The Muslims and the Media: Battle of the minds

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 

Allaah is testing us by giving us access to the world through the internet. Are we going to fear Him by not watching haram or doing haram with it.

Forgive me if I come across crudely, but this to me is a pertinent issue that needs to be curbed urgently. What is the media turning us into?

What we experience today in the media world is a case of classical conditioning of the human mind through images and false repeated information that are alien to our fitrah (natural disposition to incline toward righteousness).

Today the entertainment industry promotes illicit sex, homosexuality, women superiority, child rebellion against parents and we are the end consumers. 

When you tolerate something, you will eventually accept it. You tolerate homosexual scenes on Tv Shows,Series,Movies and you will eventually accept it.

In most movies, Tv shows, series.....they gradually are belittling the role of father as the leader of the house while promoting feminism and 'woman power'.

Single parenthood is what dominates most entertainment scenes today, this conditions the subconscious mind to accept the illusion that it's 'cool' to be divorced. Thus, undermining the social value of a family unit.

Most people (I inclusive) would have attained much moral heights if we had avoided the evils of social media and the entertainment world. But I guess it's not too late to have a rethink. 

The series that you jump to watch today have a woman playing a leading role, because it's all about women and feminism. 

Music has dominated most things today such that you see a hafidh (one who has memorized the Qur'an) yet exposed to the evil of Music. 

Transgender people have a TV show, homosexuals have, hip hop has, single parents have, spoiled kids have...and we want to be like them?

Those that don't watch Tv series, shows or movies or listen to musics are seen as being deprived yet they are really successful with respect to their time.

Hardly you'll find an innocent person that's been gripped by the clutches of the entertainment world without having an immoral person as a role model.

We shout anti-homosexual slogans when in reality that movie star, musician, footballer or reality show anchor we idolize is a homosexual or morally bankrupt person.

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‎Arewa 24, another channel that's completely anti arewa culture. Be mindful of what you watch because Allaah watches and have records of all.

They see it as advancement in civilization, yet it is an attack on their conscience and morals. Hausa translated Hollywood movies introducing the locals to the most filthy and twisted ideology promoted in movies.

Where's our sense of morality, where's our sense of spirituality, where's our intellect that now we'r been enslaved by the entertainment world? ‎

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‎Our daughters, kid sisters, watched Anna Montana religiously now the leading stars are prostitutes. Our young sisters and kids that idolized them will now see fashion in prostitution.

‎We thought it's all about civilization when our kids rush in to change channels to disney, now their minds have been shaped by disney not the Qur'an.

Take the mind, leave the body......a lot of people think they are civilized yet have lost their civilization. They've gone far and wide leaving behind their Islamic culture. 

‎How many hours do some people spend watching pictures of unchaste women on instagram, twitter, facebook, snapchat etc?

The young woman spends all her time and energy putting on make-up just to have a picture posted on the instagram for strangers to admire. 

Any man with a heart and the thought of Allaah's Severe Wrath will sob when he sees our innocent young girls taking shisha in the midst of men all in the name of advancement (an ci gaba).

Eloping to be with the love of our lives is one of the cardinal themes of the entertainment world today. We no longer value the family system.

‎It's the world of vulgarity, obscene and immoral talks that even the Muslims are caught in this negative and satanic web.

‎We think we are "cool" only when we are moving with the trend even if this trend is immoral as long as the world celebrates it.

‎I see a lot of Muslims shouting and jubilating over "Game of Thrones" How does that even unite with a Muslim's heart? What you see, and appreciate you become.

Just when they promote and hype an entertainment star then you realize he or she is homosexual, and you have to accept the lifestyle of who you love.‎

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‎Entertainment is being used as a convenient tool to condition our minds and take us away from reality. Wake up before you lose you righteous mind.

Our sisters with their five daily prayers yet they dance like the (beyonce's) because they don't want to be left behind. Be a true Muslimah. 

‎Our sisters spend hours "Keeping up with the Kardashians" while we get brainwashed into accepting nudity and pornography as a way of life. 

‎A transgender that wants you to feel cool about changing your sex organ has a show "I am Cait" yet our sisters enjoy watching this?‎

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When "E channel" is what keeps you busy, I'm afraid you will be told about Khadija's, Aisha's and Fatimah's and you won't be inspired.

‎Go to instagram and see what our sisters post and wallaahi you will sob profusely for the Ummah of Rasulullaah (Pbuh).

‎O Muslims! O Muslims! O Muslims! Wake up! Wake up! don't wait till you wake up in the Grave and by that time it will be too late. 

Living our words

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 

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"I desire not to do behind your backs that which I ask you not to do. I only desire reform so far as I am able to." Q 11:88

In the hierarchy of men, undoubtedly the Prophets of Allaah occupy the loftiest position, they enjoyed the special privilege of receiving message and guidance directly from Allaah. They are chosen servants of Allaah.

The above quoted verse talks about one of the renowned Prophets of Islam, Prophet Shu'ayb (AS), in the face of mockery from those opposed to his message he said; "I‎ desire not to do behind your backs that which I ask you not to do. I only desire reform so far as I am able."

It is highly undesirable and misfit for one to promote goodness while he is guilty of not implementing the good or to prevent evil while he hides from people just to commit the evil.

Prophet Shu'ayb (AS) was genuinely concerned lest he contradicts his own prohibitions in secret behind the backs of the people.

Allaah says: "Enjoy you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allaah) on the people and you forget (to practice it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture! Have you then no sense." Q2:44

If those that spread the message of Islam practice what they preach, then those suffering in the hands of Satanic temptation will see Islam as a way out of their predicament. ‎

For the message of the preacher against nudity  to have profound effect on the audience held bondage by the naked world, then they need to be modest in what they do.

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Here is a frightening hadith in Bukhari and Muslim relevant to the topic:

"A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown in the Fire. His intestines will fall out and he will continue circling pulling them behind him, just as the donkey goes round the pole. The people of the Fire will go to that man and ask him, 'What happened to you? Did you not used to command us to do righteous acts and forbid us from committing evil' he will say, 'Yes. I used to enjoin righteousness, but refrained from performing righteousness, and I used to forbid you to perform evil while I myself did it."

Brothers and sisters, enjoining piety and practicing it are intertwined. 

We need to live the life of the message we preach. ‎

A Peep into our lives

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 

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"They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter." Q30:7 

Allah has described some people whose focus is only this world, they work for it, fight for it, protect it but are heedless of the Hereafter.

These people whose focus, aim and passion is restricted to the visible things of this world find it difficult to understand the Deen (Islam) or even appreciate the people of Deen.

They become all excited whenever the material benefit of this world is mentioned but demoralized and apprehensive when Religion is mentioned.

The Prophet (Pbuh) prophesied an era wherein an individual will be celebrated and admired but he will be devoid of Eeman and religiosity.‎

It is the people of dunya that restrict religion to the four corners of the Masjid saying it has no role to play in our workplaces and socio-political sphere. They want the people of Deen (Islam) to remain mute on political issues and when scholars talk against the order of the day even the misguided masses insult the custodian of Qur'an and Sunnah.

Ask the people of dunya about the minutest detail of the gadget they posses they will tell you but when it comes to Deen (Islam), they hide in shame. 

They don't argue with scientists when they provide scientific facts but they argue with scholars when they present facts from Qur'an and Sunnah.

They put their hats off to the wealthy individuals and become enslaved to them but they insult and denigrate the scholars of the Deen (Islam).

Their aim and focus is to beautify this world even at the detriment of their religious obligations. 

‎High rise buildings, skyscrapers, latest technology yet spiritually bankrupt. The former preserves the dunya the latter destroys the Hereafter.

Islam encourages and has made permissible the pursuit of legitimate endeavors of this world but not at the detriment of our relationship with Allaah.‎

We might score points and receive accolades today when we speak against Islam and the Muslims (even though those involved might be Muslims too) but who is going to defend us when we stand in front of the Lord of Islam? 

Be from the children of the Hereafter and do not be from among the children of this world (whose days and nights are for wealth, power and fame).

May Allaah out of His infinite Mercy safeguard our Eeman, make smooth our legitimate endeavors in this world and reward us with Jannatul Firdaus. 

Kidnapping, our new nightmare

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 

Sad to say that we are on a fast lane in losing our human sentiment and the inherent moral obligation of being our brother's keeper. Faster than our growth in technology and innovative lifestyle is our decline in morals and values. We don't need a scholar to convince us that the end of times is nigh, the sad tale of human cruelty against human is enough to convince any man with a sane and balanced understanding that ours is a generation very close to the end of times.

In recent times, the unfortunate and brutal inhumane act of kidnapping has generously resurfaced in our shores with the frequency ever on the increase. What's more alarming is the occurrence of such in the North where it was unheard of before. Kaduna in particular has become the focus of this notorious act of kidnapping. 

There's no doubt that the security agents are doing a great job in curbing this menace but there's never enough when it comes to intelligence gathering to avoid or at least minimize the occurrence of this social anathema. 

The government should facilitate a better synergy between the security agents and the communication between the agents patrolling our streets and roads and highways should be as effective as possible because most of these kidnappers move freely to their destinations unhindered.

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Security as it's widely echoed is the responsibility of everyone, that we need to be extra vigilant of where we go to and when we go to such places. That we avoid following paths less followed and be mindful of allowing our kids to move alone (as for the elderly, we need to be extra careful).

We might want to argue the fact that most of these things become a reality in a society if poverty becomes the garb of the society. The 'get rich quick' syndrome is driving even the most modest man that lives in the village as a shepherd to take to kidnapping on the high ways. ‎

Our detachment from our cultural baggage and a desperation to keep up with other civilizations is partly responsible for this decadence. Mutual boasting amongst ourselves and the bid to out-rich one another may not be an isolated factor also. But be it as it may, as Muslims we know that there isn't such menace without a remedy. 

Our collective safety is a product of cordial and amicable social interaction. ‎

Amongst many remedies, I would encourage my Muslim brothers and sisters to be very mindful of their morning and evening adhkar (supplication) as taught by the Prophet (Pbuh).

Solicit for Allaah's protection in the morning and evening through these words of the Prophet (Pbuh):‎

"O Allaah, I ask You for security in my religion and my worldly affairs, in my family and my property; O Allaah, conceal my faults and keep me safe from the things which I fear; O Allaah, guard me from my front and from my right hand side and from my left side, and from above me; and I seek refuge in Your Greatness from receiving harm from below me."‎

Email: penabdul@yahoo.com; Twitter: @amraabdul; Instagram: @penabdul

Licencing religious preachers

A wise man would suggest that we should NOT have licencing for preachers and Imams - everything is halal by default and we should be careful about any unwarranted blanket restrictions on our freedom of speech. We want good people to always be able to "correct with their tongue" and "tell truth to a tyrannical ruler". Laws and governmentt should focus more on what we all don't want - hate speech, insult, inciting violence, noise, etc., etc....and not on what we want - basic 'asl of permissibility!

Between truth and falsehood, I believe truth is stronger if given equal hearing. Therefore a law of "survival of the fittest argument should rule" and free debate should be permitted and protected. In these days, I believe we need more freedom to correct others and the many misconceptions they have about Islam. 

Who is to give licences to Shi'ah, Ekankar, Grail Message followers, Aladura, Jehovah's Witnesses, Atheists, Agnostics, followers of the many Traditional Religions, etc? This will most likely lead to greater inter-religious and inter-ethinic tension.

How is control of social media usage by our youth going to proceed? Or will we only silence those offline while most will migrate online? Most of ISIS recruiting is now moving online!! 

It is also not a very practical law considering the size of this country and its rural and ethnic network (in case they aspire to take it national)- it will be financially too costly. How far with driving licenses and National ID cards? 

It is too open to politicians silencing those who are critical of them. The bad people will not stop talking, but the good will be law-abiding and have to keep quiet, report while the damage is done. The process of developing young people who will speak out will become bureaucratic with bribes and delayed renewals. 

Let us learn from the intellectual religious stagnation that some countries have ended up with by the governments deciding on what can or cannot be said in the name of religion within the general populations. Freedom of speech must be protected. Freedom of abuse is different and the "abuse" of that freedom has to be defined and dealt with.

We cannot shut millions up just because of the abuses of 100. If government really want to check abuses of religious spaces, then let them give more support to the quality of training of our Imams and religious studies graduates. 

Before you know it, only graduates of Islamic studies and Islamic law, etc. will have permission to give public lectures. We will end up killing da'wah in Nigeria. Christians will all have qualifications from their numerous private seminaries and pastoral colleges, while Muslims will have to shut up waiting for certification. It will be difficult to then get dawah volunteers for rural and urban da'wah, and Tablighi Jama'ah (who are many and have been peaceful) will have to end. This I believe should be unacceptable.

Identifying haram or harmful speech (mafsadah or fitna-causing speech or literature, movies, songs, etc.). The government needs to articulate what type of speech they/we do not want in collaboration with all stakeholders (Muslims and Christians) - "abuse", "hate speech", "steropyping", "dehumanising", "noise", "disturbance", inciting hatred and motivation to violence, slandering and telling lies, "religious racism", "insulting the Other", etc. Such speech may come from anyone, even if they are irreligious.

If they have to...IF THEY HAVE TO licence anyone, let them give licences to Jumu'ah Imams, but then let them also commit to better training and enlightenment. But that will lead to uncountable degrees of disunity and new Jumu'ah mosques side-by-side because of the government opportunities for training and funding. Such a move will also make Friday mosque Imams only say what is politically correct. So I am not in favor of that either. Most Friday Mosque Imams have never been a major security threat anyway, so again, who will benefit from government opening a new parastatal or agency to oversee such Imams.

I don't believe we should silence the next Muhammad Yusuf with a license, but we should be better prepared and coordinated in responding and correcting him and his followers. We should focus on vaccination and resilience of the Muslims with better understanding of Islam, instead of silencing debates of those we do not want to listen to.

I believe the harm of licencing is greater than the benefit ...by far!!!

And Allah knows best.