFUPM its recognition. Am I really here? I ask myself and
then those words come to the surface. Words I had written myself but now it
seemed as though someone else did-Words that were inspired by God’s words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘For those who
have learned to love chemistry despite all odds, for it is possible that one
dislikes a thing which is good for oneself and that one loves a thing which is
bad for one. But Allah knows and we know not’</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn9DZY4OBefUGlkmW2ZymxZaPWcfqR2w-SrKLGGzeQxEBAVaXYOMSCZhxhhflZGz23X7iEXJaZUzzar7HSVi1VLDNFn4vepNryJdYfIdpS08_a3HwJMHgd_3Vo3E0CCjbfLl5EWr3L-h5/s1600/tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn9DZY4OBefUGlkmW2ZymxZaPWcfqR2w-SrKLGGzeQxEBAVaXYOMSCZhxhhflZGz23X7iEXJaZUzzar7HSVi1VLDNFn4vepNryJdYfIdpS08_a3HwJMHgd_3Vo3E0CCjbfLl5EWr3L-h5/s1600/tower.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Those were the
words from my post- </span><a href="http://mujeebunleashed.blogspot.com/2012/03/crossing-borderline-my-mom-smiled-as.html"><i>CROSSING
THE BORDER LINE-The Beginning</i></a><i>. </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Words that made me recall my mother’s words a few days before I left-‘Tolu,
is this not the Chemistry you did not want to do and now you won a Scholarship
with it’, I think she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and
reminded me of how grateful I should be…after all I never expected to be chosen
here… to be in one of the best schools in the region. I did not even meet the
requirements. Yes! I did not and I was here, with some of the best brains
across Africa and Asia as colleagues. ALHAMDULILLAH RA<span id="goog_1533052872"></span><span id="goog_1533052873"></span>BBIL ALAMIN. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In life there are
some actions that serve as the initiation step for a great reaction…Sometimes
these initiation step seems insignificant just like how insignificant Umar bn
Khattab’s (may God be pleased with him) night walks lead to discovery of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the sincere lady who gave<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Umar bn Abdul-Aziz birth. So was how Abass
Afolabi Yahaya’s Facebook message to me in February, 2013 seemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A message that served as the initiation step
which led to many propagation steps for me. A message that facilitated my
getting married (the greatest of all the reactions) and that was why when I got
married last December, I acknowledged him then, for he was amongst those who
encouraged me to do the bravest things have ever done in my life so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A message that led me to King Fahd University
of Petroleum and Minerals. I will forever be grateful to Allah and then Abass
Yahaya. For even till now I wonder why amongst all the people he knew how come
he sent me a message to apply to KFUPM. We were not really close in LAUTECH
just regular brothers that greeted each other. We did not finish from the same
department. It was even later that I knew we lived close to each other in
Sagamu. In life we all have people that will serve as a means by which good
happens to one and also otherwise. These people one cannot forget them because
what they did even though it might seem insignificant even to some of them you,
the recipient knows that there seemingly insignificant action was not
insignificant. In fact it is the actual opposite. I pray Allah sets right his
affairs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I recalled how hopeless
I felt when I saw the CGPA requirement for KFUPM’s application 3.0 on a scale
of 4…that was equivalent to 3.75 on a scale of 5. My CGPA, 3.62. I was the guy
who crossed the border line in his final year. I did<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not even think my CGPA would get me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>admitted into the University of Ibadan for a
master’s degree let alone WIN A SCHOLARSHIP to study in one of the top schools
in Asia. Not even just any course… but CHEMISTRY. I did not need to be told
that a course like CHEMISTRY would be very competitive in a school that had the
words UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS in its name. Worst of all I had
not even done TOEFL and GRE. I was tired of everything. I had tried so many
things and failed in recent past from essay competitions to scholarship
applications like TURKIYE and PTDF and I was going through a lot personally
because my Mum was ill then and here I was in Darrul Haqq and was told to apply
for a scholarship that logically I should not apply since the odds of me being
chosen was almost negligible but Abass’s statement in that message...’IT
DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exactly, it
would not cost me anything after all I was no paying any application fee like
PTDF so there was nothing to lose. In life when you are on the ground already
why fear falling? And that is how I came to apply to KFUPM. Little did I know
that the application process was going to be challenging. I never heard of the
words Statement of purpose (SOP) till I applied to KFUPM worst of all the only
Professor I had amongst my referees did not reply to the recommendation request
sent by KFUPM so in the end I had only two referees. My chances of being chosen
was already low and now it just got worse. Logically the only person who could
increase my chances did not send a recommendation letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I wrote my SOP I had no one to help me
read through and it was already close to the deadline. In fact the Dean of
Graduate Studies (DGS) had sent me a mail requesting I submit my SOP as it was
a mandatory document because the deadline was a few days left. So I submitted
my application with practically no hope. I do not even think I prayed that I
should be accepted at KFUPM because even though you hear about miracles
sometimes you do not think it could happen to you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-P8Fo3h690EBTlne8GD7Fby6W9GJMbkXxzaJ4581yf6a2YDfUmMXEyFtj16UsDXQnQ_J33SDXyKOpGlLMJ1wCMhntIhluMyyO2mURKvxBrTvVPcY9M-6mJHLLEW-_SdFSTnHeH6be_Ua/s1600/border+line+result.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-P8Fo3h690EBTlne8GD7Fby6W9GJMbkXxzaJ4581yf6a2YDfUmMXEyFtj16UsDXQnQ_J33SDXyKOpGlLMJ1wCMhntIhluMyyO2mURKvxBrTvVPcY9M-6mJHLLEW-_SdFSTnHeH6be_Ua/s1600/border+line+result.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">***********</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recalled that day in June. It was a few days to my NYSC
passing out parade. My fellow corps members and I were relaxing on the field
after hours of practicing. We stood there discussing about the future. The
future that we did not worry about and in a few days, the reality that we
feared would hit us. We would not be corps members anymore. The question of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WHAT NEXT</b>? Imaginary hung on our heads
like a heavy load waiting to be dropped. We were all afraid because we knew in
reality most of us could not answer that question. There would be no more
alerts (I never even received an alert on my phone during my service year as
the bank NYSC gave me was a ‘bank from the 70s’). Some of us talked about
joining the military but we knew like most things in Nigeria you had to KNOW
SOMEONE, some of us talked about furthering but the issue of finance came up.
We also talked about the girls. We knew the same question that bugged us bugged
them too. We knew most of them would be thinking of marriage. For most of us
marriage was out of it for now. The reality of NIGERIA hit us. We worried about
what would happen, when family members and friends starts asking the dreaded
question- ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">So what are you doing now</i></b>?’. Personally I think that question
is rude except if you had an opportunity to offer someone. Why ask a question
that would make one feel worse. I did not talk much during most of the discuss
as I was still in stupefied by a mail I had received a few days ago. A mail
that saved me from the REALITY, a mail that helped me answer the question <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WHAT NEXT</b>? </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*********</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">May 25,2013,. My mum had
just called me to encourage me that things would be better and prayed for me…
she knew I was devastated. I had tried so many things and failed. Just a few
weeks ago I was about to be retained at my Place of Primary Assignment, Kogi
State Polytechnic until the school was shut down due to the killing of a
lecturer by some students. Everything seemed to be topsy-turvy. Not long after
we spoke my tablet gave a mail notification and then the miracle happened… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Dear
Applicant,</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Name:
ABDULMUJEEB ONAWOLE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Congratulations,
your application for graduate studies at King Fahd University of Petroleum and
Minerals</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">(KFUPM) has been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">provisionally
approved</i> with the following details:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZdSv2lNW9ZJKZDrNPPUh8i9LV8rAhN07eJApo1uVWjQstSV5WWWEjhYV2EGnKv8dBx_Juml7HHNhe45V7sDs1n5V8gUqu2m9k6o6rbIPNkWZ-cdpun3uFCpinzgvFom4Bmms_cBB8A-R/s1600/tower+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZdSv2lNW9ZJKZDrNPPUh8i9LV8rAhN07eJApo1uVWjQstSV5WWWEjhYV2EGnKv8dBx_Juml7HHNhe45V7sDs1n5V8gUqu2m9k6o6rbIPNkWZ-cdpun3uFCpinzgvFom4Bmms_cBB8A-R/s1600/tower+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Was this for real? Maybe the
DGS made a mistake? What those <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">provisionally approved</i></b> mean?...I
cannot explain how I felt that night. When I called my mum I am sure she must
have felt that that was her fastest prayer answered. Some moments ago we were
in tears and now I had called that I was given an offer in KFUPM. There’s
something special about a Parent’s love, a Parent’s prayer or rather should I
say a Mother’s love and prayer because when I told my Dad I think the first
thing he asked was ”How much?’ ‘How much?’, I thought disappointedly…It was the
monetary aspect he could think . I would not allow this man to kill my joy. I
replied…’It is a scholarship’. I think I could sense a sigh of relief from him.
You can’t just compare Fathers and Mothers I thought. However now that I am
married I guess I can’t blame my Dad for asking me “How much’. It’s not easy to
be a MAN, seriously speaking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">For the next few days I
checked the dictionary a few times for the meaning of the words PROVISIONAL and
APPROVED and I feared that the DGS would send me a mail saying that they made a
mistake but All praise belongs to Allah they never did. My wife(though we were
not married then) was elated more than I was…it was probably the best news we
had both had in months. She was going through a lot too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I called Abass I did not tell him on the
phone the good news…I wanted him to see it. I just told him that I could now
wait to see him when I get back to Sagamu. In his usual jovial self …he
replied, ‘I am not your Hajia now’. I just smiled. It was not until mid-June before
I saw the man who Allah used as the initiator in this positive free- radical
reaction (I hope).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">My mind drifted back to
reality as I passed by the powerful beams of light at the bottom of the tower
which gave the tower its light I looked at the Arabian dark blue Arabian sky. I
was truly here in FLESH and BLOOD. I was here despite my background a border
line CGPA. When I wrote two years ago in my post -</span><a href="http://mujeebunleashed.blogspot.com/2012/03/crossing-borderline-my-mom-smiled-as.html"><i>CROSSING
THE BORDER LINE-The Beginning</i></a><i>-‘</i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
most important thing is Allah’s blessings</span><i>’</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">even I did not
think of it like this. Upon arriving here I learnt of people with very good
grades even some first class students who were not accepted. I knew how lucky I
was. I know I am lucky but I am glad I was prepared when the opportunity came.
I often think of it that if I did not apply to Univeristi Sains Malaysisa, I
might not have had my transcript which I used for KFUPM’s application. I know
getting here was a challenge but remaining here </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">Is a greater task. I know I
have to do my best. Not just for me, but for people like me, people who believe
Suli breaks statement- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I WILL NOT LET AN
EXAM RESULT DECIDE MY FATE</b>. For them I must do my best and succeed here.
May God help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Saudi Arabia26.3048047 50.14980420000006226.2763362 50.109463700000063 26.333273199999997 50.190144700000062tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-65344053583979353882014-05-05T15:22:00.000-07:002015-01-13T00:13:27.840-08:00BRING IT ON..an unfinished storyIt's been a few years since I actually wrote a STORY...My wife is a little disappointed. I know she ponders ...What happened to her gifted hands lover. I thought by now I would have gotten back on track but then I know that the guy with the gifted hands is still there somewhere...I just have to try to find him. Nevertheless, my wife made me promise to share the story below...a story I found in my archives. I know since it is unfinished, posting it would remind me that I owe her a STORY..I hope I get back on track soon enough and FINISH THE STORY... So here it is...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs8peHwSLEjbXpqrFAm-cvaTgZh9Ko4FSWkDPX7iOVPTqaQ_HAOhX6rG5gKPBJpH5cv1mbevz70-B0wf-QkwEuWTnnHy0jQGfHzRkVB2CUHEHPFP9OGYb-IdVRaUHnoL3hWr8-2eGFD56/s1600/story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcs8peHwSLEjbXpqrFAm-cvaTgZh9Ko4FSWkDPX7iOVPTqaQ_HAOhX6rG5gKPBJpH5cv1mbevz70-B0wf-QkwEuWTnnHy0jQGfHzRkVB2CUHEHPFP9OGYb-IdVRaUHnoL3hWr8-2eGFD56/s1600/story.jpg" /></a></div>
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A dark night it was, no stars no moon in the sky, everywhere
was pitch black except for the murky light that emanated from the solar
rechargeable lamp that was placed on the floor. There had been no power supply
power supply in Adenike area for the past one year. Adenike area was a student
residential area. It was home to many students of LAUTECH. LAUTECH was a
non-residential University. Adenike area was very close to the University, a
walking distance so it was fathomable that it was a place where students
resided. Well one did not need to ask that the area was named after<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adenike hostel, whether ADENIKE hostel was
the first hostel in that area or not nobody cared and nobody seemed to bother
but no doubt it was among the foremost hostel in the area. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hamza
turned to face the congregation behind him. ‘Check if there’s anyone outside’
he said. Someone at the rear stood up and checked the surroundings of
Darul-Haqq hostel stealthily. Some moments later he came back and whispered
into Hamza’s ear ‘No one’. Darul Haqq was the first and Muslim hostel in Adenike
area. It was only befitting that it should be named after Darul-Haqq the very
early Muslims met in Makkah when Islam was practiced in secrecy. It had
produced two leaders of the Muslim Students’ society in the past and Hamza was
the third Ameer but Hamza was different he was the first Ameer that was not in
his final year. He was in his penultimate year. He was reluctant to accept the
position and he could not deny that him not being in his final year was among
the reasons but a member of the Shura committee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>who was also a lecturer in the school had emboldened him that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ‘final year factor’ should not make him
decline the position. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had barely
resumed office and his regime was facing challenges he had not imagined in his
worst nightmares. It was common knowledge that many Muslims where turning
apostate to Christianity. He was frustrated at the fact that people were
trading Gold for balderdash. His regime had tried to mobilize students to attend
more Islamic gatherings were they could learn more about their deen, gatherings
where they could learnt to be Muslims by choice and not because they were born
into Muslim households but the turnout was always low. The stereotype effect had
taken over the Muslims themselves. The idea that whoever became a practicing
Muslim was a potential terrorist or better still a Boko haram member in the making.
Publicity and mobilization was of little effect so it was decided that a series
of comparative lectures be held. The comparative lecture series was a great
success, a lot of people who had turned apostate returned to Islam and also
there were some new reverts and not to forget it created a lot of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>doubts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>in the minds if the non- Muslims about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>their religion. Ever since the comparative series lecture events Hamza
had received lots of threat, sometimes he thought he had not signed up for this
when he decided to become Ameer but being threatened by the enemies of Islam
was not a new thing to those who tread the path of a Da’ee. He had decided to
brace himself for the challenges. He was still thinking of all those trouble
when he had got a call earlier in the day</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-87739944353924060082013-07-05T15:59:00.000-07:002013-07-05T16:17:53.461-07:00RECITE!<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 4.0pt 0in;">
<div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
THE BUTTERFLY HAS
LOST ITS WINGS</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
THE BEE HAS LOST ITS
STING….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the first time in a long time that I am writing for
real not because I have got a deadline to meet or an application or any other
reason that may seem official.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well so
Ramadan is here again. Well sometimes in the past I wrote an<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/148376231902991/permalink/353645251376087/">article</a></span> about
reading the Qur’an in the month of Ramadan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therein I did a kind of review of the MOSHAF application. Well NOW I’M
BACK and this time it is not the MOSHAF application that I want to review but
the… iQuran and trust me you don’t have to have an iPAD or iPHONE any other
gadget that starts with the letter <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘i’</b>
to run this great app.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us
who really want to enjoy reading the Qur’an this Ramadan I think having the iQuran
is a MUST HAVE for this Ramadan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwgJKMFMhiMv3TMbHvEURhEC3pvjgkpH80_jYaszLwDj9UW72qblMx741J4u6xM4ucq-rm4tpcErSdb2a_0FhYH13ZyICWkWoDjO6C_dMvtpEF74T36CPyes7qyYZGaE8r3nLpFjs-eVu/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwgJKMFMhiMv3TMbHvEURhEC3pvjgkpH80_jYaszLwDj9UW72qblMx741J4u6xM4ucq-rm4tpcErSdb2a_0FhYH13ZyICWkWoDjO6C_dMvtpEF74T36CPyes7qyYZGaE8r3nLpFjs-eVu/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-01.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">‘</span>T</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Who Developed The iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The iQuran was designed by GUIDEDWAYS. I believe some of us
are familiar with them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were the
ones who developed the QURAN PRO java application if you want to compare the
QURAN pro to the iQuran well there’s just one phrase that comes to my mind…. IMPROVEMENT.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is the font of the iQuran
clear to read?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The iQuran shows the Qur’an in clear Uthmanic font for one
to read. One can even zoom if it is not legible enough so you don’t have to strain
your eyes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AgxvYdEhYlY6ZShB0pFwpe_TAuAK1ndzVrl0Uz6veCM39pce_dZxdMoKAed87FSkuBRFYT_zdzEcyvgsL0ghCNGfRmMESmCIOdwTPt-qSCYhRD3iiomK-L8SF0lWuSsg6pIye-KoMXph/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-26-40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AgxvYdEhYlY6ZShB0pFwpe_TAuAK1ndzVrl0Uz6veCM39pce_dZxdMoKAed87FSkuBRFYT_zdzEcyvgsL0ghCNGfRmMESmCIOdwTPt-qSCYhRD3iiomK-L8SF0lWuSsg6pIye-KoMXph/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-26-40.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Are there any
Reciters that come along with the iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The iQuran comes along with 8 reciters that you can choose
from including Al-Ghamidi, Husary, Al-Afasy, Sudais & Shuraim, Abdul-
Basit, Abu Bakr Ash-Shatree (my favourite), Minshawy and Malik Al-Muauyqali. You
get to feel the joy of reading alongside your favourite reciters and even cry
along with them. The only obstacle here is one has to download the audio of
these reciters before one can actually hear them recite and this requires a
VERY GOOD INTERNET CONNECTION.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1e84YvpmBsouG4dXldzWZdvg5XF1izfmYAEsTB-4GFXWFL1tbeEOAKAfExc94jfBFupYxZocp9E1idz65PYA56WVrpMkJl_Urw_6gmPRGixQsfGg68gNl6H7PeuRHeCkNfJPrrCldd0V/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1e84YvpmBsouG4dXldzWZdvg5XF1izfmYAEsTB-4GFXWFL1tbeEOAKAfExc94jfBFupYxZocp9E1idz65PYA56WVrpMkJl_Urw_6gmPRGixQsfGg68gNl6H7PeuRHeCkNfJPrrCldd0V/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-13.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Does the iQuran help
me recite the Qur’an with Tajweed?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YES of course! The Arabic font in the iQuran is color coded
i.e. the rules of Tajweed (Idhgam, Ikfa'a, Iqlab etc.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are colour coded so you can know when to apply
each rule. Also at the bottom of the screen is the name of each Tajweed rule in
its corresponding colour. Pressing the rule brings out a menu which briefly
explains the rule and even with an audio sample from a verse in the Quran on
how it is applied. How splendid. <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover you also have the various signs
explained so one can know when to pause slightly or when to continue as one
recites the Quran.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkY-Ef24SAdWXI2evaxt_tuYyIEEZ7V30Dmeri5k9Mw3ImsestwKfqSUB5n1Lj2lPdEaNasmR6yK8vVsYVC_WMDc9s1u94vlL8Av-_Xzw6fXTDltkKx78kNxKvsiPVbI09zNKKuIAGlSI/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-26-48.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkY-Ef24SAdWXI2evaxt_tuYyIEEZ7V30Dmeri5k9Mw3ImsestwKfqSUB5n1Lj2lPdEaNasmR6yK8vVsYVC_WMDc9s1u94vlL8Av-_Xzw6fXTDltkKx78kNxKvsiPVbI09zNKKuIAGlSI/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-26-48.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj1aUKKyWr__qlrykwpa5ZIr_CJMN-Kdpud1eMa9zxVyYi9_wUQRdneB1oyLL9eOJRTWooF8LJgj1seIZZ9phn0TIVdTJg0AhUJxeNGnQemZTX3teSxg7DXIWNjzofB0vdRUV99oPzyMO/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-54-57.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMj1aUKKyWr__qlrykwpa5ZIr_CJMN-Kdpud1eMa9zxVyYi9_wUQRdneB1oyLL9eOJRTWooF8LJgj1seIZZ9phn0TIVdTJg0AhUJxeNGnQemZTX3teSxg7DXIWNjzofB0vdRUV99oPzyMO/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-54-57.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Does The iQuran Have English Translations</b>?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The iQuran doesn’t have only one English translation but
many translations of the Qur’an in the English language including Yusuf Ali,
Pickthal and Asad. The iQuran doesn’t just stop there it has translations in
many languages including French, German, Malay, Urdu, Japanese and a whole lot
of others. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37DCanYiyFr-dFI6E4wYgAr-IIkiooIf1vJJWe6FcDRDD6pSpe_jrqNF9tgEGH6De6lq9xqX5aR-BX8eUyN-J__b9cYfENfiNKzKkrZ0cXUeuuSCAnBrHFX0Y31g29SO_dfJtZjq_AVSq/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37DCanYiyFr-dFI6E4wYgAr-IIkiooIf1vJJWe6FcDRDD6pSpe_jrqNF9tgEGH6De6lq9xqX5aR-BX8eUyN-J__b9cYfENfiNKzKkrZ0cXUeuuSCAnBrHFX0Y31g29SO_dfJtZjq_AVSq/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-25-27.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DOES THE iQuran have
transliteration?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes the iQuran has transliteration for those of us just
learning to read the Quran.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can I share verses of
the Quran on social media using the iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YES YOU CAN! The iQuran
allows one to share verses on social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
so now you can share verses on your wall such that all your friends can
benefit. You never know who might benefit when you share even potential Muslims
too. Just click on the share button whenever you highlight any verse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can I Bookmark On The
iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You have practically unlimited bookmarks on the iQuran so
you can save as many verses as you want. You can also tag some verses if you
want to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can I search for
words in the Quran using the iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The iQuran has a
search button that allows you to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>find
words in the whole of the Quran in a jiffy. Just type the word and press search.
Instantly you get your results. This can really prove useful when preparing for
a lecture or looking for evidence from the Quran.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pHoCpzOlGovW0Pn4E2y1b5NEWwvfYOAMQqQNKKXuKUTgPT7HqJtFOsYROHM3tcSVRalX_RYwiTjURO5QqtFLX-cWwBQYnMjNzMkHkoaWxAVxKkuUYPY-OJ5GXMGOFV8N0_-9YMgCmruZ/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-28-56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pHoCpzOlGovW0Pn4E2y1b5NEWwvfYOAMQqQNKKXuKUTgPT7HqJtFOsYROHM3tcSVRalX_RYwiTjURO5QqtFLX-cWwBQYnMjNzMkHkoaWxAVxKkuUYPY-OJ5GXMGOFV8N0_-9YMgCmruZ/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-28-56.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Are there any other
special features in the iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there are.
The iQuran allows you to set reminder to read Suratul Kahf on Fridays. Also you
could choose the number of times you want to hear a verse or even choose the
range of verse numbers you want to hear repeatedly when memorizing. There also exists special duas from the Quran which can be recited. Ramadan is a month of making lots of dua and it's best to make dua from the Qur'an directly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fVF0s6t7DJ76P4AgYTf49jn7KuUM_p-aQxcwARBp3sUg2DhZcKOnUIgfc8Wv8r3P1QJTWGM7gtCyoLlhEbXSWrr-5cUZuc__LZrs63I2ZdbCTdTi6Jsh4VQT1J3eXVLhtjPZxMPgRXsK/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-27-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fVF0s6t7DJ76P4AgYTf49jn7KuUM_p-aQxcwARBp3sUg2DhZcKOnUIgfc8Wv8r3P1QJTWGM7gtCyoLlhEbXSWrr-5cUZuc__LZrs63I2ZdbCTdTi6Jsh4VQT1J3eXVLhtjPZxMPgRXsK/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-27-01.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4f9dJ4UXA0BPtxWstR6cS9s_n06Ie5cHChezi5sMCVdRW8N0cLhSZOlqyAU5hyYf49fLDk2l6P0Nfg8dhbnmQTenlbnTChXp-LBJHC7_KEf6b2aVzjtFzrpEo_1EqR5fB8fi77aMAxqF/s1600/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-55-15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4f9dJ4UXA0BPtxWstR6cS9s_n06Ie5cHChezi5sMCVdRW8N0cLhSZOlqyAU5hyYf49fLDk2l6P0Nfg8dhbnmQTenlbnTChXp-LBJHC7_KEf6b2aVzjtFzrpEo_1EqR5fB8fi77aMAxqF/s320/Screenshot_2013-07-05-20-55-15.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Must I get an iPhone
or iPAD to use the iQuran?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One doesn’t need to have any device that begins with the
letter i, whether it is the iPAD or iPHONE. The iQuran is an android
application and it is available on Google play store or can be downloaded on
the internet as an .APK file and then installed on your device. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well so that’s my review. I guess you now understand why I
said the iQuran is a must have app for this Ramadan. Wishing you a wonderful
month of Ramadan filled with acceptable good deeds. Don’t forget to RECITE.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
…HOPEFULLY SOON THE
BUTTERFLY WOULD GROW NEW WINGS</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
AND THE BEE WOULD
HAVE A NEW STING</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-24879837476045554352012-10-27T04:03:00.000-07:002012-10-27T23:16:44.811-07:00 CALL OF DUTY<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy5F1WAPlxAzYs4EYSIC397rTSir8XmO63umJ6XToqYsGu03Fnl8xHlR0HViJdkNbyjE7PikIEAT2rYIIcDbJODm_uJOAx-yfcHC6DRKj7Ln4V67UFNDz2GWQV4NqkbNMfAK-Z9DSMbR-/s1600/best-Call-of-Duty-game.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy5F1WAPlxAzYs4EYSIC397rTSir8XmO63umJ6XToqYsGu03Fnl8xHlR0HViJdkNbyjE7PikIEAT2rYIIcDbJODm_uJOAx-yfcHC6DRKj7Ln4V67UFNDz2GWQV4NqkbNMfAK-Z9DSMbR-/s320/best-Call-of-Duty-game.webp" width="320" /></b></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I rarely look forward to the eid-ul-adha
celebration popularly called the Ileya festival where I come from with much
zest</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. I haven’t really thought about why it is called
the Ileya festival but I know this Id-ul-adha celebration, I must go home just
as the name ILEYA implied. After all, this eid was one of the two days I had to
celebrate in a year considering the fact that I had cancelled Birthday
celebrations from my calendar. But do you blame me for not looking forward to
the most popular celebration by Muslims? Well if you had to prepare the night
before by setting up canopies, and on the d- day you had to help in shaving,
( do you have any idea how hard this is when using a blade and Allah
save you that you do not pierce the skin?
and blowing air into the carcass like you were a trumpeter before you finally dismember the carcass.
While doing all these your Mom is
calling you simultaneously to help in carrying those heavy metal pots, kindle the fire, set up the sound system (while
you are thinking of what halal music you can play before your uncle comes to
put in any of KSA’s records) and let me not forget that when guests arrive you
have to help in serving them and also
deliver food to friends and neighbors and in the midst of all the bustle you tried
not to miss any<i> salah</i> and may Allah help you if you do have some
young troublesome cousins who are pests with a capital P. Before you know it
the whole day is gone and you are fatigued and you realize that you did not
even eat three square meals, not that there was no food (how can there be no
food?) but there was no time to eat. This was not my idea of celebrating Eid; all the things I envisaged about Eid never was just a <span style="background: white; color: #424242; mso-highlight: white;">reverie</span><span style="color: #424242;"> I had often envisaged going </span>out to have Halaal
fun. Treat myself nice, Maybe visit an amusement park, just eat out with family
and friends in a Halaal restaurant or take a stroll on the beach where my eyes
see no evil. All that was just a castle in the air(at least for now).Last
year’s Eid was different, one of the few things I anticipate during Eid holiday
was the Family reunion; it was the only holiday where I got to meet practically
all my family members. It’s a common thing particularly if you‘re from
South-West Nigeria that some members of your family would be non-Muslims. I had
often thought how wonderful it will be if all my family members were all Muslims,
after all Allah says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> ‘<i>O ye
who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men
and Stones over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe who flinch not
(from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah but do (precisely) what
they are commanded.’ Q 66:6<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
I remembered taking a copy of the Qur’an at home and seeing my aunt’s
name on it. What must have happened to make her leave the true path, to leave Islam?
So Eid came and I decided that I would ask her what happened. My Grandma was
worried about how her grandchildren were not that close. I knew that the fact
that we were not all Muslims was a factor .She had called me and told me
indirectly on keeping and strengthening the family ties, after all I am first born
(you have no idea the responsibilities that come with this position except
you’re one) but there was no need for to
remind me of m duty since my deen had greatly encouraged keeping family ties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was narrated by Abu Huraira:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Prophet said, "Allah created His
creation, and when He had finished it, the womb, got up and caught hold of
Allah whereupon Allah said, 'What is the matter?' On that, it said, 'I seek
refuge with you from those who sever the ties of kith and kin.' On that Allah
said, 'Will you be <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Satisfied if I bestow my favors on him who
keeps your ties, and withhold my favors from him who sever your ties?' On that
it said, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Then Allah said, 'That is for you.' “Abu Huraira
added: If you wish, you can recite: "Would you then if you were given the
authority, do <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mischief in the land and sever your ties of
kinship." (47. 22) (Bukhari)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> My aunt didn’t show up for Ileya, she didn’t
come last year, I thought maybe she was told in her church not to eat the meat
slaughtered during Eid, I could not tell. I hardly saw my aunt, maybe a couple
of times in a year and now she had decided not to celebrate Eid with us well
that just kind of increased the distance between us. I had lost hope of seeing
her anytime soon until she showed up the third day after Eid. I was glad and I
thought of when both of us would be together so I could ask her; ask her a
question that had agonized my mind for years. I got my chance when I had to
escort her when she was leaving. We walked silently. What was there to talk
about, the hiatus between us had increased over the years but nevertheless I
had to ask her. It was cogent. Alhamdulillahi there were no means of
transportation available yet so we still had some time together. I pondered on
how to ask her, I felt nervous it was not like I was asking a girl out but here
I was trying to ask my aunt a very important question, a question that was
related to the very reason why we existed and I was reticent. I decided to ask
about my cousins. We talked about my cousins and the schools they attended and
the education system. I had to ask her now and soon, I had to summon the
courage to…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘Why did you leave Islam?’, I think I
said. I don’t know how I said it but it came out of my lips. What would happen
next, what would she say, would she say I was disrespectful or just tell me to
let it pass. My aunt flabbergasted me, she opened up to me. She was an active
member in her youthful days in a Muslim organization, in Lagos. She told me she
had tried to find her a spouse in the
organization I thought about what she meant by not finding a spouse, did she
mean she didn’t find a spouse or she found but things never worked out, well
that did not matter now after all she married a Christian and became one. So
finding a spouse could take one out of the deen. I felt uncomfortable with the
reason she gave. I knew it was reason why many Muslims converted to other
religions particularly females (correct me if
I am wrong). I felt sad and yet I felt lighter; like I was relieved of a
burden. We continued our journey and so I tried to call her to Islam. We talked
about Prophet Issa and I tried to explain that he was a Prophet of Allah; we
talked about the trinity and other comparative issues. She did not seem
convinced from my explanation but I was glad I had taken one step in the right
direction. She gave me my cousins phone numbers. Soon we found a means of transportation and a few moments
later we said our goodbyes. I reflected as I ambled back home. I thought of my aunt, her children-my cousins, my other
family members who were non-Muslims. I thought of how to call them to Islam,
how I could strengthen the family ties. Maybe my generation would be better
than the one of my aunt and Dad, maybe Grandma would be happy at how close her
grandchildren would be, I pondered. I know I might face resistance well I do
not think I have any choice cause this is my call, MY CALL OF DUTY. I make dua’ very often that Allah makes firm
the members of my family who are Muslims and grant them the understanding of
the deen (that is another poser on its own) guide those who are non-Muslims to
the right path, for Allah is the one who guides and He guides whom He wills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">P.S. I wrote this piece some months ago
little did I know that my aunt will pass
away soon. I wish I could say may Allah forgive her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-86221228035586656432012-09-30T10:30:00.001-07:002012-09-30T14:22:47.890-07:00JUST LIKE ME<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s66JPVKgpaFs8Kvyr56LM0C0LtYw3l-JSLQa1ven9kZ3t3Bn212_nl1BoKsc6YKfbbgmL67nXG1sIGZmK-9-XdnrsVXR3o7LFiIK64D7Lk26xETUy_nbGsK-XWWpxoQ0hhukXif2CtLk/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7s66JPVKgpaFs8Kvyr56LM0C0LtYw3l-JSLQa1ven9kZ3t3Bn212_nl1BoKsc6YKfbbgmL67nXG1sIGZmK-9-XdnrsVXR3o7LFiIK64D7Lk26xETUy_nbGsK-XWWpxoQ0hhukXif2CtLk/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Zainab
closed the notebook in front of her. She felt a little drained. She had been
sitting on the hard wooden chair for over an hour. She looked at the defaced
picture on the notebook she had borrowed. She felt a little disgusted at the
sight. She knew why Fareedah had defaced the picture. Though the picture was
defaced with blue ink it was palpable it was a man in the picture because of
the Abiola babes’ football club’s jersey that was visible. Fareedah had defaced
the picture because that was the right thing to do according to Islamic
principles. There were many Ahadith that talked on the prohibitions as regards
picture making and images of animate objects in general. Zainab recalled one of
the hadith on prohibition of picture making. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Narrated Said bin Abu Al Hasan<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i>While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of
'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures."Ibn
'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle. I
heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he
puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' "Hearing
this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him,
"What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make
pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects."(Sahih Bukhari)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Zainab particularly liked the
hadith amongst all other Ahadith that cited the prohibition of images because
of the approach Ibn ‘Abass used in correcting the man. She liked the fact that
Ibn Abass understood the plight of the man and he helped him in finding a
Halaal substitute. Zainab noticed Fareedah missed a spot in the face so she
helped to deface the image completely by shading the spot Fareedah missed.
Zainab preferred to buy books that had no images on their front cover. She felt
defacing your books did not make you natty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fareedah
was in her sophomore year in the notorious department of Chemistry, well by
most students’ verdict it was. Zainab was in her penultimate year in the
department of Botany. She was retaking a course in Organic Chemistry which students
from her department had to borrowed from Fareedah’s department. Zainab could
not really understand why she was retaking the course for the second time. It
was no news amongst students that there was an invisible conflict between
Fareedah and Zainab’s department. Many students in Fareedah’s department often
failed the organic chemistry course. There was another course which was also
borrowed by Chemistry students from Zainab’s department. It was a course on
Taxonomy. In turn many students from Fareedah’s department also had problems
with that course. They either failed it or their result was not released, in the
end the upshot was the same – the course had to be retaken. Zainab knew her
case was one of being the grass in a fight that involved two elephants. She
hated being the grass and so did Fareedah. She too was a victim of Zainab’s
department. The rift between the two ladies department did not stop them from
being roommates and most importantly very good friends. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Zainab
yawned and stretched her limb on the chair. She liked reading in her Faculty’s
mosque. Though it was a make shift mosque. The floors was bare earth but it was
fenced with sheets of tarpaulin. It served many purposes apart from its primary
purpose of a place observing the obligatory prayers which included being a good
reading spot for Zainab. By location it was truly the central mosque since it
was at the center of the institution. The mid-semester test was coming up in a
few days’ time and Zainab had not really had time to attend classes. It was
difficult to attend another class especially when it was from a lower level.
Time-tables where not permanently fixed and sometimes it clashed with some
courses she was taking at her own level. She had borrowed Fareedah’s note to
catch up. She hoped that this time around Fareedah’s department would grant her
freedom. Drawing lines and circles and arrows and letters in the name of
reaction mechanisms was not her idea of fun. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Salaam alaykum, Marie curie’,
Fareedah said as she entered the mosque. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Walaykum salaam’ came Zainab’s
reply indolently. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘By the way I am no Marie Curie,
I’m a Botanist not a Chemist’, Zainab added. This time her voice was crisp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Botanist or herbalist?’,
Fareedah said teasingly as she moved towards the desk where her friend sat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Na you sabi,’ came Zainab’s
reply.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Suddenly a lady clad in a stripped tight long
sleeve turtle neck top with an orange pair of pants came into the mosque. She
had on a small transparent white scarf on her head which only covered half of
her head making it look like a convertible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Salaam alaykum please where can
I get some water for ablution?, came the tiny voice from the lady, as she
looked at Fareedah. Fareedah turned away in disgust and mumbled ‘walaykum
salaam’ in a diminutive voice that the lady couldn’t hear. Fareedah snubbed the
lady. The lady feeling embarrassed left the mosque in a flash. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Ukty Zainab did U see that? ‘<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Can you imagine someone coming
to the mosque dressed like that….’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘She could not even cover her
hair properly….’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘and is it the right time to
observe Solatul-Asr….’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘… in less than hour the sun
would soon set’. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Ehnnn, it is truly the end of time. People don’t have
taqwa. Can you imagine….’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Fareedah!’ Zainab said in a
husky voice. She breathed in and out and mumbled some words as she shook her
head. Fareedah could read Zainab’s lips.
She had made the dua to be said when one was getting irate. Zainab had sought
refuge in Allah from Shaytan the accursed one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Fareedah Olaide’ Zainab said
calmly this time around. Fareedah looked surprised. It was only on very bizarre
for Zainab to call her full name. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Fareedah, how soon you forget.
Don’t you know that lady was just like you’. Zainab said turning her position in
the hard chair in such a way that she could look at Fareedah properly straight
in the eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Just like me?...’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘How?.... in what way…?’, Zainab
asked looking befuddled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Yes, just like you’ Zainab said
even more confidently corroborating her statement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Don’t you remember when we first
met. Then, you were in the pre-degree science program. It was at the Sisters’
seminar event and you came in looking like you were a contestant for MBGN.
There was no available space to sit and you were feeling awkward already
because of the way people stared at you. Even though it was a female only
event. You still got that look that you were not welcomed…’ Zainab said<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I was not welcomed, didn’t you
see their eyes? I was petrified. It was as if they wanted to devour me. I had
never felt so scared in my life. It felt like I was an outcast. I wished the
floor would open and swallow me that day. I felt I was in the wrong place.’
Fareedah added<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I know, roomie. I really
understood how you felt but then do you remember I came to you, held you by
your shoulders which if my memory doesn’t fail me was bare and guided you to a
seat at the back.’, Zainab continued as she zipped up the sleeves on the left hand of her Jilbaab. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I was so surprised that anyone
there could be so kind to me and that is why I am so glad that you’re my
roomie. You’re so bea-you-tiful...’ Fareedah interrupted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Bea-you-tiful? What does that
mean?’, Zainab queried.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘It means you’ve got a beautiful
character.’ Fareedah riposted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘May Allah make me better than
you say I am and forgive me for what you don’t know about me,’ Zainab said as
she blushed. She had tried to conceal it but it was apparent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Fareedah, if you remember that
day, I didn’t condemn your dressing contrary I praised you for attending the
event. Most pre-degree science students hardly attend religious events. The excitement
of being in a higher institution gets into their head. They have forgotten that
their names are only written in pencil and it could be erased easily, they are not fully fledged students of the University
yet. But there you were that day attending an Islamic event. I really admired
that about you.’ , Zainab said as she rested her chin on her hands. Her elbows
rested on her laps and her hands where in a lock. Her posture provided a good
support for her chin to rest comfortably on of the back her hands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I was so surprised you treated
me that way, you’re different….’,Fareedah said as she rolled out a mat on the bare earth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I’m not different, I was just
practicing what Islam taught me’, Zainab interrupted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Do you remember the hadith, in
Sahih Bukhari that the Rasul said…’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam’,
the two ladies said in unison.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘The best among you are the best
in character ' , Zainab concluded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Now, Fareedah I want you to
reflect on what happened some moments ago. Look at that lady that came into the
mosque and also look at yourself a few years ago when you came into that hall
during the Sisters’ seminar. Is there any nexus? ’ Zainab catechized.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Yes, I was just like her’,
Fareedah replied soberly, as she looked
down, staring at the design on the mat she sat. She could not look at Zainab in the eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Fareedah, do you remember how
you whined so much about the way you were treated that day by most of the
sisters at the event and now look at what you did to that lady who wanted to
come and observe Solah’ , Zainab continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Do you know the verse that
scares me most in the Qur’an?’ Zainab asked. It was a rhetoric question but
then someone had to break the silence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘What verse is that?’, Fareedah
asked raising up her face to look at Zainab.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘The first verse of Suratul Muhammad…’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Allah says: ‘Those who reject
Allah and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. He will render their deeds vain’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I don’t want to be the one to
hinder people from Allah’s path, I don’t want to be the one to stop people from
becoming better Muslims because of the way I treat them. I don’t want my deeds
to be lost, or to be in vain. Look at the Seerah, a lot of people accepted
Islam because of Rasul’s character. He did not have to convince them in
believing in Allah. His character was enough.’ Zainab said with so much verve.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fareedah looked at Zainab in awe.
She did not know which one made her marvel at Zainab, the content of what she
was saying to her or the fact that Zainab had the potential to become a great
orator, She imagined Zainab giving them a lecture during a Sisters seminar
event rather than having a male lecturer after all the sisters’ seminar was a female
only event.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Walahi, I have never thought of
that ayah like that’, Fareedah said looking stupefied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘May Allah forgive me, I hope I
get a second chance’, Fareedah added.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Don’t worry Inshaa Allah you
would get a second chance’. Zainab said as she handed over Fareedah’s organic
chemistry note.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘By the way, next time just buy a
book with no image on the front cover’ Zainab added.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I wanted too it’s just that you
can hardly find any books with no images on the front cover,’ Fareedah
retorted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I think I know what gift I would
get for you for Eid’, Zainab said smiling. The Eid-ul-adha festival was around
the corner. Zainab had concluded that she would give Fareedah a copy of the
book ENJOY YOUR LIFE by Dr. Muhammad Al-Arifi’. It was an excellent book on
good character.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘What are you going to give me? Please
tell me?’ Fareedah implored.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘That is for me to know and for
you to find out’, Zainab replied in a girlish way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Haa Ukty Zainab, even with your
Jilbaab you are still fun to be with, you’re truly different’, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Is there any place in the Qur’an
and Sunnah where one should not be fun to be with as long as one does not
exceed the limits…’ Zainab said, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘I don’t know why people always
have the feeling that once you dress in a way that shows you’re a Muslim you’re
tantamount to being dreary’ Zainab continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘Abeg, don’t dull me’ Zainab
concluded as the two ladies left the mosque.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
XXXXXXXXXX<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fareedah
gazed at her reflection in the mirror as she used a pin to hold her hijab. She
recalled how she often stood in front of the mirror admiring her body. She
would pose in all form of postures and ponder if she had the right statistics
for a super model. Back then she was so full of herself but here she was now,
all covered. She was grateful that Allah used Zainab’s character to make her
become a better person. She felt guilty as the thought of the lady she had
snubbed in the mosque some days ago in the mosque came to her. She wished she
would have a second chance so she could make it up to her. Zainab squeaked as
the pin pricked her thumb. There was no one to ask her what happened. Zainab
had an early morning lecture so Fareedah was left all alone. The prick wasn’t
deep since no blood came out. Fareedah
looked at the mirror and made the dua when one looked in the mirror. She liked
saying the dua because it linked one’s looks to one’s character. She wondered
if all the beautiful women in the world said that dua when they looked in the
mirror maybe they would both be bea-you-tiful and beautiful. ‘How wonderful
that would be?’, Fareedah thought. But she knew better. It was intermittent to
see a physically beautiful woman with beautiful character.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Salaam alaykum, sister, why don’t you come sit with me’
Fareedah said. She shifted her position on the seat to provide space for a lady
standing beside her. The lady was wearing a tank top with a skirt which barely
covered her knees. Flabbergasted the lady turned to look at who had said the
Teslim to her. She could not believe it when she saw it was the same person who
had treated her like she was the most sinful person on earth. Even someone that
stood nearby was surprised at the scene. Fareedah had spotted the lady earlier
as she came into the lecture hall. She felt hopeful and smiled on seeing her.
She didn’t know her second chance would come so soon. The class was a faculty course. She realized
that the lady must be in the same faculty as she was but because of the large
class she had not known her before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Salaam alaykum,’ Fareedah repeated this time stretching out
her hands towards the lady.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Walaykum salaam,’, the lady replied as she slipped into the
space Fareedah had provided for her still surprised at the kind gesture she was
receiving from Fareedah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m really sorry about last time, Please forgive me. my
name is Fareedah, What’s yours?’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I think I’m about to be punked’, the lady muttered. Hoping
Fareedah wouldn’t hear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Memunah but people call me Sade’, came the reply from the
lady as Fareedah released her grip. Letting go off Memunah’s hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lecturer came in a few moments later. The din in the
hall came to a halt as everybody tried to settle down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘By the way you’re not about to get punked, after all this
is not M-T-V and I prefer the name
Memunah. It’s a nice name.’ Fareedah whispered in such a way that she was sure
Memunah would hear. Memunah turned to look at Fareedah and smiled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Apology accepted’, Memunah said as her smiled widened. No
doubt today would be a day she would always remember.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fareedah felt happy within. She was glad her second chance
had a good start. Truly Memunah was just like her.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-66788770243097284262012-09-03T01:55:00.001-07:002012-09-03T01:55:19.459-07:00STRANGER AT HOME<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aqeel
heard the echo from the speaker. He knew that voice anywhere and anytime. He
flashed back to his first year at home.
Home, he had referred to the University which had become his alma mater
has his home. Back then, by just listening he could tell whose Artist song was
playing even if he was just listening to the song for the first time but before
he left home he could tell without asking if the reciter was Sheik Al -Shatiri or
Sheik Al-Sudais, he could tell if the lecture was being delivered by Mufti Menk
or Sheik Khalid Yasin without asking. Home had changed him and he really missed
home to. He missed attending Al-Ushra programs; He missed the comedy that often
took place during the Q & A section during Halqo classes. He missed the
countless numbers of meetings he had to attend; He missed sleeping in the University’s
Masjid. He missed attending Nikkah and
Aqiqoh ceremonies. He missed the gist with his brothers about Mandhira Khan. He
missed the fact that no one had asked him if he had found Aqeelah. He knew what
they meant by asking after Aqeelah. Aqeelah was the name of his potential
spouse, who at present did not exist but then He often replied, ’She’s still at
the spelling bee.’ He had come up with that excuse after watching the movie
titled, ‘Aqeelah and the bee’. ’ He missed the Jihad, He missed home so much
and so he was so glad that he had returned, even if it was just a brief visit.
He could not wait to get into the hall where the sound emanated from. To be
greeted with smiles and hugs and the words ‘Salaam Alaykum’.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was
the formal event of the annual Jihad week program. The Hall was filled and it
was a surprise to see people standing by the windows at the side of the hall. Aqeel
was deep in thought as regards getting a spouse. The flash back he just had
brought worries about finding a spouse. He smiled as the thought that he might
find HER here came to his mind. It was kind of difficult finding a spouse after
leaving home. ‘I don’t care if she doesn’t bear the name Aqeelah’, He said in a
monologue. Aqeel had actually come to collect his transcript from his alma
mater. Getting a job was kind of hard and finding a good job was harder. He had
concluded that he had to earn a Masters’ degree to raise his chances of getting
a good job. He had sent someone to help him get the transcripts from the
Students Affairs Unit, SAU but his contact in school was having a difficult
time getting the transcript. His contact had complained that he was often told
by the members of staff that he should come tomorrow. In his annoyance, his
contact had nick-named the SAU, The department of tomorrow never dies. Aqeel
hoped his presence would facilitate is getting of the transcript. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aqeel
was impressed at the large crowd he met at the venue. ‘Subhanaalllah, Publicity
and Mobilization committee must have done a great job ’. He said. He recalled
the oft-repeated complaint of low turnout of people at Islamic events
during committee meetings. Then he had suggested that if ITEM 7, was
well taken care of, automatically that would serve as PRO for the upcoming
events. Naturally people would talk about the food they ate and tell those who
didn’t attend how they had missed but his idea was never implemented. It was
mainly because there were no funds to carry out Aqeel’s idea of ITEM 7 and
partly because there was apprehension that people might not be sincere on the
reason why they attended Islamic events.
Aqeel entered the hall smiling as he was ushered in. He had envisaged
that he would hear calls of ‘GRAND AMO and Salaam alaykum’ simultaneously. He
was perturbed at the reaction he got. A
few glances fell on him but they turned away immediately to the direction of
the podium. There was no Teslim, no hugs, no handshakes, and no shouts of ‘MY
AMO’. ‘Am I not at home… or am I in the wrong school? Aqeel thought.’ When did
I become a stranger at home’? He continued. Aqeel looked around the hall; there
was hardly any face he knew. Had he been
gone that long? It was just two years, ‘Just two years…’ he muttered. ‘And I am
now a stranger…’ He supposed. ‘…a
stranger at home’ Aqeel continued. His rubbed his eyes; they were wet with
tears as he walked trying to find a place to sit down. Aqeel could not bear the
pain. He decided to come out and BREATHE. The sun was at its zenith. Aqeel
decided to find a shade. He noticed the bus which he had often driven when he
was the AMO parked under a shade. His face lit up as he saw the bus, which he
had nicknamed ‘Agboye on wheels’. It was
part of the duties of the Assets Maintenance Officer to take care of the bus
that belonged to the Muslim Students on campus. After all the bus was one of
the major assets they had. He recalled the day he had named the bus ‘Agboye on
the wheels’. The word Agboye meant understanding in the Yoruba language but it
was generally known that the understanding in Agboye referred to the
understanding of the religion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Salaam alaykum Grand
AMO’, Maruf said as he gave Aqeel a bear hug. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Walaykum Salaam, Maruf’, Aqeel said with a smile. At least
someone remembered him, Aqeel thought. Maruf was a member of the Asset
Maintenance committee in his first year, then Aqeel was in his final year. That was
where they had met. Aqeel was not surprised when he learnt Maruf was now the
AMO. He had shown the zeal right from
his first year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aqeel sat in the front seat of Agboye on wheels. He looked
around the bus. It had not really changed. An awkward feeling came over him as
all the memories he had shared with the bus flooded his head. Maruf had tried
to start the bus but it had refused to kick-start. He got down in a jiffy to
check what was wrong with the bus. He was far from calm. He was already late.
He was supposed to be at the University’s central Mosque to carry the food
meant for the event. Aqeel held the steering with his left hand and asked, ‘Do
you remember me or have you forgotten me too?’ He knew he could never get a
reply from Agboye on the wheels. He was not James Bond whose car talked to him.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Why don’t you check the battery’, Aqeel called out to Maruf
who was panicking already. A few moments later they were in motion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Jazakumullahu Khairan’, Maruf said<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘After all these years you still know what Agboye needs to
make her work’ Maruf continued. As he revved the engine in his race against
time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No wonder you are the grand AMO’, Maruf concluded. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Wa iyyakum’, Aqeel retorted. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Grand AMO?’ Aqeel thought. He had served as the AMO for
three consecutive years till his final year and yet with all that in just two
years. He had been forgotten. Truly there was no point in doing things to be
seen by people and be praised. Even if
it was kind of hard to purify your intentions, one had no choice but to try.
What was the point of doing things to earn people’s praise? That was something that could not even last a
few years let alone a life time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Please just drop me at that junction’, Aqeel said. Pointing
to a T- junction some meters ahead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9FqAYWEsT0Pbx4CsmnXWNJ8uS1u6accnfrtN4SNGo82db2_oD_S6v8Xhl7MomVsPXglTHoURe7wr2nW1Vg478S2H3rZyCThlH-zpMMohUaxMHc13FagUh6Xh_EQvj9yrAyYMU_JPiuc1/s1600/forget-me-not.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9FqAYWEsT0Pbx4CsmnXWNJ8uS1u6accnfrtN4SNGo82db2_oD_S6v8Xhl7MomVsPXglTHoURe7wr2nW1Vg478S2H3rZyCThlH-zpMMohUaxMHc13FagUh6Xh_EQvj9yrAyYMU_JPiuc1/s320/forget-me-not.jpg" width="320" /></a>‘I thought you were coming…’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No,’ Aqeel said cutting Maruf short. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Need to get some rest,’ Aqeel concluded as he got down from
the bus carrying his bag. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Are you sure about this, you know you might get to find
Aqeelah if you come’, Maruf said smiling wryly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aqeel waved his hand indicating he was not interested. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘See you later then, GRAND AMO’, Maruf said as he sped off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aqeel walked to the hostel where he had lived all through
his stay in the University. He could not help but think about all that had
happened recently. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He pondered on the words of his Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>‘While he who will come to Him as a believer and has done good deeds
shall have the highest ranks. Gardens of
Eden, beneath which rivers flow, live therein forever; such is the reward of
those who purify themselves from evil.’ Q 20:75-76<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Forever, Reward, Purify and Evil ’, those words kept
recurring in his mind. Aqeel sighed as
he trotted on the deserted street that led to his former hostel. He had to
purify his heart from the evil of Riyaa so as to earn the reward that would
last forever. It was not a nightmare after all. He was a stranger at home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-75570693394471914322012-08-21T04:10:00.000-07:002012-08-21T04:10:18.740-07:00SAVING OUR HOME<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWmn28bG3nz_J4hLhJsZ2mDB5zEi0Jq1-4WNpyu7H9d00pk9tajjr5mrQpwhkD5m27WJXAvuCezsxjNjD9dyvjddVuS0gSgQRLoYpGx1QttnwcYXGOmzBKmjlo8BcQQExkPUAi2gHU_B8/s1600/know+cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWmn28bG3nz_J4hLhJsZ2mDB5zEi0Jq1-4WNpyu7H9d00pk9tajjr5mrQpwhkD5m27WJXAvuCezsxjNjD9dyvjddVuS0gSgQRLoYpGx1QttnwcYXGOmzBKmjlo8BcQQExkPUAi2gHU_B8/s1600/know+cover.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">No doubt we must
have noticed that the Sun has not been friendly recently. The temperature of
the earth surface is sky rocketing. One of the colossal challenges we are
facing in this century is <b>global warming </b>and there needs to be a <b>global
warning. </b> A severe warning to be<b> </b>given by
scientists and religious scholars on the need to save the earth, to save our
home. Though it may seem there is
awareness about it since even celebrities are going green like Leonardo Di
Caprio who was involved in the documentary, the 11<sup>th</sup> hour but on the
whole people are still in the dark about this menace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But how did it all
begin after all Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">‘...On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of
livelihood for a time.’</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">Q2.36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And also Allah
says<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> ‘<i>He it
is that has made you inheritors in the earth.’</i> Q 35: 39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">From the above
verses we can see there in the evidence that earth is meant to be our dwelling
place, our home and not the Moon or Mars or some other planet. The earth was
not like this some centuries ago so who messed things up? We, humankind did. We that Allah put in
charge. We that the creator made the inheritors of the earth. Is this how we
will act if we inherited a company from our parents? We are all guilty of
making the earth what it is today. Scientists
have laid down the root cause for this situation as the increase in the amount
of carbon dioxide let out to the atmosphere by our industries and automobiles.
Our fast cars, our luxury life our excessive love for this dunya all brought us
this catastrophe. </span>Allah says in the Qur’an:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
‘<i>Mischief
has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have
earned that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that
they may turn back (from Evil)</i>’ Q 30:41<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB"> If the global warming situation continues the
drastic climatic changes would cause devastating results in seasonal winds,
melting of polar ice caps, and rise in sea level and land inundation especially
in crowded areas. New diseases would spring up which may be challenging to the medical
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
As described in an article in <i>Science</i> Human domination of Earth’s
ecosystems, ‘‘Between one-third and one-half of the land surface has been
transformed by human action; the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere
has increased by nearly 30% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution;
more atmospheric nitrogen is now fixed by humans than by all natural
terrestrial sources combined; more than half of all accessible surface fresh
water is put to use by humanity; and about one-quarter of the bird species on
Earth have been driven to extinction . . . All . . . trace to a single cause,
the growing scale of the human enterprise. The rates, scales, kinds, and
combinations of changes occurring now are fundamentally different from those at
any other time in history; we are changing Earth more rapidly than we understand
it. In a very real sense, the world is in our hands and how we handle it will
determine its composition and dynamics, and our fate.”<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Presently, we are
already feeling the impact and effects of this situation. It is not an issue of
the scientist alone; every individual has to join hands on saving the earth
from global warming. Though it is really going to be tough to save our home, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Causes <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Practically all kind of motor vehicles including
cars, buses, airplanes, ships, and off-road vehicles, Chemical and petroleum
refineries, Manufacturing facilities, Commercial operations such as dry
cleaners, bakeries, and garages. Plants that generate electric power by burning
coal or oil are not left out. They all cause global warming since they produce
green house gases as the population grows, consumption per individual grows.
Technologies are becoming larger too. Thus, the scope of all the activities
just mentioned grows too. Without concerted effort to prevent it, pollution and
other forms of environmental degradation will also grow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Visible Effect of Global Warming:</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b>Increase in earth’s
temperature<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Climate models developed by scientists indicate that the Earth’s oceans
will warm before the Earth’s atmosphere. This is resulting in sagging roads,
sinking pipelines, and rapid multiplication of insects that feed on the state’s
spruce forest. Africa’s highest mountain is in Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro with its famous
‘‘Snows of Kilimanjaro.” As compared with a 1912 survey, 82% of the icecap has
melted. If current rates continue, melting will be complete between 2010 and
2020.Also mountain glaciers in places as far apart as Peru and Tibet are also
melting shows Peru’s Qori Kalis. This glacier shrank<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
33 times faster
between the years 1998 and 2000 than it did in 1963 to 1978. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another visible effect is the ozone
layer depletion. This will be discussed in details later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GREEN HOUSE GASES<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Carbon dioxide- More than just a greenhouse gas.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
CO<sub>2 </sub>is the major greenhouse gas accounting for more than 50%
of the current warming when all greenhouse gases (except water vapor) are added
together. CO<sub>2</sub> does not powerfully absorb infrared radiation. However,
its concentration at 370 ppm is much higher than other<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Greenhouse gases. It
is also persistent, with an atmospheric lifetime of over 100 years. Human
activities emit more than 6 billion tons (5.4 billion tones) of CO<sub>2</sub>
into the atmosphere each year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Carbon dioxide
sources<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Worldwide the major source of CO<sub>2</sub> is fossil-fuel combustion
(coal, petroleum, and natural gas), contributing about 80% of anthropogenic CO<sub>2</sub>.
Coal has the greatest carbon content among fossil fuels, and emits more CO<sub>2</sub>
when burned than petroleum does. Natural gas emits the least CO<sub>2</sub>.
Coal-burning electric power plants are the major CO<sub>2</sub> sources in many
countries from the United States to China and India. Petroleum-burning motor
vehicles contribute about 25% of the CO<sub>2</sub> in the United States. Deforestation contributes too because when
felled trees are burned, their stored carbon is released as CO<sub>2</sub>. At
the same time, deforestation leaves fewer trees to take up atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>.
Trees that are grown on a sustainable basis make no net CO<sub>2</sub>
contribution. In <i>sustainable growth</i>, as much tree biomass is grown as is
harvested on an ongoing long-term basis. <i>Natural CO<sub>2 </sub>sources </i>include
releases from oceans and land, and plant respiration.CO<sub>2</sub> is a waste gas
respired by animals, plants, and many bacteria. Some people sometimes express
belief that an increasing human population breathing out CO<sub>2</sub> is the
reason that atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> levels are increasing. This is not true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
major reason for increased CO<sub>2 </sub>is fossil-fuel burning and,
secondarily, deforestation. CO<sub>2</sub>
is also an acid precursor. In the presence of atmospheric moisture, part is
transformed to carbonic acid. CO<sub>2</sub> reaching water bodies is converted
into carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and carbonate. Carbonate accumulates in shells
and coral, and eventually in ocean sediments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is concern
that, because oceans are such a large sink for CO<sub>2</sub>, the pH of ocean water
may eventually decrease enough to damage ocean life. This is an area of active
investigation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b>Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .25in;">
Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) is a simple hydrocarbon gas accounting for
about 20% of the greenhouse effect. It is second in importance only to carbon
dioxide. Its atmospheric concentration is only 1720 ppb or 1.72 ppm. This is a
level more than 200 times lower than that of carbon dioxide <i>but </i>molecule
for molecule, methane has almost 25 times greater ability to absorb infrared
radiation from the Earth than carbon dioxide. Fortunately, it has a much
shorter atmospheric lifetime, about 12 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Methane sources<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Agriculture is a major anthropogenic source of methane. Domestic ruminant
animals, especially cattle and sheep, emit about 15% of all methane. Rice
paddies produce methane too. Landfills produce almost as much methane as
agriculture. The anaerobic bacteria within landfills degrade organic wastes
such as food, paper, wood and plant debris. By themselves <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other sources are
methane leaks during coal mining, and flaring of natural gas from oil wells. _ <i>Natural
methane sources </i>include Arctic tundra and wetlands where anaerobic bacteria
break down organic material. Tropical termites release methane as a result of
their symbiotic relationship with microorganisms; so do millipedes,
cockroaches, and scarab beetles. Tropical insects or those living indoors, for
instance, cockroaches, produce especially large amounts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Other greenhouse gases<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
The synthetic chemicals, CFCs, are potent greenhouse gases, but the Montreal
Protocol has banned CFCs, and they may become insignificant as greenhouse
gases. The per fluorocarbons (PFCs) are byproducts of aluminum smelting and are
also used in semiconductor manufacture. Some other industrial chemicals are
potential greenhouse gases but these are under control. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Ozone layer<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
lower 10 km of our atmosphere is called the ‘‘troposphere.” It is the
atmospheric layer within which we live. The troposphere contains about 90% of
all air molecules. The stratosphere lies just above the troposphere, 10 to 50
km above Earth. Although it contains but 10% of the atmosphere’s air molecules,
it has 90% of its ozone. Only 10% of ozone is in the troposphere. Stratospheric
ozone absorbs more than 95% of the sun’s UV radiation, which would otherwise
reach and damage human, animal, plant, and microbial life. In the stratosphere
there is an ongoing natural cycle in which ozone is formed, destroyed, and
reformed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 1.</b> The energy of the
sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation breaks diatomic oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) into
single oxygen atoms (O).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O<sub>2</sub>
+ UV radiation → O + O (oxygen atoms)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reaction
2. An oxygen atom reacts with O<sub>2</sub> to form ozone (O<sub>3</sub>).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O + O<sub>2</sub>
→ O<sub>3</sub><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Ozone Depletion <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
CFCs, halons and related chemicals are released at
ground level, and later reach the stratosphere. There, the sun's ultraviolet
(UV) light breaks them down releasing chlorine and bromine atoms. Chlorine and
bromine lead to stratospheric-ozone destruction. Less ozone means more UV
radiation reaches Earth. More UV light increases the risk of adverse effects
on:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
• Plant
growth on land and phytoplankton growth in oceans and other waters;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
• Animal
skin, eyes, and immune system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Figure
8.2</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 3</b>. UV radiation dissociates
an O<sub>3</sub> molecule into O<sub>2</sub> and one oxygen atom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O<sub>3</sub> + UV
radiation → O + O<sub>2</sub><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 4: Remaking ozone</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
O + O<sub>2</sub>
→ O<sub>3</sub><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Destroying ozone
with CFCs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CFC-12 (Freon) is
the best-known CFC. Its formula is CF<sub>2</sub>C<sub>l2</sub>. Below are
reactions that result in ozone destruction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 1.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CF<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>
+ UV radiation → CF<sub>2</sub>Cl + Cl
(single chlorine atom)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 2a.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
Cl + O<sub>3</sub> → O<sub>2</sub> + ClO
(chlorine monoxide)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 2b</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
ClO + O → Cl + O<sub>2</sub><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Net reaction of 2a
and 2b is:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reaction 2c.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O<sub>3</sub> + O → 2O<sub>2
</sub>(the ozone has been destroyed)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
One ClO molecule can catalyze the destruction of many thousands of ozone
molecules. Chlorine is eventually converted to a water-soluble chemical such as
hydrogen chloride (HCl), which can then be deposited from the stratosphere.<span lang="EN-GB">The ozone depletion observed so far, is due to only a small fraction
of the CFCs already in the atmosphere. Even when-and if-production of CFCs is
completely stopped, their maximum effect will be felt decades in the future.
They are waiting up above us like a time-bomb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Making
your Deen Green</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Muslims have ignored this part of their
deen. Our emphasis in schools, khutbahs,
lectures, Islamic courses is primarily on rituals, on spiritual growth at the
expense of this very practical aspect of Islam. If we believe that everything
belongs to Allah and that we are just transiting then we have to treat the
earth as His amanah – a trust of which we are the guardians, the khulafah. We need
to approach science with Tawheed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Abu
Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger said: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“<i>The
world is sweet and green and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent
in it in order to see how you act</i>.”(Muslim) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So many hayat of the Quran are devoted to
reflecting on nature. If we cannot take care of the gardens of earth, how can
we aspire to live in the garden of Jannah?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Look at our state today? We have become so
caught up in the consumerism, in gratuitous consumption, that we do forget that
we will be held accountable in front of Allah for all our deeds. We look for convenience over doing what is
right. This has caused disequilibrium in
the balance that Allah has created and we see the consequence is the excess in
the developed world and the deprivation and hunger in other parts of Allah’s
world. Have we forgotten this verse?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i>‘O children of Adam!
Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink:
but waste not by excess for Allah love not the wasters’ Q 7:31<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
According to a hadith narrated by Tirmidhi, “<i>The worldly comforts are not for me. I am
like a traveler, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on
his way</i>.” So let us use the symbolic tree for shade, to nourish our self,
but let’s also follow the Sunnah and leave the symbolic tree intact so that the
next traveler can use it. What are we going o leave for the unborn generations?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When man acts, instead of a trusted custodian
and architect of the earth, as its most dangerous destroyer, driven by greed
rather than need. Then the result is havoc. We are obliged not to do injustice
to the rest of creation. These will be
witnesses for or against us on the Day of Judgment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dr. Soumaya Pernilla Ouis, a senior lecturer
at Lund University, Sweden, coined the phrase Islamic eco-cosmology. The idea is that nature in itself is Muslim;
that we look around us and recognize every organism as our Muslim fellow being.
That really changes the relationship, doesn’t it? We know that everything from thunder to ants
hymn the glory of Allah, all beings therein, declare His glory. Allah says in
the Qur’an:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
‘<i>There
is not a thing but celebrates his praise: and yet ye understand not how they
declare His glory.</i> Q17:44<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
If we look back at our heritage, the
principles of reuse, recycle, clean energy are NOT new – “Muslim potters heated
their kilns by burning fruit husks, fruit stones, pine-cones and vegetable
waste. Millers ground their corn in mills turned by the wind. Both windmills
and animals were used to lift water into irrigation channels.” The industrial uses of tidemills and
watermills in the Islamic world date back to the 7th century. As Muslims let us not make the same mistakes that
some developing countries are making. This is the importing inappropriate
technology, setting up industry without studying the environmental
ramifications. We have the opportunity to
inculcate Islamic injunctions into eco-consciousness, and to be leaders saving our
planet, our home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
The book ‘RECYCLE’ by <b>Soumy Ana </b>is a must read for environmental
conscious Muslims. She tells us how to save our home in a story format. In a
way we can relate to. The major themes involved in earth’s protection are <b>Conservation
and efficiency.</b> Measures in conservation include encouraging electric
utilities to use ‘‘co-generation” to allow more of the energy that they produce
to be used, and developing more energy-efficient industrial motors and
household appliances. Many simpler measures are important too. One is improving
appliance circuits so they don’t draw current even after they are turned
‘‘off.” Developing more environmentally compatible energy sources is also
critical. In addition, because trees sequester carbon we need to prevent
further deforestation and promote the planting of additional forests.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">S</span><span lang="EN-GB">urely the ingenuity that has produced all this
substances that has caused these problems can devise ways of disposing the
waste they create: the problem is neither of science nor technology but of
sociology and ultimately of Politics. Let us save earth because it is the only
home we have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -.55pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b>P.S. This write-up was published in the maiden edition of KNOW! magazine, a publication by Pure and Applied Sciences Muslim Students Association. Other contributors to the write-up include </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.55pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">OLAYIWOLA MUSTAPHA , </span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.55pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">KHALEEL ADEYINKA and </span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.55pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">MIFTAUDEEN ODELEYE </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-87172044467536255642012-08-11T18:36:00.000-07:002012-08-20T18:37:03.219-07:00WIPE YOUR TEARS, THE SUN IS RISNG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So here is the sequel to CRYING IN THE RAIN<br />
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</div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m-wSRho_tDAJp_kLCfNa4yVRyutz41B_BPKxfrECEwDtM2Khv-VD4nBezWvAhqwNhESug_RSzTjB55qJk6Dx3lzVRE84FApsYF5fR9MHjnrfUrCLxpWN1pmPWjTct7rtmhrq-fhciFTY/s1600/Beautiful-Sunrise.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7m-wSRho_tDAJp_kLCfNa4yVRyutz41B_BPKxfrECEwDtM2Khv-VD4nBezWvAhqwNhESug_RSzTjB55qJk6Dx3lzVRE84FApsYF5fR9MHjnrfUrCLxpWN1pmPWjTct7rtmhrq-fhciFTY/s320/Beautiful-Sunrise.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do
not like it when I have to fight a battle with an old enemy especially when
that battle fought in the past was really tough. That enemy for me is MUSIC. You would inevitably
listen to the Most Useless Subject in Class (MUSIC) and no doubt you would be
affected. The OBS (ORIENTATION BROADCAST SERVICE) is the source of most of the
music you’ll get to listen to in camp. A lot of us refuse to join the OBS crew
because of the fitnah of music (remaining in the comfort zone) without
realizing we only make things worse. May Allah bless Abdul-Hafeez Oyeniran
(SCHOLAR) wherever he is. He was the only Muslim in OBS in our camp in Asaya,
Kogi state. Though I tried to join but the guy in charge of recruiting was a
non-Muslim and I knew he realized the effect of having me and scholar on board
so he just kept telling me to come back. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that I
wasn’t going to be a member of OBS crew though ‘Scholar’ needed me badly and he
wasn’t shy to admit it. When in a ‘sticky ‘but necessary job for Muslims like
being in the OBS it is important that at least you are two. So you can
strengthen each other. I remember the first Friday in camp when I met the guy
in charge of OBS and sent him some Nasheed from my phone. The guy said this
will be the first an Islamic song was played in Asaya camp, can you IMAGINE!
Whereas you would constantly hear their songs being played on air every day of
the week even during solah. There was one Friday that the whole camp hardly
knew that that day was a Friday (Everyday looks practically the same since it
is the same routine except Sundays). I myself was almost late for Jumah. I was
in PET (Peer Educators Training) class and our facilitator had not rounded up
the class. There was practically nothing on air played by the OBS to signify
that it was a Friday, whether a Nasheed or even an announcement that Jumuah
starts by 1.30pm. I was wondering what ‘Scholar’ was doing I knew things were
not that easy for him at the OBS being the only Muslim but then I realized the
PRO hindered him. He was playing a
Nasheed and suddenly the guy in charge of recruiting OBS crew members came in
to the studio in a rush and suddenly stopped what was playing. He said the PRO
was close to the studio and she had often called him to stop playing Muslim
songs in the past. That guy was practically scared of her. I know there were a
lot of things scholar did for us, the sacrifice he made for us. He was among
the few brave ones to leave the comfort zone even when he knew the risk
involved and it was no surprise when many Muslim officials in camp wanted to
meet the only Muslim in OBS crew. The events made me recall ATA (Alli Taofeek
Adewale) and MAKO (Abdul-Malik Olanrewaju Mudathir). Those of us who are avid
attendees at Wednesday, Al-Ushra program know these guys are regular
newscasters. I wondered if they had any idea how important and useful was their
duty to the deen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MUSLIMS ARE NOT IN
SCHOOL<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The population of Muslims in my
camp was not up to 200 out of a total of over 2000 corps members deployed to
Asaya camp. Do you know what that means?
That means from all the higher institutions in Nigeria; LAUTECH, ABU,
MAPOLY, KADPOLY, UI, OAU, UNAD, UNAB, FUTY, UNIBEN, FUTM, ETC. LESS THAN 10% ARE MUSLIMS! in Asaya. I cannot find a word to qualify how
sad this fact is and how VERY IMPORTANT every Muslim who is in a higher
institution, no matter how upright in the deen the individual is, that person
is VERY IMPORTANT TO ISLAM’S DEVELOPMENT.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>PARADISE OR HELL,
WHICH ONE DO YOU CHOOSE?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From
the second week in camp, you’ll be having social nights every night, Miss hot
legs, Mr. Macho, Miss NYSC and the popular CAMP FIRE NIGHT. Well may Allah
bless the individual who thought of the name PARADISE NIGHT; there could not
have been a better name. Well it is best
to avoid all the social nights particularly the fire night. Not to worry MCAN
would organize a better substitute, with Qur’an / Quiz competition. Games
anything Halaal and fun and about item 7, don’t bother yourself with what they
would serve in camp fire night. Any Muslimah is a better cook than a non-
Muslimah (Ask anyone who had is orientation in Asaya, Kogi state).It is
important that you avoid watching live porn on your way to your hostel after
the fire night and you will be fortunate if you have a camp commandant that has
sense and wouldn’t allow evil reign like my camp commandant, Capt. Tumaka, who
said to potential porn stars, ‘SEPARATE YOURSELVES’, yet they were reluctant to
obey the command.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>IT’S JUST A DEGREE.
WHY THE ARROGANCE?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even
though, I am grateful that I am a graduate, after all many of my colleagues are
still in school doing extra. I do not think I have once thought of it has a
great feat. (It is not like I’m a Hafiz or a Muhadith) It is ridiculous how
arrogant some of us can be, we are pompous to the soldiers, to our fellow corps
members (I attended a University, you attended a Polytechnic, Do you know how
many years I spent in Med. School?), to NYSC officials. I don’t know why all of
a sudden we just grow wings. Sometimes we can be proud in a good way or say
we’re graduates jokingly but it is so annoying when we are serious about it. It
is bad to look down on others. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Narrated AbuHurayrah:<i>
‘The Prophet said… No, pride is disdaining what is true and despising people.
(Sunan Abu Dawood);</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>LEAVE THE COMFORT
ZONE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
fact that there are few Muslim corps members is enough worry. It is suicidal
when a lot of us decide to stay in the comfort zone. We are afraid to step into the rain not
knowing we are just paving the way for a storm, a storm that even the shelter
can NOT protect you from. By the second
week in camp there would be many activities to be involved in. Don’t be passive,
from the skill acquisition to other groups like the MDGs, PET, ICPC, CBN, etc.
It is paramount we join one of these groups and use it to contribute our quota.
I would particularly want to emphasize on the PET and MDGs program. That is
where I think Muslims are most needed, at least for now. The MDG helped
Abdulatif Olaide Osinubi become one of the best corps members in Oyo state
during the just concluded P.O.P.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>PET (Peer Educator
Trainers)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The PET
program is the <b>National RH & HIV/AIDS Prevention & Care Project
through the NYSC</b>. A lot of corps members are always happy when PET
facilitators come. The mentality that they’ve come to share condoms is there
and somehow you cannot blame people for thinking like that. That’s mostly what <b>HIV/AIDS</b>
program teach. The concept of being chaste for Allah’s sake is lost and it is
the fear of STIs that people are worried about.
I was reluctant to join the PET program. I didn’t want to leave the
comfort zone but then I thought of the Idea of Islamizing the knowledge I would
gain there. I thought of Dr. Muhammad
Al-Rafi, his book ENJOY YOUR LIFE was a practical example of Islamizing mundane
knowledge. He Islamized the book HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE by
Dale Carnegie. The PET program is a five day intensive training program and I
mean INTENSIVE. You will need to sacrifice and be patient. You will learn some
things as opposed to the principles of Islam. You will have to deal with issues
like female circumcision as opposed to FGM, Teenage pregnancy, but also you
would learn Life skills like negotiation skills, Decision-making skills, and
Goal-setting skills. Etc. Do not let the rumor that those who join PETS are
sent to the village scare you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MDGs<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Millennium Development Goals has two components. The
FACOR and the MAC components. I would advise you join the FACOR component
because that is where one deals with family matters and that is where we really
needed Muslims. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DEFEND YOUR DEEN<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is no news that
Muslims are the endangered species and as a Nigerian Muslims with the advent of
BH. It would be very unwise not to practically no anything about your deen and
also update yourself with current events. In Asaya a lot of things happened that
made me realize the journey ahead is long. Engr. Abass Alade was right. You see
the Nassara in terms of planning they are light years ahead of us. From the
parade ground to the trainings they are the dominant factor and you feel like
you were in primary school again where you were forced to recite and memorize
those hymns instead of the Qur’an or Ahadith. The soldiers might come and
disturb you about you shaving your beard, or mock you seriously, whatever you
do DON’T LOSE UR COOL and do NOT compromise provided you are not disrespectful
NO ONE CAN DO YOU NOTHING. Your platoon members come and ask you that is true
it is in your Qur’an that if you kill a non-Muslim you would be given seven
virgins Here your brain needs to be working right. Remember don’t lose your
cool, no matter what. It would be a great help if you have a good phone with
applications like the Qur’an pro. The verse ‘There is no compulsion IN
RELIGION…’ Q2:256 is a verse you should never forget and do not start finding
faults in Christianity (it doesn’t really get you anywhere). Tell them about
the Islam the media never told them. Tell them about Islam based on the Qur’an
and the Sunnah and with the understanding of the righteous predecessors and you
never can tell someone might accept Islam through you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SNAP ME!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
issues of pictures is another challenge you would face and sometimes you would
be seen as an extremist (even among Muslims) if you do not take pictures. Funny enough all photographers were banned
from all camps in the second week. One thing one has to remember is that Allah
is AL-HAKIM, so it is wrong to apply your logic here on the benefits of
Photography though sometimes you might find yourself in very sticky situations
just do the best you can. But then, there’s a Halaal substitute, MAKE A VIDEO
(except you are Abu Naasir) instead if you are really concerned about keeping
those memories. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BE A MUSLIM FIRST<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b> It is important one understands this verse:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>‘O mankind! We
created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into
nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each
other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the
most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted
(with all things).</b>’ Q49:13<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No doubt we are from different backgrounds and even
sometimes making a decision would prove more difficult than usual but then
avoid the concept of Yoruba Muslims, Hausa Muslims, reverts, and all that crap.
We’ve already got more problems that we can handle don’t create more problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GHOST KOPA MODE:
DEACTIVATED<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
May Allah bless Muhammad Bashir a
corps member from an earlier batch. He has that effect of talking to you and
you feeling touched. A lot of us who are posted to villages where there is no
electric power, no network, no basic amenities. We all activate Ghost kopa
mode. WE RUNAWAY! Muhammad Bashir made me really wish to be posted to a village
because I envied him so much. I thought of the rewards he was gaining. The
Jihad one could do during eleven months could surpass all the struggles you
ever did while in school. I imagine it has been your peak period like a graph
if your scales of good deeds where plotted.
A sister in Kogi state single-handedly built a masjid, can you imagine the
reward she would be earning. The village Muhammad Bashir is having his PPA is a
place where the inhabitants are fetish but Alhamdulillah, Allah is changing
that place through him. The mosque they had was a place for cattle to go and
defecate since no one prayed but now people observe their solah and whenever he
is not around the resident of the village cannot wait for him to return. Some
of his students have become Muslims through him. He even saved a woman from
losing her marriage when she refused to heed to her Husband’s call because she
was not in the mood even though she admitted loving her husband. He followed
her home and explained to her husband.
Some moments later the couple came to his house to show their appreciation
and I tried to imagine the smile when the husband said, ‘Now I know my wife
loves me. ’. When you are posted to the village you are practically treated
like a god. No doubt there are challenges like my friend Muhammad Bashir was
brandished with a sword by a man who said Muhammad must marry his daughter
since she had decided to become a Muslim. My friend is not interested in
marrying the man’s daughter but in her becoming a Muslimah. I beef those who are posted to the villages
because they have great dawah opportunities. A whole community could practice
the religion just because of you. Imagine the REWARD! But then, there is
usually the problem of continuity, many a time someone like Muhammad Bashir
comes to make that change but then after their service year, that is the end no
one to continue the good job and before you know it the people are back to
their old evil ways and that is one major problem the MCAN is facing. We have
three batches in a year. If we sit down to plan well we can proffer a solution
to this problem. No doubt it is a great challenge to serve where there is no
power, no network, no standard bathrooms but that is the sacrifice we have to
make and if one is posted to that place and you are alone, one’s mind begins to
think of crazy things and it would not be a surprise if you hear that someone
who you had seen as a pious brother impregnated a girl in the village, or a
sister got pregnant. I would be very real here No doubt the MCAN has the power
to influence PPA, what we ought to do is pair brothers who are compatible it’s
better if they are from the same institution and send them to the same place.
That way they can both make the necessary positive change and also be a
watchdog for each other’s Imaan most times if you send someone to a single
place. You are putting his faith in jeopardy and you are most likely going to
make things worse than they appear. How will it sound if the community start
saying, ‘don’t mind those Muslim brothers all they know is how to impregnate
our girls’. The same can be applied for sisters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b>WIPE YOUR TEARS, THE SUN IS RISING<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
It
was after Fajr Solah and also the last day of camp. Most of us where in our
khaki already. Some of us where worried about where we would be posted to after
all today was another ‘day of judgment’. Amir Jamal stood in front of us and
told us that there was a revert amongst us and he was going to take the
shaadah. My eyes lit up, I was excited so I was going to witness someone take
the shaadah, first hand, right here in my presence. ‘KINGSLEY OTAMINI’, that is
a name I do not want to ever forget. I heard him repeat after the amen the
beautiful words ‘Ashhadu an la ilah illallahu wa ash-shadu anna Muhammadan
rasululllah’. Kingsley Otamini is from Rivers state and he read Estate
Management from Rivers State University of Technology, (RSUST). I felt elated
when that I taught him to say walaykum salaam, I wish he was posted to
Ladoja but his PPA is in Kabba. I know he would meet wonderful
Muslims there to teach him the deen. Amidst all the joy felt at witnessing
someone taking a shaadah. I knew a lot us do not know how to deal with reverts.
When Kingsley said his name, immediately a lot of people where asking for his
Muslim name. ‘Gosh! The guy just became a Muslim, give him some space’ and I
don’t know where we got the impression that everybody must choose a new name,
did Umar bn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) pick a new name when he
became a Muslim? I flashed back to when
I was in the shelter, I cannot recall
an Al-Ushra program where the topic was
on how to deal with the reverts. A lot of us that morning were eager to collect
Kinglsey’s number I wondered how many of us would truly follow up that call.
How many of us would truly be there for him when he would need us the
most. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
I
pray Allah forgives me and makes this write-up useful and help us to serve Him
by serving the nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-22828292791790455582012-08-02T17:55:00.000-07:002012-08-20T18:03:52.316-07:00CRYING IN THE RAIN<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8tX9JQCssC8ep1xD3Q-DQ4oCmIdWQaibHwCsDkHp80B8JRMlgup0fzWn8TpnT6pfVpqTCz9VvLn2Jvo2f_IgtKqfRPzaOEnA8SwyTYx8w_VkB-cl9lkaW0MwqruEji5M9M3kATAJ5Q3B/s1600/CryingInTheRain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8tX9JQCssC8ep1xD3Q-DQ4oCmIdWQaibHwCsDkHp80B8JRMlgup0fzWn8TpnT6pfVpqTCz9VvLn2Jvo2f_IgtKqfRPzaOEnA8SwyTYx8w_VkB-cl9lkaW0MwqruEji5M9M3kATAJ5Q3B/s400/CryingInTheRain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can
recall looking at the clouds thinking they were solid ice floating in the sky.
I thought the Sun would melt the clouds which in turn lead to rainfall. That
was me, some few decades ago. That was
me before learning the water cycle in school.
Me, when I was carefree. Me, when
the challenges I had did not last more than a few days. Me, when I was
innocent. I now understand why Peter Pan never wanted to grow up. The hardest
thing I have ever done (and I am still doing) is growing up. I had an idea of what happened to people when
they left the shelter and I nursed the fear of what might happen to me when I
leave.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
first time I left the shelter was during my IT; one good thing about IT is that
you get to return to the shelter. There were three people that were my great
companions during my IT; they helped me survive via their lectures within that brief
period in the rain, that brief period outside the shelter. They were Sheik.
Bilal Philips (How to be a better Muslim), Sheik. Jamal Zarabozo (Means of
sticking to the right path) and finally Sheik Yasir Qadhi, whom I borrowed the
concept of calling the school the shelter. (The piece of the puzzle). But now,
I have left the shelter and this time around unlike the first time it’s most
likely I don’t return (at least not as an undergraduate). My companions during
my IT, served as my raincoat but now I need something better than a raincoat,
something that would last much longer. I do not want to cry in the rain cause
apart from getting wet, nobody knows you are crying if you are in the rain.
Nobody knows the difference between your tears and the rain drops. Why didn’t
the shelter prepare me well and then I realized why some of us never try to
step up while in school. They must have asked themselves the rhetorical
question, ‘What is the point of becoming a better Muslim in school and losing
it all after leaving?’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we
have left the shelter, most of us left much unprepared. Truly a lot of us don’t want to leave the comfort zone. You
know when it is raining and you do not have something to protect you from the rain like an umbrella, or a
raincoat and yet you <b>must</b> leave the
shelter, you <b>must </b>go out in the
rain. A lot of us decide to stay by the side of the shelter thinking the roof
of the shelter would protect us. We want to stay in the comfort zone not
knowing that that would not stop the rain from beating us. Most of the time we
only make things worse by remaining there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Why
didn’t they tell us? Why weren’t we told
much about MCAN, We came here (NYSC camp) UNPREPARED! ’, I thought. I felt hurt
that my predecessors did not orientate
me well even though I had asked a few of them for naseehah. Most of them had given a one-sided advice and
to survive in the rain, to avoid crying in the rain one needs a BALANCED
ADVICE. That is what I intend to do with this piece (and I hope I achieve
that). I have decided to tell this in a
‘storo-article’ form and so we begin….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>CALL- UP LETTER.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>One of the greatest lessons
I have learnt from the NYSC so far is that it contains some events that reminds
you of the Day of Judgment and just like Waliyullah Abdusalam said, receiving
your call-up letter reminds you of yaomul-qiyamah. No doubt that day would be a
VERY HARD DAY because if collecting just a small piece of paper which is not
really a letter can make people cry (I mean CRYING, WITH SERIOUS TEARS), can
make people run helter-skelter, can make some people smile or laugh. can make a
sister say she wish she was married( I heard a sister say this on convocation
ground that Friday, even though then I did not really understand why), you did
not even remember to ask where some of your friends were deployed to. You are
so concerned about yourself, there is no doubt that THE DAY OF JUDGMENT WOULD
BE A VERY HARD DAY (May Allah make it easy for us) and let those who think
everything ends in the world REFLECT. Imagine what would happen when we collect
our records on THAT DAY, a record that did NOT LEAVE ANYTHING of what we have
did here in this dunya. TRULY THE DAY OF
JUDGEMENT WOULD BE A DIFFICULT DAY cause true is the words of Allah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘And what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is?
Again what will explain to thee what the Day of Judgment is’ Q 82: 17-18. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Allah, to repeat it twice then it is a serious
matter. But then, if you know
someone who can assist you and you have
good reasons for hat as regards your
state of deployment then do it but remember that Allah’s will would take place in the end what
you’re doing is just striving. It is paramount to know that someone who would
truly assist you would not ask you to go and bring any fee but then if things
go as planned it is good to always show appreciation. You would come to find
out that many people who tried to process theirs did not get what they
desired. When you get your call-up
letter and it is not what you had hope for please BE PATIENT and say
Alhamdulillahi ala kulli haal (Praise is to Allah in all circumstances). Try to find out someone you know that is also
posted to the same states as you that makes you feel better especially if you’re
close to that person. It gives you great relief and you can say, ‘I’m not
alone’. Posting your state of deployment
on groups you have joined (like MGS class or Chemistry class...) will greatly
help in locating people you know who have been deployed to the same location as
you. But before collecting your call-up letter, it is wise to have prepared for
camp as regards material things you would need. I personally recommend the list
below.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below is a list of
items that are relevant to your stay at the orientation camp in two categories.
Items in Category A must be taken along from home. YOU MUST NOT FORGET THEM. Items
in Category B necessities – they make your life more comfortable in the camp. It
is advisable that you take these items also along from home else you may have
to pay exorbitant prices to buy them at the ‘Mami Markets’ in camp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Category A<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
S/N Item<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
... 1 Original notification of result (or To Whom It May
Concern Letter) from your school<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 NYSC Call Up letter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 At least 8 copies each of 1 & 2 above.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 At least 12 passport photographs<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 School ID card<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 Medical certificate or marriage certificate and evidence
of change of name. (If you want to apply for redeployment)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Category B<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
S/N Item<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 2 white shorts(make sure it covers your knees very well
for the brothers) & 2 white T-shirts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 Waist pouch/bag (To hold your valuables e.g. phones,
wristwatches, etc. during parades)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 Cup, food flask & Cutleries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 Mosquito net (very important)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 Torch and batteries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 Pen and writing materials<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7 Stapler and pins<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8 White tennis shoes (preferably a water proof one)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please note that you do not need to take along more than 2 muftis
as you will be required to wear your shorts and T-shits most of the time. Don’t
take along expensive personal effects like laptops for security reasons – it
may be stolen. Try to ensure everything you have packed can fit into one bag.
You can pack all you want when you are going to your place of primary
assignment. Above all, hold cash that can last you at least two weeks – you
won’t be paid your ‘allowee’ immediately you arrive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>NIGERIA IS VERY BIG<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you get to be
posted to another geo-political zone, then you would have no doubt that
NIGERIA, no be small country and realize it is a miracle that we’re one nation
because we’re very DIVERSE. You would be on the road for hours unending and if
you used to fall sick while travelling by road, I would advise you try to board
a plane if you can afford it but travelling by road helps you know places
though the situation of our roads might be very discouraging but then it is all
part of the experience. It is advisable to travel along with someone you know,
that should have been gotten from info through Facebook or any other means of
communication. That way you do not get bored or scared during the journey. It
is advisable to be in your state of deployment a day before camp resumes. As to
where to spend the night, you could go to your camp location, they would
welcome you and if not try to locate the MCAN lodge in that state. (This is one
good reason why the MCAN and the MSSN need to collaborate especially with the
graduating students of a school, a list indicating addresses of MCAN lodge and
phone numbers of some MCAN officials should have been known to prospective corps
members before they are deployed, this is very important because one could lose
one’s deen just because of accommodation for one night. The MGS executives
should work with the MCAN officials in their state and organize a proper
ORIENTATION or include it as a special topic during any of the MGS program,
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>WHERE ARE THE
MUSLIMS?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b> In
school we often complain of lack of manpower, we whine about our 10 people are
assigned to a committee and only two people show up. Well school is much
better, at MCAN level things are… From the camp gate you already see the
non-Muslims helping you with filling your forms, stapling them, the way they
act as if they had memorized Dale Carnegie’s HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS &
INFLUENCE PEOPLE. Before you know it they invite you and a lot of people are
thrilled by their hospitality and then you ask ‘where are the Muslims?’ Well, I
know where the Muslims are, they are on their beds still sleeping and I pray
they wake up soon before things get out of hand( I think things are out of hand
already). It is not as if MCAN is not there but the man (& WOMAN) power is
SO LOW that such little things which would have great effect is lost. I think it is important that I state here
lest I forget that if you’ve gotten an admission for a post graduate program
somewhere and you do not intend to go for it. DO NOT RESUME CAMP, DO NOT EVEN COLLECT
YOUR CALL-UP LETTER, and do not worry when you return you would come and serve
Nigeria. If you try to ‘sort things out ’, by running your service year concurrently with
the program well ,let me put it this way don’t let the sacrifice of a year make
you have a long time regret. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>HE TURNED AWAY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b>He turned away; he did not
want to see her like that. He did not want to remember her like that. He wanted
to remember her the way he had known her in school, the way he had seen her
while they were in the shelter. He wanted to remember her in her Jilbaab and
not her wearing trousers. “So this is the fitnah of the NYSC”, He thought. That was what happened to my friend. I don’t
know the sister in question but then I understood what my friend felt and then
I thought of my sisters back in the shelter and then I could not just imagine
them going through this. There must be
another way. I recalled Abu Nassir’s answer to a question regarding the NYSC.
He had advised that it is better
one evaded the NYSC but one has to have
it in mind that you would not work in any government parastatal or even further
your education here in Nigeria but it would be a grave mistake if all the
Muslims evade the NYSC. We will be
indirectly killing ourselves but there’s another way (at least for the sisters
) is to have a Marriage certificate(and we both know this certificate is the
only certificate in the world that you are given before you attend the
institution as opposed to the normal certificates we have). So how does marriage save the sisters, well
this is the plan. Immediately after your opening ceremony in the camp this
takes place one day after camp closes, The PRO would announce that all married
women should GO HOME! How cool is that but it is not compulsory because you
would still see some married Women who don’t want to miss out from the ‘fun’
things in camp. I recall my bunkmate (a graduate of No Venna University)
telling me about a lady in our platoon he intended to go and woo only to find
out that she was MARRIED! The guy was disappointed but at least I was glad he
had the sense to let her be, but you know some other guys would not do so as
the Yorubas will say. Nkan to fe je ni ko je ko gbon (what he wants to eat did
not make him smart). So if you are
married it is advisable to try and process your posting to the state you reside
in, resume late to camp so preferably on the last day so at least you would not
spend more than 48 hours in that camp. To my sisters you would really wish you
were married before going to camp especially if you value your deen, ask
Ruqoyyah Abdusalaam to confirm my statement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>OH THE BLIND, HOW
FORTUNATE YOU ARE.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recall visiting the blind center alongside some
members of MSSN LAUTECH’S Welfare committee, I think then Abu Abdullah was the
welfare officer. (Even though a lot of us know him as Abu A’ishah but Abdullah
is the confirmed one) in Ogbomoso. I envied the Muslims amongst them. It was
such a wonderful sight to see them learning how to read the Qur’an using the Braille
system but then I envied them. I envied the fact that they would not account
for what they have seen, their eyes would not testify against them. ‘How
fortunate they are’, I thought. In camp you would see evil, it is practically
inevitable and I don’t mean dressing in terms of tight fitted clothing (that
one is constant K on parade ground). I can’t count how many times it was
announced over the public address system that the ladies should not take their
bath outside (in most camps toilet and bathroom facilities are not available. I
know someone who tried not to answer the call of nature throughout his stay but
on the eight day in camp he had to give in).
Even in the clear day light some people would take their baths outside
totally nude. Is it compulsory you take your bath? Where is the modesty, the shyness? Or did
going to school make us MAD? I don’t
know how true it is but I learnt a lady asked a male passing by while she was
taking her bath to help her pass the soap, I know it sounds bizarre but after
what I have seen in camp I do not doubt it’s possibility. Where did we put this
hadith, Narrated by AbuHurayrah:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Modesty is
part of faith and faith is in Paradise, but obscenity is a part of hardness of
heart and hardness of heart is in Hell." (Ahmad & Tirmidhi).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>HOSTEL LIFE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well if you were a
day student in your secondary school and
also attended a non-residential University like LAUTECH, then you might be at a
disadvantage in adapting to the hostel life but nevertheless you will survive
insha Allah. You room might be overcrowded and then your bunk mate and your
bunk neighbors are people you practically do not know, They could be cultist,
doing drugs, ‘breweries’, smokers of ‘igbo’ , they could be doing anything just
brace yourself and try to be smart. Be up very early like around 3a.m. to take
your bath in the very limited number of bathrooms. If your camp has a Mosque (I
didn’t want to imagine what KSK was going through in Benue), then know you are
blessed. The only thing you should do in the hostel is to sleep most especially
if you’ve got crazy roommates and no doubt you will have them. I recall my
Bunkie saying ‘Mujeeb we no dey see U, where U always dey go sef?’. I replied I was in the mosque.
After all Allah says:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>‘And keep thy soul
content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking his Face;
and let not thione eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this
Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us
one who follows his own desires whose case has gone beyond all bounds’ Q 18:28.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Endeavor to keep your belongings safe, if it is possible to
move the very important ones to the mosque do that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After having said mostly the challenges in camp in this piece.
Inshaa Allah the part two of CRYING IN THE RAIN would concentrate on the
benefits that the NYSC has to offer to us has Muslims, which sadly many of us
were not told or are too afraid to leave the comfort zone to try. Till then
inshaA Allah. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-87452806622454716812012-06-18T12:26:00.000-07:002012-06-18T12:26:26.249-07:00FOR MY FRIEND<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_0DSsc1q9pcRfuQpQf2sCm8ASg0oGW70co7T-lIbg7B9k3_-rujg_0eRHf7C9i2GoFrJz6duWAMt7IAHtL_IJ6GkNT-36-87gTcqMXhDr5dAt1GvI4NXv_X8EcsPjKe3OVqnGN6Efapd/s1600/Free-Abu-Taubah-300x225.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_0DSsc1q9pcRfuQpQf2sCm8ASg0oGW70co7T-lIbg7B9k3_-rujg_0eRHf7C9i2GoFrJz6duWAMt7IAHtL_IJ6GkNT-36-87gTcqMXhDr5dAt1GvI4NXv_X8EcsPjKe3OVqnGN6Efapd/s1600/Free-Abu-Taubah-300x225.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have always been fascinated by the Muslims in the west, no
doubt a lot of them have contributed in making me a better Muslim, from Bilal
Phiilips, to Khalid Yasin, from Yusus Estes to Yasir Qadhi, from Abdul-Hakim
Quick to Jamal Zarabozo. The list of these great Ulema is long but apart from
making me a better Muslim through their books and lectures they have made me
feel like a useless Muslim also especially the ones who are reverts amongst
them. One common thing I have observed amongst these Muslims in the west
especially when you read stories on how they accepted Islam one would notice
they had an OPEN MIND when they found out about Islaam. It is sad many people
where I come from do not exhibit this wonderful trait. Stories of how they become
students of knowledge and later present day scholars of Islam makes me feel…USELESS
. I ask myself <span> </span>what have I done for
Islam despite the fact I was born Muslim. <span> </span>Apart from the pain some of them have faced
from their families in becoming Muslim, their very own country has treated them
worse, from Amir Muhadith(Loon) to <span class="fn">Hakeem Abdul-Shaheed(</span>Midget
Molly<span class="fn">)but today I want to<span>
</span>talk about Abu Taubah. I just watched the deen show on Islam Channel and
Abu Taubah was the guest. I had no words to say except Baarakallahu fihi. Abu
Taubah<span> </span>born Marcus Dwayne Robertson used
to be a Christian and a member of the US marine corp. He was even a member of a
special anti-terror squad deployed to Japan, where he came in contact with TRUE
ISLAM.<span> </span>He later went to Mauritania and
then Egypt where he became a Hafiz of the Qur’an(this is what really enthralled
me). He later returned to America and established the FIKS,(Fundamental Islamic
Knowledge Seminary). I decided to find out more about Abu Taubah after the show
and that’s where I got the shocker. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="fn">But I want my friend to tell you his story, I
want you to feel how I felt. I want you to hear from Abu Taubah himself because
this is for my friend.</span> (<a href="http://myfiks.org/free-abu-taubah">http://myfiks.org/free-abu-taubah</a><span class="fn">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>From:<span style="color: darkgreen;"> Abu Taubah</span></b><br />
<b>To:</b> <b><span style="color: darkgreen;">Everybody else</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: black;">As-salaamu 'alaykum,<br />
Al-hamdulillahi Rabbil-aalameen and salaatuhu was-salaamu on the Prophet
Muhammad.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>To Proceed:</b><br />
<br />
During the last few days of the month of Ramadan of this past year, towards the
end of August 2011, I was arrested by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
and eventually charged with, "Constructive Possession of a Firearm by a
Convicted Felon."<br />
<br />
Constructive Possession means that a firearm was found in an area that a
convicted felon had access to and that the convicted felon had knowledge that
the firearm was there.<br />
It is not a condition that there be a motive to commit a crime.<br />
<br />
A "Convicted Felon" anyone previously convicted of a Felony offense,
any crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.<br />
<br />
Fact: The firearm was found in my home. My home is an area I have access to.<br />
Fact: I had knowledge of its whereabouts.<br />
Fact: I am a "Convicted Felon", having previously been convicted of a
felony offense. And I have agreed to plead guilty in this case as well.<br />
<br />
This crime holds a sentencing range of "zero to ten years." Meaning,
the minimum sentence could be, "probation", or "time
served" and the maximum sentence could be, "ten years."<br />
<br />
<b>What factors are taken into consideration in determining the sentence?</b><br />
<br />
The length of time since last conviction:<br />
Fact: "My last conviction was more than 20 years ago."<br />
<br />
The characterization of the person:<br />
This is where my case becomes a battle of perception.<br />
<br />
The Prosecution is attempting to characterize me as a "Teacher of
Terrorists." Google, Bill Warner/Marcus Robertson as he has an
investigative company and an entire site dedicated to this case. The FBI is
using him to set the tone.<br />
<br />
They are attempting to twist my statements to fit into a terrorist plot.<br />
<br />
Field Office: Tampa Date of Report: 2011-03-04<br />
Report: "Robertson is using the computer to recruit a bunch of soldiers,
the real Mujahideen who guard the Quraan."<br />
<br />
My statement:<br />
"Go study in Mauritania" field office perception is it means go train
at a terrorist camp.<br />
"Memorize Quraan" field office perception is it means -this is
initiation for future suicide bombers and assassins.<br />
<br />
My counselling a troubled young man who said he was "ready to die" to
go make Hajj was spiritual training and to fulfil his worldly rights so he
could comfortably give his life in some future un-named terrorist act.<br />
<br />
Sadly this is not a joke. They have their Islamic experts who agree with their
conclusions, as well as a number of Muslims who strategically slander me in
order to weaken support and "radicalize" me in court. Thats right!
Certain statements have been pulled from the chat-blogs wherein some Tom, Dick
& Harry is saying I am a Hizbee and they use this in court to show how
Modern Muslims view me.<br />
<br />
This is why I need the Muslims to write letters to my Attorney and to the
Court. These letters must reflect what you have understood when I said,
"Go to Mauritania, Quraan and the like." What messages have I given
you? What have you learned from my classes and lectures? I do not need letters
attacking the system. And you do not have to be American to write and you do
not have to be an adult.<br />
<br />
Just tell the truth about me, and what my teachings are. In reality, they know
I am not a terrorist teacher. The gun case just gives them the opportunity to
stop me from teaching.<br />
<br />
Please understand I did not have an illegal firearm in my home, even though I
am a convicted felon. I am still a member of the Special-Operations Community,
and on more than one occassion during the past 20 years, at the behest of the
Government, I have been in the physical and constructive possession of
firearms. This, in and of itself should have been enough to prevent my arrest,
but as we are Muslim, our contributions are marginalized and our actions are
looked upon with suspicion.<br />
<br />
To continue, the Judge in this case, The honorable Judge Pressnel of the Middle
District of Florida has to hear a view of me and my teachings other than that
presented by the Prosecution.<br />
<br />
<b>What is at stake?</b><br />
<b>1.</b> If the Prosecution is successful at defining, "going to study,
memorizing Quraan and making Hajj as having relevance to terrorism, they will
be successful in at least discouraging those actions.<br />
At most, determining when it is illegal to perform them.<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> I will get an aggravated sentence, probably as much as 20 years.<br />
<br />
As I have always tried to be honest with you all. I would like to say that you
people ask us to teach. You say, "come back to the West and share that
knowledge that Allaah has blessed you all with." But when we come back we
mostly get emotional support. And even in that, everytime some scandal comes
wherein we are being tested many of you all leave us flat. You want us to
sacrifice but you are not willing to even be bothered. You ask us to teach
class and you only come half of the time or don't even prepare. This has to
change. The Prophet said that knowledge will disappear through the
disappearance of the people of knowledge. Those possessing authenic
old-fashioned Islamic training and cultivation are rare in the world today and
even rarer in the West. Get it before its gone.<br />
<br />
I need you all to be my heroes. Do not let the Prosecution turn a simple gun
charge into the Terrorist case of the Decade. Do not let Islamic terminology be
defined by those who have a pre-conceived dogmatic opinion about it.<br />
<br />
In closing, I would like to thank all of you all for being a part of the
learning process. Especially the senior students. Keep the good work. Makeen,
Mahdi, Mr. Edwards, my wives and all my children. I do not want you all to
think I do not appreciate the many letters I have received, thank you. I am
trying to write you all back. Ask Allaah to help me in that. And of course, I
would like to thank Allaah for giving me such as large international family.<br />
<br />
this walHamdulillaah<br />
Abu Taubah</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-13758415223943869522012-06-08T00:04:00.000-07:002012-06-08T00:04:38.697-07:00GOING HOME<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYauabZU6FD32W7z7Zkp19jv03gcTr857hhGbGQj3j3nQ5PV7gteHTol33gAh18sP6S7SkR0UIr7W6kKUfz8kbOc0AjHSVn4dWBn0GFnymM9u8RqfIOojJG-BsaYaafvR8aWgv-BZsPa6J/s1600/cover-home-energy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYauabZU6FD32W7z7Zkp19jv03gcTr857hhGbGQj3j3nQ5PV7gteHTol33gAh18sP6S7SkR0UIr7W6kKUfz8kbOc0AjHSVn4dWBn0GFnymM9u8RqfIOojJG-BsaYaafvR8aWgv-BZsPa6J/s320/cover-home-energy1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Owolabi, where are you?’ The voice at
the other end of the receiver asked. ‘I’m at the motor park’, replied Naira. ‘Where
are you going?’ The voice queried again. Naira thought about the question for a
moment. Should she reply the question with another one like most Nigerians do
or should she give a sound reply. She opted for the latter. ‘I am going home’
she said, ‘and by the way my name is Naira and not Owolabi’ she continued. The
voice at the other end of the line giggled and said ‘I was waiting for you to
say that, fi amanillah cash madam’.<span>
</span>Naira smiled as she bade her friend goodbye on the phone. She took a
seat by the window which was at the penultimate row.<span> </span>It was her favorite spot whenever she
travelled . She liked it because there was room for her to put her bags and
avoid the </span><span style="color: #424242;">ostracized ‘Owo eru’ collected by the ‘agberos’ at the park.
Transport fares had sky rocketed since the removal of the infamous fuel subsidy
and Naira was not ready to pay any extra fee. Moreover she could at least avoid
any body contact to one of her sides if she sat by the window. She would feel
so uncomfortable if she was sandwiched in the middle but gone where the days of
being sandwiched while one was traveling.<span>
</span>Presently each row occupied three passengers. She hoped a female will
sit beside her. There were still about six people left for the bus to be ready
to move.<span> </span>Naira reached for her bag which
was by her side and brought out a copy of the book ‘citadel of a believer’. She
read the supplications for traveling. As she closed the booklet she reflected
on the phone call she <span> </span>got earlier. It
was Zahira, her classmate that had called. She often called her ‘twin sister’
because their names had similar meanings-shining. <span> </span>Zahira often called her Owolabi or Cash madam,
the former meant <span> </span>-‘</span><span>it is
money we gave birth to in the Yoruba language. Though Naira’s name meant
shining, it was also the name of Nigeria’s currency. Little wonder Zahira
called her names relating to money.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span><span> </span>‘Where
are you going?’ Naira thought about the question again. She recalled her
conversation with her roomie, Nabila some nights ago when she informed her she
was going home. Her roommate had suggested she stay back in school. Naira’s
roommate, Nabila said she was going to continue attending Madrasah during the
break. <span> </span>Naira tried to convince her to go
home but it was to no avail. It was obvious they were not on the same page. She
understood why her friend did not really want to go home. Home was not where
her heart was anymore. Nabila’s heart was in school where she felt at home,
where she could be herself. She had faced resistant from her parents when they
saw how serious she was becoming with her deen. The thoughts of home didn’t
bring back happy memories it only reminded her of pain. Naira understood her roomie’s
condition well. It was not as if she was having it easy in her own home too.
Her Dad had started to suspect that she was becoming a better Muslimah. He had
often paused whenever he called and asked where she was. Her Dad often called
when she was attending Madrasah or attending Halqo in the mosque and she dare
not tell him a lie. He would pause for a moment when she told him she was in
the mosque and then talk about something else. She knew what the pause meant.
She hoped things would be okay at home. As long as her grades did not drop,
they would not restrain her <span> </span>otherwise
she would be giving her parents an excuse to discourage her from attending
circles of knowledge, to make her a better Muslimah. She hoped she would do
excellently well in the just concluded exams. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘But you’ll have to go home someday’, Naira
said</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘I know but I won’t stay long at home,
Marriage would save me’ Nabila alleged. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Marriage would save you, so <i>they’ve </i>started proposing eh?’ Naira
queried, looking excited as she got down from the top bunk to take a seat by
her roommate who was on the lower bunk. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Nobody is proposing, so don’t get
thrilled’, came Nabila’s reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘hmmmn are you sure roomie?’ Naira
persisted, tickling her friend. Nabila chuckled and nodded her head. Naira
decided to let her be. If there was any potential husband she would be the
first to know. That was certain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘But seriously what if Marriage does not
save you?’ Naira probed, looking staid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Nabila looked at her roommate puzzled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘I mean what if marriage didn’t happen
soon enough or worse…’ Naira continued and then paused. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘or worse…?’ Nabila queried. Naira did
not want to say it but she knew Nabila would not let it pass so there was no
use trying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Sometimes we think something would
make things better for us but then it only makes things worse’.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Naira said looking fretful. Her mind
wondered to her elder sister who was married for about a year. She had also
thought marriage would save her. Her sister had gone through the same
challenges Nabila was going through that was why her Parents did not give her
much trouble like Nabila’s. Her elder sister had made that sacrifice for her.
Back then, any time her sister came home, there would always be dispute and now
her sister was married things didn’t seem any better. Her husband was something
else. He wanted her to pull off the hijab and look trendy. He often told her
she was an embarrassment and he could not show her off to his colleagues at
work. She could not blame her sister though. The fact that there was nowhere to
call home made her sister ‘jump’ into marriage without acumen. Naira did not
want to make the same mistake, she wanted to make home worth returning to. Naira
looked at her friend apprehensively. Why did Nabila want to take the same path
her sister took? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span><span> </span>‘Must
you be a pessimist, can’t you wish me well? ’ Nabila said irritably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘No, that’s not what I meant’, Naira
tried to explain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span><span>
</span>‘Abeg, leave my bed ’ came Nabila’s harsh words. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Naira knew her friend had
misunderstood her. It was better to leave her now that she was furious. Maybe
she would explain to her when she was calm. Tomorrow she would try to make her
roommate understand. But she was wrong, Nabila had decided to avoid her and now
she was on her way home and yet she had not made up with her roommate.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span><span> </span>Naira
checked her bag for the Mp3 car radio device she had bought. She intended to
give it to her Dad. He liked listening to Music. She knew he would be pleased
with it but for her the device would serve as a means of doing Dawah. She would
copy some lectures on her Dad’s flash drive. She only hoped he would not skip
the lectures and move on to Music when they came on. She was pleased that the
device was safe in her bag. She looked at her watch. She had been waiting for over
twenty minutes and the bus was not yet ready to move. Naira thought of Nabila.
She did not feel happy at the fact that she was leaving for home and she was
not in good terms with her roommate. It was true that the cliché was- first
impressions last longer but for her last impression stays forever. What if this
was the last time she was going to see Nabila. She reached for the zip of her
bag to bring out her phone. She pressed down the number 3 button. Nabila’s
number was on her speed dial.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Salamalaykum, is there any one here?’
the voice asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Nabila turned to look simultaneously
shaking her head. She was shocked as she took the phone away from her left ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Walalykum salaam, Nabila…What are you
…’ Naira stuttered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘So you wanted to leave for home
without me, roomie?’ Nabila said</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘You want me to die of loneliness eh?’
Nabila continued taking her seat beside Naira. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Naira was still astonished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span><span> </span>‘Where are you ….going?’ Naira said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘I am going home of course’ Nabila
said smiling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘So what made you change your mind?’ Naira
asked looking more dumbfounded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Well I got to talk to your twin
sister….’ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Zahira!’ Naira exclaimed,
interrupting Nabila. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>Nabila replied in the affirmative and
continued,‘ though initially I went to report you but she made things clear to
me ’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘I’m sorry for misunderstanding you’,
Nabila said looking pitiful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘Don’t give me that puss in boots
look, I won’t fall for it’, Naira said turning her face towards the window. She
was enjoying every moment. <span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>‘I’m sorry now’, Nabila said again but
this time she gave Naira a tickle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<span>The duo both chuckled as the driver
revved the engine. They were both going home to save their families.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-46360489322744278692012-05-29T14:40:00.000-07:002012-05-29T14:40:01.943-07:00NIGERIants OR NIGERIANS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
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<b><span style="color: #00cc00; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So it’s another day to recall democracy,
sometimes I feel Fela was right to have called it demonstration of craze. Little
wonder there was demonstration of craze today as <span> </span>UNILAG students took to the street to protest as the name of their school became MOSHOOD ABIOLA UNIVERSITY, <span> </span>LAGOS (whether it is MALU OR MAUL na una sabi)
by the Federal Government but then let’s
talk about something else, something more important than the ‘swag’ in a name.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>I
was listening to the national anthem on the radio today. When the second stanza
was sung I reflected on the meanings and I realized this should be our first
stanza, this should be the anthem all Nigerians should recite every day especially
the innocent children in primary and secondary schools before they grow up and
lose their innocence. At least may be God can answer our prayers through them. May
God bless whoever wrote the second stanza for that is truly an ANTHEM. So I
have decided to do the ‘Tafseer’ of the second stanza and maybe you would
concur with me that it should be the first stanza and also a prayer Nigerians
should say often. Below is the second stanza and we would go through the
explanations line by line</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">OH GOD OF CREATION,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">DIRECT
OUR NOBLE CAUSE,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">GUIDE
OUR LEADERS’ RIGHT, </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">HELP
OUR YOUTH THE TRUTH TO KNOW,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">IN
LOVE AND HONESTY TO GROW </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AND
LIVING JUST AND TRUE,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">GREAT
LOFTY HEIGHT ATTAIN,</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">TO
BUILD A NATION WHERE PEACE, AND </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">JUSTICE
REIGN.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now
for my explanations. I love the first line for it is in this line you find the
confirmation of Tawheed (Oneness of God) precisely Tawheed<span> </span>ar-Rububiyya (maintaining the unity of
Lordship). That God created all things. How wonderful a start. Could there be a
better beginning for an anthem? Now to the second line, Direct our noble cause.
What is our cause? Our purpose? As Nigerians? As a Nation? As a people? To worship
the God of creation of course. Do you see the link with the first line? This
worship does not have to do with praying to God alone but being good to our neighbors,
being kind to the wayfarer, by not being Murderers and thieves, by being of
good conduct. What a noble cause we have. <span>GUIDE OUR LEADERS’ RIGHT, what more could Nigerians pray for. Right guidance
for our leaders but we don’t. Cursing our leaders is now the normal thing we do,
we call them names and see nothing wrong in it and then you say Nigeria is bad,
we’re just starting unless we change. No wonder we are Nigeriants and not
Nigerians. If the head is good then we know it is most likely the body would be
good. Imagine you are travelling by public transport and you then curse the
driver of the vehicle you boarded. If you have an accident, remember that you
are part of the cause, remember you cursed your driver. The fourth line is a
message for me and for you if you are a youth especially those of us who are
students of UNILAG or is it MALU or MAUL, for if we know the truth we would not
come out to protest and say UNILAG is a brand, as if the name UNILAG would
remain forever, even if it is not changed now it would be changed in the future
that is one certain thing. By now we ought to <span> </span>have realized that CHANGE is the only CONSTANT
thing. As youths we would we should not act and think later but think before we
act because tomorrow is ours. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><b>IN
LOVE AND HONESTY TO GROW, </b>this is the fifth line. Now I want you to imagine
a Nigeria where we all grew up with these two cogent ingredients LOVE and
HONESTY. These are the things we need in the basic unit of a society, the
family. Love and Honesty between couples, between families, between tribes, and
then as a nation. These are strong foundations on which relationships should be
built: LOVE and HONESTY. The sixth line further buttresses the line before it.
We need to LIVE JUSTLY and also our love for one another should be TRUE and not
I scratch your back you scratch mine love. Following the message before it this
line tells us where we would be:<b> LOFTY HEIGHT. </b>Of course we would attain
lofty heights<b> </b>if we followed the messages in the line before it to the
letter and then the concluding part,<b> TO BUILD A NATION WHERE PEACE, AND
JUSTICE REIGN.</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> What more do we want in Nigeria, We
all want a Nigeria where PEACE and JUSTICE shall reign. What a wonderful
anthem. So tell me, my fellow Nigerians do we know this stanza by heart? Do we
recite it often? Are we NIGERIants or NIGERIANS?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-5209712870571250462012-05-24T17:01:00.000-07:002012-05-24T17:01:26.335-07:00THE FUN THEY HAD<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It is funny how Agricultural Science students
in LAUTECH travel from Ghana to Nigeria without boarding a plane or a bus, their
'leggedizbenz' must be hyper-super but we all know their secrets (don’t we?). I
am starring at the marble which has the details of when Ghana House was commissioned.
The name Olusola Alagbe Luther king catches my eye. I know that name. <span> </span>Seeing the name takes me back to my sophomore year,
to the beautiful city of Accra, Ghana’s capital. <span> </span>Mr. Luther king had hosted those of us who
went to Ghana under the umbrella of the SCSN (Students Chemical Society of Nigeria). ‘Bruce’ was then social director
of SCSN. <span> </span>I was not surprised when he
became PASSA (Pure and Applied Sciences Students' Association) president. There was no doubt that the journey to Ghana was a real
boost to his political career which helped him to become ‘prexy’. I recalled
when we were at the border before we entered Ghana officially and we had to
sing the Nigerian national anthem to prove that we were Nigerians since none of
us had a national passport. No doubt traveling long distances by road is
stressful but it sure did have its fun side.<span>
</span></div>
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It was June 27, a public holiday in
Ghana. It was Ghana’s republic day, unlike Nigeria, Ghana’s republic day is
different from her day of independence. It was our first day in Ghana and most
of us were fatigued from the few days journey. It had rained lightly but then
we decided to go out. I thought we were just going to take a tour around Ghana’s
capital little did I know that my eeman was about to be tested. <span> </span>I remember there was a little argument about which
fun spot we should head to but then I think majority agreed we should go to the
beach. ‘The Beach! But it just rained’, I thought. Little did I know that was
the beginning of my worries? <span> </span>It was a
long time since I had been to the beach, I think the last time was at Badagry
beach in Lagos and it was really a long time. You know Lagos has all the fun spots
but then I was young and innocent. The weather became clear and you would think
it never rained earlier except for the wet ground and some puddles. We got to
the beach and before the bus came to a halt the males in the bus were already
screaming and waving like they had never seen girls before(my sisters, you know
how boys can be). Then I looked at the reaction of the ladies in the bus, I saw
their eyes, I could recognize those eyes anywhere, I had seen them before. It
was those same eyes the girls in your secondary school gave you during your
school’s inter-house sports if they caught you looking at girls from invited
schools or worse still if they heard you say something <span> </span>nice about them and funny enough when you were
together <span> </span>they didn’t ‘send you’(my
brothers you know what I mean ) . Those eyes said only one thing ‘<b>envy</b>’. <span> </span>I smiled at the drama happening before my eyes,
boys and girls, men and women, males and females we would always be different. <span> </span>The Ghanaian girls waved back and smiled, they
liked the attention, (which female doesn’t like the attention?). Though they
were amused at first but I guess when they saw the inscription on our bus they
knew we were strangers in Ghana.<span> </span>The sun
was out and a lot of people where at the beach, after all it was a national
holiday. The boys couldn’t wait to get out, I can’t remember vividly but I
think some <span> </span>of them even jumped out
through <span> </span>the window.<span> </span>It was nice to feel the sand in between my
toes. I looked around <span> </span>and could see a <span> </span>lot of boys with Rastafarian hair and Bob Marley
tattoos all over their bodies. I thought these guys must be Bob Marley crazy. I
looked round trying to find a good sight but everywhere I turned my eyes fell
into sin. I decided to return to the bus. I think could hear some of my friends
calling, <span> </span>they were already in the water.
<span> </span>I took a seat at the back and sat close
to the window and looked at the Sun, it was going to set soon, may be in a few
hours.<span> </span>I noticed the presence of someone
else in the bus, she was a Muslimah. She sat in one of the seats in the front
rows. I had noticed her earlier during our journey to Ghana. She was easy to
notice since she was the only female donning the Hijab. I think she was<span> </span>one level ahead of me but I was sure were
both in the same department.<span> </span>I wanted to
talk to her, to ask her what she was thinking, to know if our thoughts were
similar, if she was thinking of the fun <i>they</i>
were having. If a part of her thought like me that life was a prison for the
believers and Paradise for the disbelievers. I wanted to talk to her but I
decided to stay put. I looked outside <span> </span>the window and I could see some ladies by the Deejay’s
stand drinking and dancing. It was obvious it was alcohol they were gulping since
they were holding those amber bottles. Suddenly I got afraid, afraid that what
if a tsunami happened here right now and we all died here. What a bad place to
die. I recalled the verse in which Allah says:</div>
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‘And Guard yourselves against a
chastisement which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who are wrong-doers,
and you know that Allah is severe in punishment’ Q 8:25</div>
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Some punishments affect both good
and bad people but was I a good person? I was afraid and yet I wanted the Qur’an
to give me hope. I didn’t like the present situation I found myself. I had been
in a similar situation in my freshman year when I attended SCSN dinner
award.<span> </span>It was at NUT plaza and a fight
ensued. I had decided then that I would not attend such gatherings but here I
was in a similar gathering. I want to die in a good place with good people
around. My name sake Abdul-Mujeeb Abdul-Razaq experienced what I desired later
that semester, May Allah forgive him. That night in Accra, in the beautiful
duplex that Mr. Alagbe Luther king hosted us I could hear the boys talking
about the fun they had. Everyone had something to say except me and they gave
me that look that… that look that said ‘boy, you missed’, like they felt sorry
for me . I left the gathering and found a quiet spot in the house; it was easy
to find one since the house was big. I reflected on the day’s event, thinking,
asking myself if I was up for this, if this is the path I was going to take, if
I wanted to become a stranger. Why did everyday seem like a battlefield? <span> </span>Would I be firm on this path?<span> </span>Only time would tell but I must try my best
and pray that my Rabb keeps me firm on this path. </div>
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‘<i>To the righteous (when) it is said "What is it that your Lord has
revealed?" they say "All that is good." To those who do good there is good in this world and the <b>Home of the Hereafter is even better</b>.
And excellent indeed is the Home of the righteous’</i> <span> </span>Q16:30</div>
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<span> </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-36934776249571747752012-05-09T03:37:00.000-07:002012-05-09T03:37:53.914-07:00FUTURE AMBITION<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I can still hear them laughing
sarcastically, laughing at my friend, laughing at the elder sister I never had.
It was in the staff room. There they were mocking, I was in fury mode but I
tried to conceal it. I wanted to defend my friend, to stand up for her, I
wished they would stop but they jeered on. <span> </span>What could I do after all they were all my
teachers. ‘Future ambition: Housewife!’, I think one of them said. They were
reading an edition of THE BEAM (AFCS IBADAN’S school‘s mag).<span> </span>I was in my final year in high school and the
edition of THE BEAM was the just concluded edition. Some pages, particularly in
the middle of the magazine were usually dedicated to the graduates of that year
in which the magazine was published. The pages included their pictures, Future
ambition, address and phone/e-mail. I can’t recollect what I was doing in the
staff room but I remember vividly that I was there. Bidemi had just graduated
and her profile in the magazine had caused an uproar. She had put in HOUSEWIFE<span> </span>has her future ambition and like most<span> </span>present day educated ignoramus my teachers
had thought that was backward just like many people would think. Though back
then I might not have had cogent reasons to defend my friend if I was given the
opportunity to but now I know better and Bidemi, may Allah bless her wherever
she is (sad, that I have lost contact with her) <span> </span>knew better even when we were that young.<span> </span>Now, we might think Bidemi is just some
ordinary girl that was never exposed or brain-washed by some ‘alfas’, Well
you’re very wrong. Kudirat Abidemi<span>
</span>Yussuff was no ordinary lady, she was well exposed. This is late Air
Marshall N. Yussuf’s daughter I am talking about here. Her Dad was the former
CAS (Chief of Air Force Staff) in the early nineties when the military were in
POWER! To me, he practically owned AFCS IBADAN because it was during his tenure
as CAS that AFCS IBADAN came to being. (My secondary school used to be a
Teacher Training college). I never had the opportunity of meeting Bidemi’s Dad
but I knew he was a very PRINCIPLED man and I pray Allah forgives him. This was
a man whose son didn’t pass the interview examination to gain admission into
AFCS IBADAN, and since he didn’t pass he tried again the following year and
then got admission! So Bidemi was not an ordinary lady and if Abdul-Mujeeb
Onawole was to give a list of influential people in his life with respect to
the deen in particular and he forgets to add Bidemi’s name he should be SPANKED
SERIOUSLY. </div>
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What could have made me to remember
Bidemi’s future ambition after all these years?<span>
</span>Well, it’s Rifdha, a 10-year old wonderful Hafiza from Maldives, (you
need to hear her recite the Qur’an). I saw Rifdha in the documentary titled
KORAN BY HEART by GREG BAKER (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpO-a8AIz7M). She
had the highest score of 97/100 and even before I saw her score, I knew she
surpassed all other contestants despite the fact that she was the only female
in that competition.<span> </span>Rifdha is a lovable
individual, she’s shy and yet funny in a special kind of way, mama’s best
friend and I guess you get the rest of the picture. She tops her class and she
wants to become an explorer but her Papa, who repented and became a better
Muslim on his Father’s death bed after about 30 years of Jahiliyya, wants her
to become a housewife, now this is where Bidemi and Rifdha meet. Rifdha’s
father understands that when you educate a female, you educate a nation but when
you educate a male, you’ve educated only one individual. <span> </span>By the way kudos to Lautech sisters, I know a
lot of them are striving to be students of knowledge as compared to we,
brothers and it gives me this great hope that the future is going to be so
bright considering the impacts they would have on their children but then it
saddens me that the gap is too wide between the Sisters who know and those who
don’t (that’s what I’ve observed and I stand to be corrected). I know some
brothers might not attend circles of knowledge regularly but there are some
basics of the deen they know but I can’t say the same for the sisters. Sometimes
I just get shocked at the level of ignorance. Rifdha’s Dad thought that Egypt
would be a good place to migrate to but upon getting there he realized that
things aren’t the way you imagine. He found out that they might have good Qaris
(reciters) in Egypt but he hardly saw people who practiced the deen from their
appearance with respect to the beard and Izbal issues. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
The stereotype idea that someone
who is going to be a housewife should be uneducated should be DELETED WITH
IMMEDIATE EFFECT from those who still have such in their heads.<span> </span>If you meet some females and you try to know
why they are in school you would realize a lot of them are in school for the
wrong reasons. I’ve met ladies who came to earn a degree so that they can have
something to ‘fall-on’ when their husbands start cheating on them, some came to
do engineering courses <span> </span>just to prove
that what a man can do a woman can do better, can you imagine! I recall during
my IT attachment, an Engineer gave me and a lady a lift <span> </span>his car to the factory as we entered through the
factory gates, I could hear the Engineer teasing the lady while signifying to a
man who was leaving the factory gates.<span>
</span>The woman was resuming for morning duty while her husband was leaving
the factory after working on night duty, little wonder the world is in a
topsy-turvy.<span> </span>I look at A’isha Al-Hajjar
, an editor on SAUDILIFE, who HOME- SCHOOLED EIGHT CHILDREN. Do you think she
is a block head who doesn’t have a college degree or do you think the job of
home-schooling children is a walk in the park? Among the things Islam as taught
me is that JUSTICE IS NOT THE SAME THING HAS EQUALITY and when you look at the
Qur’an and Sunnah you find places where the men are above women, places were
women are above men and places where we’re both equal. Look at people the world
refers to ask ’successful women’ you’ll find out that their family life is (or
was) trash, is it Oprah Winfrey or Tyra Banks or Queen Elizabeth the
first.<span> </span>During my IT there was this
Engineer Obasanjo that specifically said with his own mouth that women were not
supposed to be working in factories like this. He further suggested that they
should be in the education sector and this is what I tried to portray in Aisha’s
<span> </span>character in my VALENTINE’S STORY:JUST
ANOTHER DAY (http://www.mujeebunleashed.blogspot.com/2012/02/just-another-day.html)
and in some cases you have SAHM-WAHM(Stay At Home Moms- Work At Home Moms). I
do not know where Islam stopped women from working, from earning her own wealth
but what I know is Islam greatly encouraged women to stay in their houses and
we have people that work from home and are millionaires, some are even more
famous than people who go to<span> </span>another
location to work.</div>
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I know Rifdha is very smart but I
hope she’ll understand that her father wants the best for her. I hope she’ll
understand what Bidemi understood. So I’ll conclude with the words of Francesca
in the movie, THE PERFECT SCORE when asked what she wanted to be. She said
‘…I’d just be a mom. Not just a mother. I would be a real mom. Who cared more
about the title of parent than the one on her business card…’</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-68321343676283553892012-04-07T00:46:00.000-07:002012-04-07T00:46:15.626-07:00MY LOVE STORY<m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">MY LOVE STORY</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span id="goog_1707167770"></span><span id="goog_1707167771"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">She came into my life, when I needed her the most. When I had lost it all, the trust, the care, emotion.</div><div class="MsoNormal">She taught me that I could trust people again, that I could love and be loved with respect once more. She made me think different to how others would perceive. Whenever I felt weak, she'd empower me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqeeLfO6ZaZadWvo6HNItv8hUbu4gIIp-NKzHRX-O2D7ooo6wyWvcJPfDMLvW-tnPrWL5IahzXBo3sAeBqaDd0s8LTFXfL2ppKnYLV2c3cfNigxDyXSwPGlldv-HWnw0BgtuZQMpOj8d/s1600/LUV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSqeeLfO6ZaZadWvo6HNItv8hUbu4gIIp-NKzHRX-O2D7ooo6wyWvcJPfDMLvW-tnPrWL5IahzXBo3sAeBqaDd0s8LTFXfL2ppKnYLV2c3cfNigxDyXSwPGlldv-HWnw0BgtuZQMpOj8d/s1600/LUV.jpg" /></a></div>Her presence was pleasing and brought peace to my heart. The scenes of the world were colorful now, pure art. She showed me a world I never knew. She encouraged me to ask Allāh, that He would give. So by His Mercy I learnt patience, I learnt to forgive.We'd work together and be strong. Even though our journey was tiresome, and long.But fast forward and times have changed. The world distracted me. The love didn't increase,it just conflicted.</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I'm sorry,” I'd say regretfully.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> “Repent to Allāh,” she would reply.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the love wouldn't rise again and it caused me great pain. Our relationship began to change…</div><div class="MsoNormal"> My heart was greedy, and it wanted more.The gaze wouldn't lower when passers flaunted</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The heart said no, but the desires taunted.The heart covered itself in dirt of black.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Soon…she left, and didn't come back…</div><div class="MsoNormal">The regret hurt, and loneliness messed my head. I couldnot sleep, I could not rest.I covered the pain with sin. I thought it might remove the pain I was in but it only persisted and increased the desire to sin more. So I increased in rebellion but this feeling wouldnot go. I had lost myself. My regret was overpowered. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I decided to search for her and then I found her with her protector. She stood there waiting to be found, just waiting for me to come around.She missed me too. She still loved me but I couldnot be with her, until I gave her her due.</div><div class="MsoNormal">What is your due, I humbly asked?</div><div class="MsoNormal">“To pray, to obey, and be steadfast</div><div class="MsoNormal"> That's the only way our relationship lasts.”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“To be the friend of Allāh, and think of death often.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> To humble yourself, and do good action.”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“To prepare for that moment, when we all run away</div><div class="MsoNormal">Except the one who prepared for that Day.”</div><div class="MsoNormal">“So fear Allāh and be committed</div><div class="MsoNormal"> To our relationship, so you're admitted…</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the gardens of joy.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Don't be the people of hell</div><div class="MsoNormal">the home of destruction, a fire filled cell.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Mend your ways now, it's the right thing to do,</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Deep down, you know I care for you…”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I listened attentively, understanding. I was wrong in desiring more.When she was enough for me, when she gave me joy.When she was all I ever wanted, all I ever needed. That smile of that kid, who finds his best toy.The simplicity, the balance, the pact we kept. That's what we wanted – without regret.I asked her Protector, who gave her to me, back. This experience had put me back on track.Except this time I was sure I didn't need to exceed desires for more.The experience gave me fresh strength. The true Joy was in being content.We're now together – together till death. A promise we've, up till now, kept.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope it remains this was cause I love it this way. Oh Allāh, please don't let us stray from your Mercy and pleasure. Since that's the only way, we'll stay together.Now you know, this was my love story…</div><div class="MsoNormal">This girl, her name was…</div><div class="MsoNormal">īmān*. Except she wasn't a girl, she's my faith – that kept me strong.Īmān is my joy, my love, and pleasure. The one I've tried to find – through many – in Haram, Except this caused the least harm,</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The one I still treasure.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">P.S. This was actually a poem which was posted by an anonymous person on MM. I just modified by converting it to a story. Hope you enjoyed it.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3734918855371082462" name="_GoBack"></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-68357198047776995952012-03-24T17:32:00.000-07:002014-09-27T01:29:23.108-07:00CROSSING THE BORDER LINE-The Beginning<br />
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My mom smiled as she read my
final year project’s dedication. It read: <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
those who have learned to love chemistry despite all odds, for it is possible
that one dislikes a thing which is good for oneself and that one loves a thing
which is bad for one. But Allah knows and we know not.</span></i><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I had returned home to receive her blessings.
Seeing her sitting on the praying mat, I knelt before her and hugged her
simultaneously while she made dua’ for me. A mother’s love, what can surpass
it? She was elated when I called her earlier this week that I had collected my
final result and crossed the border line.
I flashback to when I collected my 500L Harmattan semester (was it
really Harmattan cos it seemed like Rain semester to me) result, my cumulative
GPA was 3.49. Alhamdulillahi ‘ala kulli haal( Praise is to Allah in all
circumstances). This was not how I had planned my final year. I had envisaged
that I would be in the comfort zone like having a strong 2-1 that practically
nothing could happen to. I had imagined that I would have time to do other
things than school work. I didn’t want to be reading like I was in 100 level,
trying to build a good GP but alas! I was on the border line I had no choice
but to still activate READING MODE. I recall telling Dr. Abdulhameed (Abu
Rodiah) that <b>I was given a grade E </b>in
CHM 545 (Food Chemistry, <b>who would say
he got an E?</b> After all the ‘dikoko- dikaka’ Prof. Faboya put my class
through in dressing ‘corporate’. He had often said he didn’t like a Dugbe class
(large class) and we were many in my class. Abu Rodiah had said jokingly that
maybe I didn’t pray well. I think he further said I must have prayed in this
format: ‘Olohun je ki gba E ninu ise yi’ ( A in Yoruba language is pronounced ‘
a ‘as in </span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pple
and not a as in bl</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">de).
I think he continued by saying that next time I should say. ’Olohun Jo, je ki
gba a’(God, Please let me score an 'A'). There wasn’t going to be a next time. I didn’t do food chemistry the
following semester. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> I tried to think when my plan for
final year started to crumble (comfy zone c G.P.A.). It was not news that
chemistry department was amongst the ‘crazy’ departments in school. I had tried
to cross in my sophomore year to CSE dept. It’s a difficult task when one is
trying to cross from one faculty to another. You try to attend the lectures of
your department and also try to attend the lectures of the department you want
to cross to. It’s like trying to look left and right at the same time. So what
I did was I gave myself a duration and
after that duration if my crossing wasn’t sure I will stay put in
Chemistry. Well I’m sure we all know
what I did. I had learnt of people who waited till a week before exams began before finally accepting their fate that they could not change courses had bad results that same semester. A good number
of them do not recover from the effect that semester had on their
CGPA. I tried hard to think again, to
ask myself when going down the hill began. Sometimes Chemistry department makes
you think you’re not smart, like you are pouring water in a basket. You think
of all the 7 a.m. lectures in the cold Harmattan, the long standings while
receiving lectures, the STRESS and then you collect your result. What do you
see? My set is a very special set. We’ve
been through a lot but then I’m glad we still achieved some feats (we didn’t
lose anybody to death, Alhamdulillahi). I think for most of my classmates our
dreams started crumbing in 200L. CHM 231 a 4- unit course dealt greatly with
us. I recall the exam vividly. It is one of those few exams I have written in
my life that I practically did not KNOW ANYTHING. Worse, it was a fill-in-the
gap type of exam. I was really tempted; I thought I was going to cheat. I
thought I had to cheat if I wasn’t going to fail but thank Allah I was able to
overcome the temptation. I had 59 C when I got my result (trust me I know the
value of 1 mark). Then there was CHM 211, another 4- unit course. Inorganic
chemistry has always been a mystery to me even till my final year. Sometimes
you’re confident that they should go and mark the script in heaven (as if that
is possible) that you’ll get an A but when people start collecting results and
you realize that ‘DEF jamz’ was distributed
around, you’ll be VERY GRATEFUL if you get a C. Then came second semester, the
infamous CHM 222(Angel of Chemistry) dealt another blow on us not forgetting
other courses borrowed from other departments like PHY 202 ( Dr. Yeye Odu punished us by not giving us constants in the test). Results were so bad generally that people started crossing in the
beginning of the third year. I sensed that we just got started in Chemistry
department. The coming times proved my thoughts right. I think in every
department, if you’re able to survive your third year then you’re a
genius. The third year for my set was
the year we became the black sheep of the department. My set became the set
practically every lecturer in the department loathed and it all started after
we collected our first semester results. CHM 311, an inorganic chemistry dealt
another serious blow on us not forgetting Prof. Ige’s CHM 331, I learnt people
sneaked out of the exam hall after seeing the his own section of the exam.
They sneaked out to go and delete the course. I recall a lecturer that
invigilated and saw the CHM 331 question paper,I think she said, ‘se masters ni
awon omo yi se ni?’(Are these students writing Master's degree exam?). But all this was just the beginning, few days after we
collected our 300L first semester result, my set became notorious in the whole
of LAUTECH. That incident caused so much pain to the members of my class, such
that some of us are still licking the wounds till now. A list was pasted around Chemistry department
with the names of the lecturers alongside grades which included 'courses' like
approachability, teaching skills etc. A few lecturers in the department passed
according to the list but it was unanimously concluded that my set was
responsible for pasting that list. After all, the Yoruba people will say ‘Aje
ke lana, omo ku leni, tani o mo pe Aje to ke lana ni o pa omo je’(The witch cried last night, the baby died this morning, who doesn't know that it was the witch that killed the baby). Alas that’s
how my set got into a trap we really never got freed from and most of us paid
dearly especially with our grades for that semester. I recall Dr. Adeoye when
he took us CHM 312. He had just returned from Canada, he wasn’t around when the
list was pasted but the news got to him. The first class he took us in CHM 312.
I think he said, I learnt you gave me two carryovers, I have come to do them’.
Then I knew we were doomed, only Allah could save us. But if you ask me, I do
not think we were responsible for pasting the list, what’s my alibi? Well there
were some lecturers whose name were on
that list that and they had never taught us, some were not even in LAUTECH
anymore so how could we have known. Though the odds were against us since our
predecessors were not in school as they were doing their IT (Industrial Training). Worse, our set was not given the
opportunity to choose, there was no INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY OPTION or ANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY OPTION. There was no escape for us. To make matters worse there were two important
courses that the lecturer who taught us wasn’t the one who set our TEST and EXAM
questions. By the time we had resumed for our penultimate year, most of us knew
that the question wasn’t about graduating with a first class, 2-1 or 2-2 the
right question became ‘when will I graduate?’ . I recall someone told me that
300L second semester alone didn’t make some individuals go for IT.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘ONAWOLE ABDULMUJEEB’, Dr. Abdulhameed called.
‘Sir’, I replied. He was sitting on the podium in the old chemistry laboratory.
My class rep. assisted him in distributing our final results. I could feel my
heart beat faster, I had remembered Ukty Monthurat Ogunyemi’s comment on MSSN
LAUTECH’S Facebook group . She had talked worshiping God wasn’t a business
deal such that it was only when things happened your way you were a true
servant and if otherwise you were rebellious. One had to be true to God in all
circumstances. May God help us have faith in all circumstances because
seriously it's not easy. I flipped through the pages till I got to the last page
(all the results right from 100L was printed till date). I scanned through till
I saw to the bottom. Cummulative Semester G.P.A =.3.62, Cummulative Semester
Class=SECOND CLASS UPPER. Immediately I prostrated not minding that I was still
on the podium. <i>Alhamdulillahil ladhi bini’ matihi tatimus saalihat</i> (Praise is to
Allah who by His blessings perfects all good things’. I left the podium and hugged
the person that wanted to ask me a question about CATENATE CHEM E-BOOKS he had
bought, he was a fine chap in his third year. I called my Mom some moments
later and then my Dad. Mom was so glad no doubt and Dad was happy but still I
could sense a little bit of disappointment in his voice, he reminded me a
little bit of KAMBILI’S father (Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus) when she
came second position. I know the idea of having to cross the border line at the
final lap makes one sound like an average student but then I can vouch for even
those that will graduate with a third
class in my set. We’ve been through a lot and I know most of us were the best
in the various industries we worked during our IT. Our results might not say
it. But we’re TRULY LADOKITES and I know someday the world would come to give
us the positive recognition we deserve. Insha Allah we’ll FLY HIGH. The most
important thing is Allah’s blessings. I pray He blesses us in all that we do
and I also pray I am one step closer in building the BRIDGE. I am grateful or
the friendship of all those wonderful people I have met during my journey in
this great citadel of learning. Thanks for proving that water can be as thick
as blood. Till we meet again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-88371990081351741572012-03-03T23:55:00.000-08:002012-03-03T23:55:50.766-08:00YESTERDAY, I CRIED<h1 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>YESTERDAY, I CRIED</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvScYl0BqjdqR9Yywxk8hZIt1e6hz5lWjzKkLjmqhQ8jkZ_6TNf95pYwnh2deP3szKgvmuokVD_0D1yv52h7ByeLp4p314OfY3Ge4fU-4s5ZCuz0Syiy9KZgzhR7KRHaPC9IVtyQJcqlC/s1600/tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvScYl0BqjdqR9Yywxk8hZIt1e6hz5lWjzKkLjmqhQ8jkZ_6TNf95pYwnh2deP3szKgvmuokVD_0D1yv52h7ByeLp4p314OfY3Ge4fU-4s5ZCuz0Syiy9KZgzhR7KRHaPC9IVtyQJcqlC/s320/tears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘</i>kilo sele?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My younger brother, asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t keep the tears away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no use feigning . I sniffed and replied, ‘nothing’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stood up from the chair whence he sat, coming closer to me. He queried me again. This time I was taciturn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel the tears as they rolled down my cheeks, it felt warm. No doubt these tears<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were not the comfort of my eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s true they say BIG BOYS( and girls too) don’t cry, but this wasn’t the time to feel BIG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad, </i>AUD (Ansar-Ud-Deen) Chief<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Missioner was interviewed in yesterday’s edition of the PUNCH newspaper. The words <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">To demand imposition of Sharia law is not wishing Nigeria well ‘</i></b>captivated me. I did not want to believe that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad </i>will say such or even any Imam for that matter. I decided to read the full interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flashed back to the protest against the fuel subsidy removal when He led the Jumaah prayer at Gani Fawhenmi’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>park in Lagos. Reading the interview was not what brought me to tears even though I did not agree with Imam <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Abdurrahman Ahmad</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on some issues he talked about in his interview but the COMMENTS, the DAMN COMMENTS made me cry. I cannot bring myself to write what I read in those comments, to tell you how ignorant people are about Islam, to tell you how people do not have RESPECT, not even an iota. I was infuriated, sad and mad. I wanted to curse them all. I wanted to make dua’ that Allah should seal their hearts and never guide them aright. I wanted to…How could they? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare they? Anytime I log into to the group ‘ATHEISM DEBUNKED’, I do not spend much time there, The posts there just gets me furious and I do not want my emotions to guide what I would write in such circumstance( Taofeek (fiko) would understand <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that ). I was in fury mode yet I wanted to say something, write something. I remembered Allah’s words:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did</i>. ‘Q 6: 108</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was not in the Sharia for me to insult them, to pay them back in their own coin but yet I wanted to speak . I wanted to write something. I thought of Prophets Musa and Harun (may the peace an blessings of Allah be upon them both) task when Allah sent them to Firawn, recalling my Rabb’s words:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Go both of you to Pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds; </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"But speak to him mildly; perchance he may take warning or fear (Allah)." Q 20:43-44</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt these people had transgressed all bounds but yet they were not as evil as Firawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to put my fingers on the keyboard; I decided to follow the Sharia. So I wrote:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sad that a whole lot of people do not KNOW ISLAM, though they might have met Muslims,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am said that this Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who said Allah's messenger( Muhammad)(peace & blessings upon him) said: Both in this world and in the hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Isa(Jesus)(peace & blessings upon him), the son of Maryam (Mary). The Prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different, but their religion is one (Islamic monotheism)' (Sahih Bukhari) is not popular . I am sad that people do not know the wisdom behind the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fact that Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings upon him) could neither read nor write. I am sad that people do not know that the Qur'an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>confirms the books that came before it (Gospel, Psalms, Torah)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'To thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it in safety so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way If Allah had so willed He would have made you a single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute' Q 5:48. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am sad that people do not know that the Arabic language is much closer the original language in which the Bible was revealed.(They are both semitic languages). I am sad that people do not know the TRUE meaning of words like SHARIA, JIHAD etc. I am sad <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the fact that we're flooded with information and yet <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>VERY IGNORANT, I pray Allah opens our mind and guide us aright. IF ONLY WE KNEW WHAT TRULY ISLAM IS... IF ONLY WE KNEW</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My face is dried from the tears but as I posted my own comment. I felt much better. Today inshallahu I will be taking the STF a class on Dawah Training. I intend using Sheik Kamal El-<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">makki’s’ GETTING THE SHADDAH IN 10 MINUTES</i> ‘(I’m far from being prepared, may Allah help me). Today I hope maybe from what I would teach, or from my comment yesterday, that Allah will open’s someone’s heart to Islam and then I would tell you that: Today, I smiled.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-62572369565342867462012-02-14T19:42:00.000-08:002012-02-15T19:12:08.048-08:00JUST ANOTHER DAY<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the balcony she stood, her arms resting on the railing. She could get a good view of what was happening on the street right across her house. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no power supply. It was normal for the power to be erratic. She had stepped out into the balcony earlier to cool off. The solar street lights made her vision clearer. The street was a bit rowdy as people passed by in pairs, a man and a woman, a boy and a girl. Some held hands, while some had their arms around each other. It was the evening of February 14, the popularly acclaimed Valentine ’s Day. She knew that in Saudi Arabia what she saw right in her front was not possible. Public display of affection was verboten, but she was not sure whether it was a cultural thing or an Islamic thing, but in her thoughts she knew there should be a limit to what displays of affection couples could express in public. A’isha knew the celebration of Valentine’s day was forbidden in Islam, she didn’t celebrate it even though she had been married for about two years now. It was an innovation and she knew quite well that innovations were bad in her religion and that there was nothing like good innovation or bad innovation, it all lead to misguidance. A’isha stood upright and sighed. She looked at the sky and gazed at the stars. She flashed back to when she was little and all she ever wanted to be was an astronaut, she envisaged it was a whole new world out there but now she was all grown up and she was far away from her childhood’s dream. She was a teacher in a school nearby but she had found fulfillment in her new career. She loved children and they loved her too. The popular nursery rhyme was true, the stars were like diamonds in the sky. She recalled how she had imagined when she was little that she would catch a star when she became an astronaut and make a beautiful necklace with it but now she knew that was a fantasy though she really would not mind having a necklace even if it did not have a diamond in it. She recalled the words of her Lord in Suratul Mulk:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">‘And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps…’</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An odd feeling overwhelmed A’isha as she stared into the starry night, she felt envious. It was not the feeling of being envious that baffled her but the very thought of why she was envious. She was envious of what she had seen some moments earlier, the couples she had seen across the street. No doubt she wished her husband was here with her but he was not back from work yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She decided to return inside. Her laptop was on the center table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She carried it and placed it on her laps as she sat on the sofa. She moved her hand over the touch pad to make remove it from sleep mode. She was browsing on the internet earlier. Her eyes met with a comment someone had made on a blog. It read:</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">‘for all us Muslims who cringe towards the ideas of all innovations such as mother’s day, birthdays, Valentine’s day etc, how many of us<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>actually make an attempt to care for the person in question in a way to make them feel just as loved without these days? There has to be a balance…’</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Yes!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A’isha, muttered. The comment reflected how she truly felt. She made du’a for the person who had reverberated her thought. That was all she <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wanted, that was all she needed, to feel loved even without <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">these</i> days. The thought that there could be a balance comforted her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She placed her laptop on the table and heaved a sigh of relief but for her today was just another day.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 26.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">***********</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A’isha turned in her bed as she pressed the snooze button on her phone. It was almost time for fajr. She laid on her back and thought of last night. She felt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tingly at the back of her neck, suddenly she realized her neck was a little heavy, right there on her neck was a beautiful necklace even though there was no diamond in it, she loved it. She turned to her side and looked at her husband. She could see his back. Her eyes lit up as shesmiled and put her arm around him. He was awake he raised her hand gently and turned to face her placing it back on his waist. He had not seen her smile like that in a long time, even when she learnt she was pregnant some weeks ago. Despite the fact that they had been trying to have a baby for sometime now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Shukran, Habeeb’, A’isha said as her husband planted a kiss on her forehead. Today was not her birthday or any special occasion. It was just another day but a special one to remember. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-13865081848057584762012-01-19T20:04:00.000-08:002012-01-19T20:04:39.329-08:00ME, ANTI-SOCIAL!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMYCOMP%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMYCOMP%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMYCOMP%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">I was checking through the divider and then I saw these award plaques. Inscribed on the plaque were my alma mater’s logo and the words 13TH ANNUAL AWARD NIGHT PRESENTED TO BEST NIGERIAN MIME ACT. The other award was for BEST NEW TALENT. <span> </span>I travelled back in time and actually reminisced that social night. The mime act was STYL-PLUS’S CALL MY NAME but fast forward to present day Abdulmujeeb. Well now, music is a quondam for me (though it was one of the things I found very difficult to give up).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">*******<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span> </span>‘Are you are anti-social?’, he asked.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘Me, ANTI-SOCIAL!’, I thought.<span> </span>That question was like hitting me below the belt. Though it is not the first time I have been told that. Two times in a row I have been presented with the award (though no plaques) for ‘ALWAYS INDOORS’ in the hostel I reside in school. My younger brother has accused me of being a bore (when he saw the title I gave this piece, he acceded). Am I truly anti-social?. I do not see myself as a religious person (I try my best to fulfill the obligations in the deen) but even though does being religious mean being anti-social? I recall that some brothers in Darul Haqq would say I laugh too much and then when I am in some other gatherings I hear I am anti-social. No doubt we are social beings and nobody wants to be lonely. Little wonder prisoners are kept behind bars away from the society and the worst of them are placed in Solitary confinement. It’s all about keeping them lonely. Seeing people every day is one of those things we take for granted. You could ask those who remained in school after the Okada-Mopol incident in school last year. I am not in the category of those who think Muslims should go and live in the bush neither am I in the league of those who think it is okay to be around people all the time. There are times you need your ME time (you know those times you just want be alone). It is true many of what people call socializing are not Islamic values like clubbing, drinking and all that and this also confirms<span> </span>Allah’s words:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">‘O ye who believe! take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks; they will <b>not fail to corrupt</b> you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths; what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs if ye have wisdom.’ Q3:118</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>Yet sometimes people see your trying to save yourself from being corrupt <span> </span>like you are arrogant, anti-social or that you discriminate and I am not just talking about non Muslims some Muslims also feel that way. Sometimes you can’t blame them since some people truly behave in such manner(arrogant or discriminate) and at other times it’s so untrue. I recall when I noticed that there was this distance between a friend and I so I queried him and he replied that it was because of the new principles I had started from the Sharia. I had told him I was still a fun-loving person provided it was Halal (sign me up!). I was still me but now <span> </span>come to think of it some of us truly shut down our fun loving sides because of some DON’Ts in the deen. Some of us never even joke, yes it’s true that we should not tell lies even if it is a joke but does that mean we should not have any sense of humor. Any ‘DON’T’ we know is in the deen it is incumbent we try to find the Halal substitute (though I know it’s not always easy to find one, even in some cases you might not find any) but then a good number of us just turn off completely and the only time we’re excited is when issues about the deen is discussed. I will grab a gamepad to play Pro Evolution Soccer (@ TAOFEEK ALLI, when are you going to accept my challenge?) or watch any TYLER PERRY produced Movie. In the end I am still me. I want to be a balanced person, I want to stick to the middle path because that’s the Sunnah, and though I might be anti-social to some nevertheless I don’t want to be boring either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-66051918695642353782012-01-15T20:25:00.000-08:002014-03-28T16:19:10.192-07:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-78856074412618356002012-01-04T15:56:00.001-08:002012-01-04T15:56:29.445-08:00WHO WILL DANCE FOR US?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“Dance! Dance, Champ! Dance! ”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“He’s throwing combinations like God put a motor in his body, uppercuts, lefts and rights, whipping that sucker all over the ring!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">‘’I’m calling to him: “Dance, Champ! Dance for the little children in orphanages don’t nobody want! Fight for them Champ! You the boss! Dance for the po’ people with no jobs , who got rent to pay! Dance for ‘em, Champ! Stick that sucker! Dance for them winos sleepin’ in the gutter! For them people who got TB, cancer, for them prisoners locked in jails and ain’t fot no bail! Dance for ‘em champ! Dance for them dope addicts everybody’s given up on! Dance for little pregnant girls who got no husbands! Dance for em’ champ! Fight for ‘em! ”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“ Whip them suckers for ‘em! Shoeshine ‘em! Shoeshine ‘em! Fight for them people needin’ welfare, for old people who didn’t get no pension checks! Dance for ‘em! Go ‘head, whip that sucker’s…! Have no mercy! Dance for them tired old whores out there hustlin’! For all them lonely people drinkin’ in the taverns! In the pool halls! On the street corners! Dance for the sweepers, little people moppin’ up airport floors, train stations, bus depots, gas station! Fight for ‘em, Champ! For the maids in hotels makin’ up beds, cleanin’ toilets! Whip them suckers! Shorty told them to resurrect you, Shorty told them to dig you up out of the grave! Ain’t no Senators saved you, ain’t no Governors saved you, ain’t no President saved you! Ain’t no bankers saved you! Them people out there saved you. Them people out there puttin’ new blood in your veins! Stick that sucker in front of you! Them people out there puttin’ new blood in your veins! Stick that sucker in front of you! Stick him all night long! Can’t nobody whip Muhammad Ali but Cassius Clay, and he ain’t here tonight! Dance, Champ, dance!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The above words were what Bundini (one of Muhammad Ali’s aides) told the Champ in one of his first fights after his exile for not joining the US army in the Viet-Nam war. Though I do not agree with Bundini on calling God shorty and also for some people he said the Champ should dance for but I pretty much agree with the rest except that I want to add a few. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">‘Dance for em’ masses who don’t know the meaning of fuel subsidy removal except that they know life might just get really hard, Dance for em’ worrying and aging sisters who ain’t married yet, Dance for ‘em students who got admission but got no money for tuition, Dance for them Champ! Dance! Dance for ‘em brothers who have tried hard to get married but hasn’t got someone to say YES or money is hindering them, Dance for ‘em strangers who want to be changers but the world puts in danger. Whip them suckers for ‘em, Dance for ‘em Champ Dance for ‘em lonely single mothers who want to fall in love again ” but wait a minute they ain’t no champ I can tell so who will dance for us? <o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-38984353225886959702012-01-01T17:43:00.001-08:002012-01-02T16:09:50.837-08:00WE NEED HELP<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My khushu was far from being high. It was Fajr prayer and I could hear him wailing. I wished he would stop but it only got louder. I guess the Imam felt the same way because the surah he recited was not long. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It was after exams and almost everyone had gone home for the break except for a few of us, particularly the graduating students. She was a mother of three, a boy and two girls. I had never met their Dad so I cannot tell if he was dead or she had divorced him or worse he was just one of those men that left and never looked back. I heard a door shut and then the boy said, ‘e kuku pami’. I could hear him sobbing as he walked down the passage. We all kept quiet in the masjid as if nothing had happened. After all we were just students and the mosque was situated by the house. I thought we were all weak. We were weak to see something wrong but not correct it. I knew she was struggling being a single mother with three children and one of them becoming a truant. I knew she tried so hard to make them all turn out right. But I still thought she should not beat him like she was going to kill him. He needed his Dad, he needed a father figure there are issues a mother no matter how super she could be could not handle. I left the masjid pondering. We need help, I thought.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">*** * **</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I could hear her sobbing but what could I do? I was far away but I wanted to help her. How could he beat her and send her out late at night and she was pregnant! She did not deserve him and sometimes I thought she should pull out from the marriage. But later I realized it was not as easy as I thought. Umm Yousef, who is a survivor and DV(Domestic violence) advocate said ‘The best explanation or metaphor that I came across over the last few years after I came to understand that what I had experienced in my marriage was, in fact, abuse was a YouTube PSA (public service announcement) that shows a woman slowly struggling and drowning in a tank of water, and just as she is about to drown the water gushes out and she gets a moment of relief, only to have the tank start filling up again. That is how the cycle of abuse works and feels…’ I ponder again but this time I try not to go asunder. Seriously we need help. The Ummah needs help and it is like we turn a blind eye to issues like this. Like it does not happen or like we do not know anyone that is going through such. I know talking about Tawheed, learning Fiqh are important issues but these things are also cogent and it is destroying our homes. It is destroying our very foundations. We need counselors, we need Muslim professionals not just the Scholars. I do not want to bear this burden anymore (at least not alone). So who’s with me?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734918855371082462.post-41042714030457363192011-12-20T05:32:00.000-08:002011-12-20T05:32:14.227-08:00MEMORY LANEI am walking down memory lane. I can see myself wearing a blue T-shirt on top of a black snoop-dogg jean pair of trousers. My feet are covered with a black All-star sneakers. I am stepping on my trousers all the way and the edge of the trousers is dirty already but I don’t care as long I am swaggering that’s all that matters. I walk down and I realize the queue in front of UBA. There’s a family friend around to help me get a post-UME form.’ I hate this school’, I say to myself ‘it’s not like U-I’ I continue. Weeks pass by, I have written the post-UME exam. I had prayed fervently that I should not be given admission to LAUTECH. I was hoping I would enter UI as a direct entry student courtesy GCE A-levels. Alas, the premiere University had decided to ‘normalize’ the school calendar so they went for a long break. I am tired of staying at home.<br />
I can see my name ONAWOLE ABDULMUJEEB TOLU, PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY. I am in front of the senate building in LAUTECH and I am looking at the admission list. Of all courses in the world CHEMISTRY! I did not like CHEMISTRY, no that’s an understatement I loathed chemistry. No form of excitement is on my face and my friends who accompanied me look at me like an ingrate. That was five years ago.<br />
I have just concluded my final exams. My last paper GNS 208, FAMILY, MARRAIAGE & KINSHIP(What a course to round off with). I ponder and tell myself so you are a graduate of chemistry, What do you even know in chemistry? That ‘s a complicated question. I sigh and then feel a sense of regret. Regret for not doing so many things I ought to have done in the last five years. I regret pulling out of the STF, I regret avoiding the Shura (consultation) committee when they sent for me. I regret not memorizing more Surahs from the Qur’an. I regret not visiting the health centre every week like I planned. I regret not improving tremendously on my qira (recitation) of the the Qur’an, I regret not following Abu Khalid on his Adenike Dawah trips consistently, I regret not being a consistent academic tutor, I regret not giving in charity more, maybe I could have stopped some of my colleagues from dropping out of school, I regret not being a consistent tutor,I regret not being the best in my department, I regret not starting CATENATE earlier. I regret not being friends with some people earlier, the mountains we could have moved together, I regret so much…<br />
But I could have been worse. I could have had a long list of all the girls I had laid or could have earned the nick name ‘brewery’. I could have been football crazy and cut classes like I just did not care. I could have cheated and been caught and be given extra semesters or worse rusticated. I could have been a club boy or just continued swaggering. I could have… but Alhamdulillahi I am not any of those but I still regret. True are the words of my Rabb:<br />
‘…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.’Q2.126<br />
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I wanted to transform to OPTIMUS PRIME but all I came close to was becoming BUMBLE BEE and yet people think I am a STRANGER I am not I am still ‘becoming’. Now 5 years is gone and I realize this is the end of the beginning. I have never felt so much love by so many people, knowing what it means to be called ‘omo iya’ and now I am about to leave and you all make me grieve. They say home is where your heart is. Home is where you can return to. You all have made LAUTECH a home for me. But when I leave that’s when I would need your calls and messages more than ever before because I would be on my own. So please do not say AbdulMujeeb Onawole has graduated and so you do not call anymore, you do not send me messages to remind to be a better Muslim. To the muslim community in LAUTECH, THANK YOU SO MUCH for making me a better Muslim. It’s been a wonderful 5 years. I love you all for Allah’s sake and I miss you already. PLEASE FORGET ME NOT.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14209734453972790584noreply@blogger.com0