Loon and Gates: Embrace Islam and Go to Jail

Islam has been unanimously dubbed to be the world’s largest religion by 2050. Most Muslims believe Islam is already the world’s largest religion owing to the rapid decline of other religions, high rate of conversions from other religions to Islam and the high fertility rate among Muslims.

Unlike other religions which get new members majorly from people of the low and middle classes, many reverts to Islam acquired fame and wealth before coming into the fold. Reverts to Islam have also been found to have been very knowledgeable in whatever religion they practiced (e.g. Yusuf Estes and Amina Assilmi) while a lot of those who had no religion have been high profile intellectuals (e.g. Arnoud Van Doorn and Keith Ellison).

Islam has also seen a lot of people who led rough lives coming into the fold especially from the entertainment industry notable mentions being Mutah Wassin Shabbaz Beale (Napoleon from Tupac’s ‘Outlawz’) and Muslim Belal (Ashley Chin of ‘South Man Syndicate’).

These individuals embrace Islam in search of the one thing no amount of money can buy; inner peace and they always find it.

Entertainers in the west enjoy a lot of government support for two major reasons:

• They contribute to the economy of the west through the sale of their works to other regions and
• They assist the agenda of the west which are primarily:

1. Psychological enslavement of other people and
2. Establishment of atheism

It must have been observed that western governments often take against secular entertainers or westerners of high status who decide to embrace Islam and do the dirty on them, they (western governments) almost see it as treason. This is born out of the fact that notable personalities embracing Islam boosts the image of the religion in the eyes of their fans who might decide to take in their steps (one famous westerner embracing Islam could lead to hundreds of others doing the same). It also makes the world question the various narratives on Islam by Islamophobes which will ultimately expose the various western conspiracies against Islam.

A number of westerners have gotten into one form of trouble or the other the moment they declared their Islamic faith, the latest has been ex-gangster rapper, Kevin Gates.

Dreka Haynes and Kevin Gates in 2016

Kevin Gates (born as Kevin Jerome Gilyard) and his wife, Dreka Haynes, embraced Islam in 2016 and went for Hajj together in September the same year. A month later, Gates was arrested for a crime he is said to have committed the previous year. Gate is said to have kicked a ‘female fan’ on the chest during a show in Florida in late August 2015. 31 year old Gates said the woman was pulling on his shorts and he had to free himself. On 26 October 2016, Gates was sentence to 6 months in prison for the alleged crime. 

He was due for release on Friday 25 March 2017 but his released was halted on the grounds that he had an outstanding charge of weapons-related felony in Illinois consequently, the judge ordered for him to be held without bail. 

Brother Kevin Gates is currently serving a 30 month jail sentence at East Moline correctional facility Illinois, his estimated date of release is 22 June 2018 (if a new charge is not cooked up again). Gates and 31 year old Dreka have two children together, Islah Koren Gates (5 years old) and Khaza Kamil Gates (3 years old).

A similar scenario played out on 22 November 2011 when superstar revert Amir Junaid Muhaddith (formerly Loon of Bad Boys Records and Boss Up Entertainment) was arrested in Brussels while on an Islamic lecture tour based on allegations of crimes committed as far back as 2006. In May 2012, he was extradited to America and in July 2013, he was handed a 14 year prison sentence for conspiracy with intent to traffic heroin. The full details of his trial never got to the ears of the public.

Loon embraced Islam in December 2008 after visiting Abu Dhabi. Born Chauncey Lamont Hawkins, the 42 year old changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhaddith and performed Umrah. After embracing Islam, brother Junaid ended his music career and moved to Egypt where he lived and studied Islam till he was arrested in 2011. 

Amir Junaid Muhaddith

The American government froze his accounts and assets hence; his family now relies on community assistance. Under the current situations, he will only be due for release in 2027.

Andrew Tate: Embrace Islam and Go to Jail

So it has become the zeitgeist, anyone thinking of embracing Islam has to pray real hard and recount every step he/she has taken in life because as a westerner, you are an entertainer and your crimes are just one of those things, but as a Muslim, the government’s ‘crime umbrella’ really does not cover you; you are bad business.

May ALLAH hasten the release of every Muslim who has been imprisoned for his/her faith in the Deen of ALLAH, Ameen.

Saudi Arabia kills Over 600 Muslims in December

A Yemeni girl brought out of rubble after a Saudi airstrike

Saudi Arabia has continued its onslaught against its impoverished Sunni neighbor, Yemen. Reports coming from a Yemeni TV station, Al-Masira, revealed that until Tuesday 26 December the number of civilians killed by Saudi airstrikes stood at 600 for the month of December. The news outfit stated this while reporting the death toll from Saudi airstrikes across the country on Wednesday 27 December. In the news report, a Saudi airstrike on a residential area killed a family

Does ‘Being Moderate’ Shield from Islamophobia?

Resham Khan before and after the acid attack on her birthday

The 21st century was ushered in by the World Trade Center bombing of September 11th 2001. The
scenes were grotesque to watch for people with faith and conscience. The incident was portrayed as an act of devout Muslims and this created in the world aversion for Islam and Muslims. Those who had Muslim friends pulled back and those didn’t; turned their backs on any possibility.

9/11 created divisions even among Muslims. Some Muslims were delighted citing past and current

MISCONCEPTION 14: Islam Supports Violence Against Women

Violence against women

Points:

1. The Qur’an permits men to strike their wives.
2. Muhammad (SAW) once hit his wife-Aisha.
3. Islam commands the stoning of women for adultery.
4. Islam supports honour killings.

REFUTATION

Islam Prohibits the Hoarding of Goods

Fuel gauge illustration and bags of food

The Macmillan Advanced Learners dictionary defines ‘hoarding’ thus: to get and keep a large amount of something because it might be valuable or useful later.

MISCONCEPTION 13: Islam Encourages Killing

Points:

Qur'an

a) Some verses of the Qur'an glorify killing.

b) Extremists 'justify' their killings with the Qur'an.

Islam Protects Workers’ Rights

Workers

The turn of the new age gave birth to the rise of civil rights  activism. People began to speak out against practices they felt were unfair. 

MISCONCEPTION 12: Islam Supports Suicide

Hanging man

Points:

1.  Most suicide bombings are carried out by   Muslims
2. The story of Al Baraa bin Malik

REFUTATION

SUICIDE BOMBINGS

MISCONCEPTION 11: Jibril (AS) Never Appeared to Muhammad (SAW)

Angel Wings

Point: There is not a single place in Islamic scripture where Jibril (AS) told Muhammad (SAW) “I am Jibril”.

Salman Looks on as Christian Leaders Voice Support for Rohingya Muslims

King Salman of Saudi Arabia

In the wake of renewed hostilities on Rohingya Muslims by the Burmese regime of Aung San Suu Kyi, notable Christian personalities including Pope Francis have expressed their frustration at the situation being presently faced the world’s most persecuted minorities. It is not the first time the pope is showing his dissatisfaction with what the Rohingya are going through at the hands of Suu Kyi’s government, but this time the pontiff has done something physically. At the plea of Pope Francis, a rescue ship for the Rohingya has been stationed off the coast of Libya pending when a green-light is given for aid workers to move into

Erdogan Stands Firm for Rohingya Muslims

Turkey's First Lady: Emine Erdogan

Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again shown his unflagging support towards ending the suffering of the Rohingya Muslims. Erdogan is one of three Muslim leaders who never hesitate to voice their anger at the plight of the Rohingyas, the others being President Najib Razak of Malaysia and President Hassan Rohani of Iran. On September 1^st, President Erdogan out rightly called the current situation in Burma “a genocide” and has vowed to raise the issue at the UN Security Council. He was quoted to have said in speech while commemorating Eid’ul Adha in Istanbul, "There is a genocide there,those who close their eyes to this genocide perpetuated under the cover of democracy are its collaborators". Mean while, Turkey’s First Lady, Emine Erdogan, visited the

Suu Kyi Insists the World is Wrong About Rohingya Muslims

Protesters hold placards critical of Aung San Suu Kyi at a rally in Jakarta this week. 

Burma’s de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has yet again denied reports by the world’s media
outfits and world leaders that the Burmese government with assistance from local

Umm Jamal ud-Din Waxes on Despite Criticisms

Umm Jamal ud-Din speaking at an event

Umm Jamal ud-Din recently (August 2017) came under fire by westerners after delivering an Islamic lecture in Sydney wherein she reiterated that it is sinful for women and girls to pluck the hair on their eyebrows in the name of fashion/make-up since Islam condemns any act involving altering the creation of ALLAH. Umm Jamal ud-Din did not bother responding to the backlash since she always knew it would happen. She continues to preach Islam across the globe both in person and via

Tough Times for Rohingya Muslims

Rohingya refugees offer Eid prayer at Kutupalong refugee camp near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border (AFP)

Even though the Rohingya Muslims have faced persecution for most of the past century, the true picture of their state has only become public knowledge in recent times. Following a recent attack by Rohingya militants on Burmese forces in the state of Rakhine (Arakan), the government has once launched indiscriminate overt attacks on Burma’s Muslim population. In the past few weeks, over 18,000 Rohingya refugees fled Burma to Bangladesh with smaller numbers fleeing to other neighboring countries such as India and Nepal. The relative ease enjoyed by the Rohingya refugees might however be cut short as the Bangladeshi and India governments in the past have carried out mass deportation Rohingya refugees back to the nation they ran away from…Burma.  The Indian government revealed last week that it has urgent plans to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees back to Burma. Last week, Bangladeshi operatives recovered the bodies of 20 Rohingya women and children from waters. Their boat is said to have capsized while they were fleeing the bullets and torture of Burmese forces. An official of the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, Sanjukta Sahany, said about the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, "They are in a very, very desperate condition. The biggest needs are food, health services and they need shelter. They need at least some cover, some roofs over their heads". Some of the refugees are said to have bullet wounds. In-spite of the inhumane condition, the refugees were able to spare some time to observe Salatul Eid in their refugee camp. Prior to the current waves of violence against the Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state of Burma, the UN had declared the Rohingya Muslims to be the world’s most persecuted minorities. Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi despite international praises as a human rights activist is not known to be a critic of the Burmese governments policies on the Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi told reporters after receiving a ‘peace’ award in 2012 that she did not know if the Rohingya Muslims could be called Burmese citizens.  The Burmese government insists that the Rohingya Muslims are Migrants to Burma but historical facts show that the Rohingya have been living in Arakan (Rohingya word for Rakhine) since the 8th century and only became part of Burma when Arakan was annexed by Burmese forces in 1785.

Islam Protects the Rights of Widows

A widow an her children

A widow is a woman whose husband is deceased. 

Widows have existed throughout history and sometimes, irrespective of their social status; they have faced the same challenges. 

The major challenges encountered by widows have been:

1. Deprivation of inheritance
2. Forced marriages
3. Accusations of murder
4. Eviction from late husband’s property and
5. Idolatry widowhood rites

MISCONCEPTION 10: Islam Supports Forced Marriages

Forced marriage

Points:

• Muslims do it.
• Muhammad (SAW) arranged marriages.

REFUTATION

Muslims Do It

Who is the Wife of Dr Zakir Naik?

Farhat Naik (right)

The face of Farhat Naik is not known by many because she wears a niqab. Farhat Naik holds a Masters degree in Commerce from the University of Pune in the Mahashrata province of India. 

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (First Class Da’ee)

Mu’adh ibn Jabal was a young man growing up in Madina when Islam began to spread over the Arabian Peninsula. His full name was Mu'adh ibn Jabal ibn 'Amr b. Aus b. 'Aidh b. 'Adi b. Ka'b b. 'Amr b. Ady b. Sa'd b. Ali b. Asad and he was born 18 years before the hijra. He was a handsome and imposing character with black eyes and curly hair who immediately impressed whoever he met.[1] He was already distinguished for his intelligence among young men of his age when he embraced Islam at the hands of Mus’ab ibn Umayr. Mu’adh was among the seventy-two Madinite who journeyed to Makkah, one year before the hijrah, and met the Prophet at his house and later again at the second pledge of Aqabah. A

Abu Musa Al-Ashari (The master of horsemen)

Horseman image

His real name was Abdullah ibn Qays bin Saleem bin Hadar bin Harb b. 'Amir b. 'Unz b. Bakr b. 'Amir b. 'Udhr but he was and continues to be known as Abu Musa al-Ashari. He was short statured of medium build and sported a thin beard. He left his native land, the Yemen, for Makkah immediately after hearing that a Prophet had appeared there who was a man of rare insight, who called people to the worship of One God and who insisted on the highest standards of morality. 

At Makkah, he stayed in the company of the Prophet and

Nobel Laureate Who Is Okay With the Persecution of Muslims

Aung San Suu Kyi (Middle)

1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, has once again shown stern resistance to criticize the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims when in an interview with BBC on Wednesday 5 April she asserted that the global media is lying to the world on the Rohingya Muslims issue. Suu Kyi in the interview when asked if she would be remembered as the Nobel Peace Prize winner who ignored ethnic cleansing in her own country said, “I don't think there is ethnic cleansing going on I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening, I think there is a lot of hostility there—it is Muslims killing Muslims as well, if they think they are co-operating with the authorities.” According to a report issued by the UN earlier this year, based on facts gotten from interviews with 220 Rohingya Muslims who are among the 75,000 who have fled to Bangladesh since October 2016, Burma’s security forces have committed mass killings and gang rapes in a campaign that  amounted to crimes again humanity and ethnic cleansing. Prior to the current waves of violence against the Rohingya Muslims in the Rakhine state of Burma, the UN had declared the Rohingya Muslims the world’s most persecuted minorities. Observers used to believe Aung San Suu Kyi’s silence or indifference to the plight of the Rohingyas was political, but a series of invents are pointing to the fact that the 71 year old like most Burmese Bhuddists might have a special hatred towards Muslims. Suu Kyi told reporters after receiving a ‘peace’ award in 2012 that she did not know if the Rohingya Muslims could be called Burmese citizens. According to Suu kyi’s biographer, Peter Popham, after an interview with BBC correspondent, Mishal Husain, Suu Kyi expressed anger at being interviewed by a Muslim. The Burmese government insists that the Rohingya Muslims are Migrants to Burma but historical facts show that the Rohingya have been living in Arakan (Rohingya word for Rakhine) since the 8^th century and only became part of Burma when Arakan was annexed by Burmese forces in 1785.

Islam Protects the Rights of Orphans

Orphans

An orphan is an individual who has  not attained puberty or adulthood and has lost a biological parent. Some people use the term ‘half-orphan’ to refer to a child who has lost just one parent only using the general word ‘orphan’ in reference to a child who has lost both parents. 

Whatever be the case, individuals who happen to find themselves bearing the tag ‘orphan’ have continued to face the same problems from generation to generation up to the present day. Orphans through the centuries have continued to face two major problems, namely:

(a) deprivation from inheritance and 

(b) abuse by cruel relatives and the community.

These issues were remedied by Islam which is the reason why there was no such a place as an ‘orphanage’ in the early Islamic community, there was always someone waiting on stand-by to take over the burdens of an orphan.

Deprivation from Inheritance

It has been the most likely occurrence in many climes for orphans to be denied their right to inherit from their deceased loved ones, this has led to many orphans being thrown into the jaws of poverty with a lot of them turning to crime later in life to make a living. On September 1 2005, Robyn Pharoah, a researcher with the ISS (Institute for Security Studies) published an article titled: AIDS, Orphans and Crime-Exploring the Linkages. 

The research item showed that there is some correlation between orphans left in poverty and crime. ALLAH (SWT) says in the Glorious Qur’an: And give to the orphans their property, and do not substitute worthless (things) for (their) good (ones), and do not devour their property (as an addition) to your own property; this is surely a great crime. Suratul Nisa (4:02)

In another verse, ALLAH warns with a harsher tone: (As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow fire into their bellies and they shall enter burning fire. Suratul Nisa (4:10)

Just like Muslims always say, other religions might encourage good but Islam makes it compulsory to do good by prescribing punishments for failure to do good. People found guilty of consuming the wealth of orphans are punished in Sharia Law and Islam is the only religion in the world that prescribes Hell Fire for people who devour the wealth of orphans.

Abuse by Cruel Relatives and the Community

It will be observed that the word ‘orphanage’ does not exist anywhere in Islamic history and tradition because there was no need for them. The moment a child was orphaned, there were always households willing and ready to take the child in in-order to earn reward from ALLAH. The plight of orphans and widows was the major reason Islam instituted polygeny. 

After the early battles between Muslims and pagans, a lot of the martyred Muslims left behind orphans and widows, ALLAH in HIS infinite Mercy gave the Muslims a way out. “And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.” Suratul Nisa (4:3)

ALLAH (SWT) made statements in the Qur’an showing a similitude between people who maltreat orphans and disbelievers.

Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?

For that is the one who drives away the orphan

And does not encourage the feeding of the poor. Suratul Ma’un (107:1-3)

Muhammad (SAW) also made statements showing how righteous it is to treat orphans well. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The best house among the Muslims is the one in which an orphan is treated well. The worst house among the Muslims is the one in which an orphan is mistreated. The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together. (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 137)

In another Hadith, to encourage Muslims to treat orphans well Muhammad (SAW) said, “Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart, and enable you to get what you need." [At-Tabaraanee & As-Silsilah as-Saheehah]

Due to these verses and statements of ALLAH (SWT) and HIS Messenger (SAW), the early Muslim would often dispute over who should be the guardian of an orphan. After the demise of Hamza bin Abdul Mutallib, the guardianship of his daughter, Umama bint Hamza, sparked some arguments among some companions of Muhammad (SAW). Umama's relatives quarrelled over who was the correct guardian for her.  Zayd ibn Harithah based his claim on his having been Hamza's "brother in Islam". Ja'far ibn Abi Talib claimed Umama on the grounds that he was married to her mother’s sister. Ali said that he took priority because it had been his idea to bring Umama to Medina. Muhammad settled the quarrel in favour of Ja'far because a girl cannot marry her aunt's husband. 

We see that Islam creates a situation whereby people crave to have an orphan in their care. Muhammad (SAW) himself took care of orphans. 

When Abu Salama passed away, Muhammad (SAW) proposed to Umm Salama (the widow of Abu Salama). She told him that she had three reservations regarding his proposal. She was hot-headed and had a temper; she felt she might be rude to the Prophet of Allah (SAW), and thus lose the reward for all her good deeds. Secondly, she was an elderly lady; thirdly, she had many children. Muhammad (SAW) answered that he would pray to Allah, and Allah willing, her temper would subside. As far as age was concerned, he was also an elderly man. Thirdly, as far as her children were concerned - that was the precise reason for proposing to her - he wished to be their guardian and share the responsibility. 

From these facts we see that with pristine Islam in practice, an orphan might cry out of sorrow for losing a parent but never from fear of deprivation.

Thabit ibn Qays (The Prophet’s Spokesman)

Thabit ibn Qays was a chieftain of the Khazraj tribe and therefore, a man of considerable influence in Madina. He was known for the sharpness of his mind and the power of his oratory. It was because of this that he became the khatib or the spokesman and orator of the Prophet and Islam in general. 

He embraced Islam at the hands of Musab ibn Umayr whose cool and persuasive logic and the sweetness and beauty of his Quran recital proved irresistible. 

When the Prophet (SAW) arrived in Madinah, Thabit and a great gathering of horsemen gave him a warm and enthusiastic welcome. Thabit acted as their spokesman and delivered a speech in the presence of the Prophet and his companion, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. He began by giving praise to God Almighty and invoking peace and blessings on His Prophet and ended up by saying: "We give our pledge to you, O Messenger of God, that we would protect you from all that we protect ourselves, our children and our wives. 

What would then be our reward for this?" The speech was reminiscent of words spoken at the second Pledge of Aqabah and the Prophet's reply as then was the same: "Al-Jannah - Paradise!" When the Madinites heard the word "al-Jannah" their faces beamed with Joy and excitement and their response was: "We are pleased, O Messenger of God! We are pleased, O Messenger of God." From that day on the Prophet (SAW) made Thabit ibn Qays his Khatib, just as Hassan ibn Thabit was his poet. 

When delegations of Arabs came to him to show off their brilliance in verse and the strength of their oratory skills, the Prophet (SAW) would call upon Thabit ibn Qays to challenge their orators and Hassan ibn Thabit to vaunt his verses before their poets. In the Year of the Delegations, the ninth after the Hijrah, tribes from all over the Arabian Peninsula came to Madinah to pay homage to the Prophet (SAW), either to announce their acceptance of Islam or to pay jizyah in return for the protection of the Muslim state. One of these was a delegation from the tribe of Tamim who said to the Prophet: "We have come to show our prowess to you. Do give permission to our Shaif and our Khatib to speak." The Prophet (SAW) smiled and said: "I permit your Khatib. Let him speak."

Their orator, Utarid ibn Hajib, got up and held forth on the greatness and achievements of their tribe and when he was finished the Prophet summoned Thabit ibn Qays and said: "Stand and reply to him." Thabit rose and said: "Praise be to God Whose creation is the entire heavens and the earth wherein His will has been made manifest. His Throne is the extent of His knowledge and there is nothing which does not exist through His grace. Through His power He has made us leaders and from the best of His creation He has chosen a Messenger who is the most honorable of men in lineage, the most reliable and true in speech and the most excellent in deeds. He has revealed to him a book and chosen him as a leader of His creation. Among all creation, he is a blessing of God. He summoned people to have faith in Him. The Emigrants from among his people and his relations who are the most honorable people in esteem and the best in deeds believed in him. Then, we the Ansar (Helpers) were the first people to respond (to his call for support). So we are the Helpers of God and the ministers of His Messenger."

He was especially sensitive and cautious of saying or doing anything that would incur the wrath of God Almighty. One day the Prophet saw him looking not just sad but dejected and afraid. His shoulders were hunched and he was actually cringing from fear. "What's wrong with you, O Abu Muhammad?" asked the Prophet. "I fear that I might be destroyed, O Messenger of God," he said. "And why?" asked the Prophet. "Almighty ALLAH has prohibited us from desiring to be praised for what we did not do but I find myself liking praise. He has prohibited us from being proud and I find myself tending towards vanity." 

This was the time when the verse of the Quran was revealed: "Indeed, God does not love any arrogant boaster." Suratul Lukman (31:18)

The Prophet (SAW) then tried to calm his anxieties and allay his fears and eventually said to him: "O Thabit, aren't you pleased to live as someone who is praised, and to die as a martyr and to enter Paradise?" Thabit's face beamed with happiness and joy as he said: "Certainly, O Messenger of God." "Indeed, that shall be yours," replied the noble Prophet. 

There was another occasion when Thabit became sad and crest-fallen, when the words of the Quran were revealed: "O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet and neither speak loudly to him as you would speak loudly to one another, lest all your deeds come to naught without your perceiving it." Suratul Hujarat (49:2)

On hearing these words, Thabit kept away from the meetings and gatherings of the Prophet in spite of his great love for him and his hitherto constant presence in his company. He stayed in his house without ever leaving it except for the performance of the obligatory Salat. The Prophet (SAW) missed his presence and asked for information about him. A man from the Ansar volunteered and went to Thabit's house. He found Thabit sitting in his house, sad and dejected.

"What's the matter with you?" asked the man. "It's bad," replied Thabit. "You know that I am a man with a loud voice and that my voice is far louder than that of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace. And you know what has been revealed in the Quran. The only result for me is that my deeds will come to naught and I will be among the people who go to the fire of hell." 

The man returned to the Prophet and told him what he had seen and heard and the Prophet instructed him to return to Thabit and say: "You are not among the people who will go to the fire of hell but you will be among the people of Paradise." Such was the tremendously good news with which Thabit ibn Qays was blessed. 

The incidents showed how alive and sensitive he was to the Prophet and the commands of Islam and his readiness to observe the letter and the spirit of its laws. He subjected himself to the most stringent self-criticism. His was a God-fearing and penitent heart which trembled and shook through the fear of God. 

Thabit bin Qays was martyred in the battle of Yamamah in 12 A.H.

Research: Ruku and Sujud Can Cure Back Ache

Muslim man in Sujud position

As Muslims have been told severally, every single thing that has been commanded in the Qur’an and Sunnah of Muhammad (SAW) is to the benefit of mankind. Another piece of evidence to that effect surfaced last week when a Professor at Binghamton University, Muhammad Khasawneh, published his findings which showed that performing the Ruku and Sujud postures of Salah (Muslim prayer) properly created certain pressures in the lower back which improves the elasticity of joints in the region. Researchers analysed statistics based on the movements of computer-generated digital human images of healthy Indian, Asian, and American men and women, and models with lower back pain. According to Khasawneh, "The maximum compression forces created during prayer postures is much lower than National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) safety limits, and the movements can be safely considered a clinical treatment for low back pain, as it requires different movements of the human body on a regular basis. The kneeling posture (sujud) increases the elasticity of joints. It is recommended for these individuals to spend more time in the kneeling posture". Professor Muhammad Khasawneh’s findings have been published in the International Journal of Systems Engineering. Present era scientific researches have shown the health benefits of Islamic practices such as fasting long hours over several days.

The Statement of Ali bin Abu Talib Can Play Out in Nigeria

Muhammadu Buhari

Even though the Sahabah (Companions of Prophet Muhammad) were not prophets, they lived with the Prophet (SAW) and learnt a lot from him. Those who were bereft of wisdom became wise and those who were wise had their wisdom confirmed by ALLAH (SWT) in different verses of the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet (SAW). 

For instance, ALLAH talked about Abu Bakr Siddique in the Qur’an, “If you help him (Muhammad) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they both [Muhammad and Abu Bakr] were in the cave, and he said to his companion [Abu Bakr]: "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us." Then Allah sent down His calmness upon him, and strengthened him with forces which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." Suratul Tawbah (9:40)

The Prophet (SAW) talked about Mu’adh bin Jabal’s outstanding wisdom in matters relating to haram and halal; the Prophet (SAW) said, "The most knowledgeable of my ummah in matters of halal and haram is Muadh ibn Jabal."

So many other instances abound when talking about the stamped and approved wisdom of the Sahabah which means it will be wise to pay attention to their sayings and actions.

In a historic letter written by Ali bin Abu Talib to his then governor in Egypt, Malik  Ashtar, advising him on the qualities of a leader, among the things Ali said was: 

“Beware! Abstain from shedding blood without a valid cause. There is nothing more harmful than this which brings about one's ruin. The blood that is willfully shed shortens the life of a state. On the Day of Judgment it is this crime for which one will have to answer first. So, beware! Do not wish to build the strength of your state on blood; for, it is this blood which ultimately weakens the state and passes it on to other hands. Before me and my God no excuse for willful killing can be entertained.” 

This statement is the pillar of this write-up.

President Muhammadu Buhari came to power on the 29^th of April 2015 with great delight in the hearts of majority of Nigerians, hopes were high and for a moment it greatly felt like the hopes were not misplaced. 

The major problems facing Nigeria talking about poor power supply, long ques at filling stations, security challenges, e.t.c. began to fade away. 

Then on one unfaithful day it was all over the news that over a thousand Shiites comprising of women, girls, children and the elderly had been killed by Nigerian soldiers because some Shiites prevented top military officials from passing through a road. After the soldiers gunned down those who were present to block the road, they went back at night to kill their relatives and demolish their houses and places of worship. 

The soldiers were praised by both Muslims and Christians alike with most of the praises coming from Muslims. A lot of Nigerian Muslims identifying as Sunnis were happy basically due to the historic Sunni-Shia rivalry. Christians on the other hand were happy due to the Muslim-Christian rivalry. 

What followed the December 12^th 2015 massacre were skirmishes and crack-downs by Nigerian security personnel and Sunnis leading to the death, abuse and detention of hundreds of Shiites. A trend followed the onslaught which many are either too arrogant to accept or too blind to see. 

The progress of the Buhari administration began to dwindle; the blackouts resumed, boko haram returned, fuel and food prices soared like never before and to crown it up-Buhari’s health deteriorated. 

The popularity of Muhammadu Buhari and his party, APC has crashed and so many supporters have become ex-supporters. The strong feeling in the air in Nigeria currently is that Buhari and APC will not return to power come 2023. 

This will not be strange to people who read and think because it will be in-line with what Ali bin Abu Talib said. 

It is worthy to note that this scenario also played itself out in the administration of late Musa Yar’adua when Nigerian soldiers and Police killed scores of civilians in the name of fighting boko haram. 

Yar’adua did not live to see the end of his tenure, the land moved from his hands to the hands of others (from the hands of the Muslims to the hands of the non-Muslims) as a result of which Muslims paid a high price. 

In this statement of Ali bin Abu Talib however, it was not stated how the power shift will occur, it is therefore left to us to observe our communities and figure that out. There is however a remedy to the current impasse in the country. 

The administration of Muhammadu Buhari must own-up to the fact that the Nigerian soldiers transgressed in Zaria on December 12^th 2015 and people must be brought to book. 

The administration must compensate the victims of these acts of abuse and finally; the administration must heed to the court decision to free the Shiites it has in captivity including their leader-Ibrahim Zakzaky.

This write-up is just an advice and as it is with pieces of advice, they can be taken and they can be rejected. Whatever is decided, time will tell.

I will like to leave the reader with this quote from the Glorious Qur'an:

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do." 

Suratul Ma'idah (5:8)

Juwayriyyah Bint al-Harith (The One Who Benefitted Her People)

The Prophet (SAW) named her Juwayriyyah himself. Before this, her name was Barrah. The Prophet (SAW) on a number of occasions changed the names of people when they embraced Islam to more reasonable ones. He did this so that his Companions would shun anything which was related to the time of ignorance. The Prophet (SAW) disliked that a person should praise himself and the name ‘Barrah’ is derived from the term birr, which means righteousness. How then can a person be openly called "righteous"^[1]? The Prophet

HAFSAH BINT UMAR (The Custodian of the Book of ALLAH)

Hafsah was one of the daughters Umar ibn al-Khattaab (The Second Caliph). Her full name was

Hafsa bint Umar b. al-Khattab b. Nufayl b. 'Abdul-'Uza b. Riyah b. 'Abdullah b. Qurt b.Razah b. 'Adi. In Arabic, Hafs is one of the names given to the lion. The Prophet (SAW) would often address Umar (RA) as Abu Hafs (the father of Hafs, i.e. Hafsah). Hafsah was born 16 years before the Hijra; 3 years before the Prophet Hood of Muhammad (SAW) and was among the Mothers of the Believers.

Before she was married to the Prophet (SAW) she was married to