COVID-19: Perfect Time For Pastors To Show Their Worth

Top Nigerian Pastors

Major cities and countries across the world have  been placed under lock down and thousands of isolation centers have been created to battle the dreaded corona virus. 

Celebrities, politicians, business moguls and known philanthropists have made charity a pillar of humanity to assist local and foreign governments in their struggle to save lives and ease suffering.

Philanthropists have been making donations to augment the purchase of medical supplies, aid the establishment of isolation centers and provide welfare packages for to health workers. Countries in the developed world have also channeled these donations to the provision of periodic food supplies to homes to help families cope with the lock down.

Religion has become such a lucrative enterprise in the modern era that religious figures now appear on Forbes magazine yearly. 

Since the turn of the 21st century, Nigerian pastors have continued to break grounds  in this venture, Nigerian Pastor, David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), is currently the richest pastor in the world with a net worth of $150 million according to the 2020 edition of Forbes magazine. This wealth is primarily gotten from monthly tithes and businesses established from tithes. 

There are four other Nigerian men of God who always grace Forbes magazine editions, they are:

• Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy (No. 3 with $50 million)

• Pastor Enoch Adeboye of Redeem Christian Church of God (No. 5 with $39 million)

• Prophet T. B. Joshua of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (No. 9 with $10-15 million)

Another millionaire pastor from Nigeria not captured in Forbes list for 2020 is Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Center with an estimated net worth of $16 million.

Until yesterday (Monday 30^th March), we were yet to hear any of these men of God coming forward to offer assistance of any kind even if it were exclusively for their church members.

The Redeem Christian Church of God headed by Pastor Enoch Adeboye (5^th Richest pastor) donated medical supplies which included 8, 000 hand sanitizers, 8, 000 face masks and 200, 000 hand gloves to the Lagos state government. 

Some have questioned, what happens to the church members in other states? It was not clear if the donations came from church coffers or the private pocket of the Pastor Adeboye.

In the midst of all these cries of sickness and financial hardship, the Church of the richest pastor in the world, Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), announced this month the introduction of USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) so that members can still pay their tithes despite the closure of banks; he came under heavy fire.

The lock down has also birthed economic hardship which has majorly affected the plebeian population which includes market traders, artisans, and other members of the low class who depend on daily incomes to survive. 

The vast majority of Christians who follow these men of God are from this class of people, when will it ever be time for them to reap the benefits of their loyalty to ‘God and His men on earth’?

An argument our men of God might bring forth is that the government of Nigeria is wealthy enough to tackle the issue and financial donations will only provide the government excuses to neglect its duties.

This argument is logical in a way however, it still does not justify the deafening silence from our men of God.

Nigerian pastors became popular and influential after several years of them displaying spiritual abilities to heal the sick from all kinds of diseases. Some of them have even been said to raise the dead. 

Shouldn’t we be seeing our men of God traversing the country and the world healing the corona virus patients and bringing the pandemic to an end once and for all? Isn’t that what the Lord Jesus would have done?

Corona virus cases in Nigeria currently stand at 132 with two fatalities even though thousands are still at risk of contracting the virus. Researchers and thinkers have forecast that the virus could kill as many as 10 million people in Africa

COVID-19: Niger State Govt. Bans Burials

Islamic funeral procession in Nigeria

One Friday (27^th March), jingles began to play on local radio stations stating the dissatisfaction of the Niger state government with what it calls low compliance with the curfew order. 

The jingles which were made in Nupe, Gbagyi, Hausa and English languages reiterated that public gatherings in Mosques and Churches were banned till further notice. 

The jingle went further to state that ceremonies and burials were henceforth banned in the state. The inclusion of ‘burials’ in the list of banned activities has raised eyebrows. 

In a state where at least 70% of the population adheres to Islam, it is common to see people accompanying a funeral procession. Crowds could sometimes be in their hundreds especially when a prominent member of society dies. 

The state government has not given a clear description of what it means by ‘a ban on burials’. 

Does the ban seek to limit the number of people in funeral processions in line with the principle of social-distancing? 

OR 

Does the ban intend to force Muslims to patronize mortuaries until the pandemic is over? According to Islamic law, it is highly detestable for Muslims to delay the burial of the deceased.

Muhammad (SAW) said, “Hasten to bury the corpse; for if it was righteous then you are sending it off to its welfare; and if it was otherwise then you are putting off a liability from your necks”. 

In another statement, Muhammad (SAW) said, “Do not withhold the dead body, and hasten to take it to its grave…”

The Niger state government announced a 12 hour curfew on Monday 23rd March as a measure to curtail the spread of the dreaded corona virus. The state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, stated that the curfew will cover the hours between 8 am and 8 pm.

As of March 2020, over 181,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in more than 160 countries and territories. Major outbreaks have been reported in mainland China, Europe, Iran and South Korea, among others. Over 7,100 people have died from the disease and about 78,000 have recovered.

The cases in Nigeria currently stand at 65 with one casualty.

COVID-19: Jum’at Congregations Forcefully Dispersed In Minna

A Jum'at Congregation in Nigeria

A lot of Muslims felt the curfew that was announced by the Niger  state

What Do We Do With Our Non-Sunnah Sisters?

Western dressed sisters

The word 'Sunnah' is an Arabic word meaning "tradition" or "way." For Muslims, Sunnah means the way of the Prophet (SAW). The Sunnah is made up of the words and actions of Muhammad (SAW). 

A Sunnah brother or sister will ergo be a Muslim who holds on firmly to the Islam with strong reverence for the instructions of Muhammad (SAW). 

Those affected by the scourge of feminism might ask, ‘What about the non-Sunnah brothers?’ We will discuss that on another day. Non-Sunnah sisters are basically girls who want to identify as Muslims and at the same time, enjoy the ‘freedom’ of atheism. Some describe them as people sitting on the fence between Islam and atheism. They bear Muslim names and usually have on themselves something that physically differentiates them from disbelievers like a headscarf or at least; a head covering. Behaviorally, they are very alike with disbelievers; they shake hands with males, hug males, engage in the same vain and vulgar conversations, have boyfriends, and go to parties, might fornicate, e.t.c. The question now is, as a Muslim community not having Islamic laws, what do we do about it?

There are two options on the table and each option has two sides to it.

Option X: Boycott Them

Side A

Side A of Option X basically means alienating them from Muslim circles. It involves not greeting them with Salam and doing the damnedest to avoid proximity with them. It also means brothers never consider them for marriage. This is in attempt to make them realize their flaws. 

This opinion can be backed by the verse of the Qur'an that says, "The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers." Suratul Nur (24:3)

Side B

If ‘Side A’ is implemented, the Ummah could be pushed into a survival of the fittest scenario where those who were not fortunate to have Islamic backgrounds but still want to be Muslim are kicked out. There is no scriptural or historic evidence to show that Muhammad (SAW) would have been a vanguard of this option. Moreover, we are talking about the female gender that has been described as being both physically and mentally weak. 

Looking at a bigger picture, boycotting non-Sunnah sisters will give non-Sunnah brothers a free hand to do as they please. If non-Sunnah sisters marry non-Sunnah brothers we will only have a growing population of non-Sunnah individuals and this cannot be good for Islam.

Option Y: Integrate them

Side A

A Hadith that can back up Option Y is the one narrated by Abu Huraira. Muhammad (SAW) said, “A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan.” [Sahih Muslim]

This Hadith reiterates the fact that all Muslims (strong or weak) are of benefit to the Ummah, we just have to come up with the wisdom to accommodate all.

This option involves sympathizing with them and making the sacrifice of trying to pull them towards the light. As Muhammad (SAW) said, “None of you will have faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

In another narration, the Prophet said, “Until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.”

If we were the ones in the dark, we would be glad to have others caring enough to guide us, right? To go by this option means identifying with them privately and publicly to provide them with an alternative company.  

To go by this option also means brothers will be willing to marry them with the aim of showing them that Islam-inclined men are more loving and compassionate than they ever imagined hence, their phobia for Islamic principles is misplaced. 

Since the man heads the house and is aware of the state of his wife’s faith, with time, the non-Sunnah sister will embrace the Sunnah in sha Allah. 

Caution should however be taken in places where polygyny is legal. Brothers should do well to see that the non-Sunnah sister is not the first wife. She should be going into a house where Islam is already rooted; the ‘Sunnanization’ process would hence be much easier as it would be a combined effort of the husband and the first wife.

Side B

Going by Option Y could in a way legitimize the nonchalance of this group such that even teenagers could lose their guard against bad habits. We could have a society where there would be no stigma for immorality. It could turn out to be like pouring milk in water; the milk becomes diluted but the water sizes to be water. 

On brothers marrying non-Sunnah sisters, a great evil is likely to be born out of it. The practice could discourage devout sisters from the Sunnah and make the non-Sunnah sisters feel comfortable with their habits. 

It could make devout sisters reason, ‘Brothers are attracted to non-Sunnah sisters, why then should we care to practice the Sunnah?’ 

Others could opine, ‘Non-Sunnah sisters mess around and yet have smooth family lives, why don’t we ‘enjoy ourselves’ too?’ 

To these, some people might allege that the devout sisters are not sincere in their practice of the Sunnah but, the truth is that the physical could often have an enormous influence on the spiritual. 

Muslims are not supposed to do things that could have a dampening effect on the faith of other Muslims.

Each option has its pros and cons, the implementation of any could vary with individuals, regions and circumstances.

May Allah strengthen His servants, Ameen.

Footprints of Muhammad (SAW) Found in Nigeria

Nigeria in Africa

In the afternoon of Sunday 16^th February, some Muslims began to  troop en masses to an area of Niger state in Nigeria to have a glimpse of what they called footprints of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his camel. 

This happened a few kilometers from Minna, the Niger state capital, behind the Talba housing estate. Muslims were seen taken pictures while some are reported to have gone to the extent of observing nawafils (supererogatory prayers) at the site. 

A cleric in the state capital, Minna, who is also the former DG of  the Bureau for Religious Affairs in the state, Mallam Umar Faruk Abdullahi, rushed to the site to get a line on happenings. The cleric is reported to have tried to dissuade the people from their acts of heresy. He and two policemen with him were attacked and his official vehicle was torched; they were quickly evacuated to the hospital.

The state commissioner of police, Adamu Usman, confirmed on Monday 17^th February that 6 suspects have been arrested in relation to the assault on the cleric and the officers.

Niger state is known to be home to a huge Sufi population and as such, cases of false super natural events are rampant. There have been cases where members of the Tijaniyya sect claimed to have seen the face of Ibrahim Inyas (A revered Sufi saint) on the walls of Masajid even when no other person saw anything. 

There are no known reports of the Prophet (SAW) ever stepping foot on any inch of Africa hence, the claims of his footprints found in as deep as Niger state in Nigeria can be dismissed as balderdash.

A Facebook user, Ibrahim Tauhid, posted the following pictures on 15th February to show his disgust.

Killers of Sheikh Jafar Finally Confess

Late Sheikh Jafar Mahmud Adam

After years of uncertainty and accusations, a controversial and  sensitive issue can finally be put to rest. 

The Boko Haram terror group has finally claimed responsibility for the assassination of prominent Muslim cleric, Sheikh Jafar. 

On Thursday 13^th February, Boko Haram released a video declaring war on a number of Nigerians most prominently, the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Shekau was heard saying in the video, “I am speaking to those who pretend to be good Muslims but they are not. God will judge the hypocrites of Islam who use the platform of religion to achieve their selfish gains. We don’t judge people until we are sure of what we have seen in them. This video message is specifically released because of one man, who thinks he has knowledge and is knowledgeable about religion. Keep this message in your heart until you die if you don’t repent. From today, you will continue to live in sorrow, because I, Shekau, say so on behalf of Allah, Allah hears us, he is the judge in the hereafter. This warning is for Isa Ali Panatami; don’t think simply because you preach in English or because you are called a doctor, means you have knowledge of Islam. You know nothing. Today you have become a minister, and you are feeling you can achieve your selfish ends. You must know that speaking English is not Islam…”

Shekau then went on to confess to the killing of Sheikh Jafar, he said, ‘‘I call on my brothers in Africa, in Nigeria and everywhere to arise and take steps, what they did to Jafar is little. Anywhere you see Isa Ali Pantami, don’t spare him. Isa Ali Pantami you are nothing; even Jafar tried the same thing but we dealt with him; talk less of you that is nothing in Islam. And from today on, you would not have peace of mind because you have dared Allah, his prophet and the religion of Islam…”

By “we dealt with him (Sheikh Jafar)”; ‘we’ is clearly a pointer to Boko Haram and their compatriots.

Sheikh Jafar Mahmud Adam was a most prominent Muslim cleric in Nigeria and probably West Africa. Born on 12^th February 1960, Sheikh Jafar was an outspoken cleric on both politics and Islamic theology in Nigeria. He was gunned down in his mosque during the morning prayers (Salatul Fajr) on 13^th April 2007.

Several theories emerged as to who was responsible for the killing, those accused included the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, the then governor of Kano state, Ibrahim Shekarau, and the Shiite movement headed by Ibrahim Zakzaky. 

The accusations against Shiites were significantly silenced on 3^rd November 2014 when a Shiite procession was attacked by Boko Haram. About 15 Shiites were killed in the attack.

According to the Institute for Security Studies, between 2010 and 2013, at least 18 Islamic clerics were killed by Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is acclaimed to be the deadliest terror group in sub-Saharan Africa and has so far killed over 30, 000 people displacing millions of others in Nigeria and neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

The group is said to have around 15, 000 militants within its ranks; it was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002 and is currently led by Abubakar Shekau whose death has been announced several times by two Nigerian administrations.

At the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009, the group gained the support of many Muslims in northern Nigeria. The first Boko Haram attacks targeted members of the security forces who are greatly hated by the masses due to their frequent display of high handedness.

Boko Haram however showed their intent for northern Nigeria as they commenced incessant attacks against the Muslims of the region declaring them infidels.

Muhammadu Buhari became President of Nigeria in 2015 with a major promise to bring security to the country by ending the Boko Haram menace; it is a promise that hasn’t been fulfilled nearly five years later.

Ubadah Ibn as-Samit: A Black Man Equal to 1000 Men

Ubadah ibn Samit was a descendant of Saba from both his father's and his mother's side. His father was As-Samit b. Qays b. Asram and his mother was Qurratu’l-Ayn bint Ubada bin Nadla. 

Ubadah was one of the first twelve people of Madina who embraced Islam after meeting The Prophet at Aqabah; he is said to have been around forty years old at the time. 

He was dark-skinned, well-built and he was frequently described as good-looking. He was in every battle The Prophet (SAW) waged; he was also one of the scribes who wrote the Qur’an. Ubadah’s wife, Umm Haram bint Milhan, was the maternal aunt of Anas b. Malik. He had another wife named Jamila bint Abi Sa'sa'a. 

Ubadah ibn as-Samit was also known by the kunya, Abu al-Walid, because he had a son named al-Walid who was the father of Muhammad ibn al-Walid. 

When Muhammad (SAW) migrated to Madina, he struck a brotherhood between Ubadah ibn as-Samit and Abi Marthad al-Ghanwi. However, Ubadah had four blood siblings named Aus bin As-Samit (the husband of Khawla bint Thalaba), Thabit bin As-Samit, Umama bint As-Samit and Khawla bint As-Samit.

There were not many personal encounters between the Prophet (SAW) and Ubadah ibn as-Samit. 

During the Caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab, there was a request for reinforcement from Syria. Umar sent Ubadah and three others with a message that the four men were equivalent of 4000 warriors. 

Ubadah was not just a warrior; he also knew how to plan cities as an architect. Along with Amr b. al-Aas, he was involved in planning the city of Fustat (the first capital of Egypt) and was also involved in building the first Masjid in Egypt which exists till today. It is known as the Masjid of Amr b. al-Aas. 

It is said that Ubadah wrote the entire Qur’an in Kufic script on the periphery and on the walls of the Masjid from top to bottom on marble so that anyone could read it even while seated. The whole of this was destroyed by the British during their occupation of Egypt. 

The Muslims laid siege to the Babylon Fortress in 641 CE in the area known as Coptic Cairo today where the Egyptian Ruler was holed up. Amr ibn al-Aas sent a delegation of ten men, headed by Ubadah to speak with the Egyptian ruler. 

When Ubadah stepped forward, the ruler was alarmed because of the darkness of Ubadah’s skin. 

He said, “Take this black man away from me and let someone else come and speak to me!” 

One in the Muslim contingent replied, “This black man is the best of us in knowledge and wisdom. He is our leader and the best of us, and has been appointed over us. We all refer to his opinion, and our leader has appointed him over us and ordered us not to go against him.” 

The king said to the delegation, “How could you accept this black man as the best among you? Rather he should be the least among you.” 

The Muslim replied again, “No; even though he is black as you can see, he is the best in status among us, one of the foremost among us and one of the wisest. Blackness is not something bad among us.” 

The king said to Ubadah, “Come forward, O black man, and speak to me gently, for your blackness alarms me, and if you speak harshly that will alarm me further.” 

Ubadah went forth and said, “I have heard what you said. Among my companions whom I left behind are a thousand men who are all as black as me and even blacker than me and more terrifying to behold. If you saw them you would be even more alarmed. My youth has gone, but nevertheless I would not be scared if one hundred men of my enemy wanted to face me all at once, and the same is true of my companions, for our hope and our desire is to strive for the sake of Allah, seeking the pleasure of Allah. The reason for our campaign against our enemies who wage war against Allah is not hope of worldly gains or the accumulation of wealth; rather Allah has permitted that to us and made the booty we acquire permissible for us. But none of us cares whether he has a qintar of gold or has nothing but a dirham, because all we want from this world is something to eat and ward off hunger, and a cloth to wrap around ourselves. If one of us owns nothing more than that, that is enough. If he gets a qintar of gold he will spend it for the sake of Allah and be content with the little that is left in his hand, because the pleasure of this world is not true pleasure and its luxury is not true luxury; rather real pleasure and luxury come in the Hereafter. This is how our Lord has guided us and our Rasulullah has taught us; he advised us that our ambition in this world should be just to have enough to ward off hunger and cover our nakedness; our main concern should be to please our Lord and strive against His enemies.” 

When the king heard these, he said to those who were around him: “Have you ever heard anything like what this man is saying? His appearance alarmed me but his words alarm me more than his appearance. Allah has sent this man and his companions out to destroy the world! I think that they are bound to prevail over the entire world.” 

Ubadah was staunch in matters related to religion. Once an Imam delivering a Friday khutbah began to praise him while he was in the congregation. Ubadah took sand in his hand and threw it into the mouth of the Imam and said, "Did not the Prophet, Peace and Allah blessing belong upon him, say that when we saw a person extolling virtues to his face, then we should throw mud to his face?"

On one occasion, Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan expressed a personal opinion when Ubadah was quoting the Prophet (SAW). Ubadah vacated Syria in disgust. When Umar heard of this, he urged Ubadah to return to Syria saying, “A piece of land has no good in it which has not got a man of your kind.” 

Umar wrote to Muawiyah telling him, “You are not a governor over him”. 

Ubadah was one of the learned appointed by Umar to teach people Qur’an and Islam ethics and Ubadah remained in Homs until the people were competent in the Qur’an after which he left for Palestine where he remained for a long time serving as a state-appointed Qadi. A lot of his students became renowned scholars. 

The last Hadith he narrated was, “Whoever said, ‘There is no Deity save Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger,’ will be spared Hellfire”. 

When his son requested him to declare his will at the time of death, he advice: “My son, you will not experience full bliss of faith nor will you fully comprehend it until you believe in destiny governing good and evil”. 

When the time of death approached Ubadah, he asked to be moved to the courtyard and his home folk, relatives, neighbors and others were called together. 

He inquired of them if they had any claim on him, they thereafter said he had been like an honest and dutiful father to them all. 

Grave of Ubadah ibn as-Samit in Palestine

Before breathing his last, Ubadah ibn as-Samit requested that when he is dead “Let each of you make a goodly ablution, enter a Masjid and pray and supplicate for my forgiveness.” 

According to well-established reports, Ubadah ibn as-Samit died in the year 34 A. H in Palestine, he was around 69 years old.

May Allah be pleased with him.

LESSONS

1. Zero Racism: The Prophet (SAW) had companions from all races. At a time when black people were considered too inferior to sit in the midst of light skinned people, Muhammad (SAW) appointed black people as leaders over members of his own race. The Prophet (SAW) sid in his farewell Message, “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”
2. Worldly Life: The Muslims were more concerned with meeting their Lord; they had very little concern for worldly pleasures.
3. War for Peace: The Muslims did not wage war against disbelievers for the sake getting their wealth. All they desired was for the word of Allah to prevail.
4. Sycophancy is a Crime: The practice of praising leaders for personal benefits is an act that frowned upon in Islam. This even extends to every individual; leader or follower. The Prophet (SAW) taught us a du’a to make when we are praised: “O Allah, do not call me to account for what they say and forgive me for what they have no knowledge of and make me better than they imagine.” Shu'ab Al-Iman 4:228
5. Superiority of Muhammad (SAW): Ubadah became furious at Muawiyya when the latter chose to follow his personal opinion on an issue that had already been decided by the Prophet (SAW). Ubadah did not hide his disgust for this and Umar ibn Khattab fully supported his stand. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an: The only statement of the true believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey." And those are the successful. Suratul Nur (24:51)