By Abu Muhammed

Scholars like Ata bin Rabah (May Allah’s mercy be with him) stated, the fact that the Prophet (pbuh) never resorted to the permission of beating and said, ‘He who beats his wife is not a good person’ (Hazimi, al-Itibar)

Islam encourages kind treatment of women and forbids in both word and spirit, their abuse in any form, be it physical, verbal, emotional and psychological. It therefore stands to reason that rape is something that Islam condemns in the strongest terms and, in fact a rapist in an Islamic country would be sentenced to death by the Islamic courts.

It was this type of thought that permeated the psyche of Muslim societies from the time of the Noble Messenger of Allah (pbuh)until this day and any behaviour to the contrary by Muslims today is nothing other than their deviation from the principles advocated by Islam and the lifestyle of the Noble Prophet (pbuh).

Issues like honour killings and spousal abuse in Muslim societies which are often highlighted in the media and for which Islam is criticised are practices that have their place in culture and have no basis in the Qur’aan and Sunnah.  Shariah always has an ‘inner’ as well as an ‘outer’ mechanism that are used to achieve its objectives.

In the issue discussed, if the psyche of the society could be described as the ‘inner’ mechanism to allow for women to be respected and honoured then it must be said as an ‘outer’ mechanism.  Islam advocates the institution of Hijab so that women are judged for what they are truly worth and not merely objects for men’s gratification.

As much as the media always makes an issue of and maligns the treatment of women in Islam it is interesting to note that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world (Guiness book of records) and in the west, in particular, most reverts are women who have no hesitation in donning the hijab. In fact, they do so with much pride.

In Islam rape and all other forms of women abuse are reviled. The Prophet (pbuh) discouraged and penalised adultery, fornication and rape.

May  Almighty Allah Ta’ala grant us the wisdom, courage and moral strength to uphold the rights and dignity of our women in society. Ameen.

ISBON holds Da’wah in Ogbomosho

The Patron of Islamic Brotherhood of Nigeria, ISBON, Ustaz Shaykh Abdur-Razaq Adam Thanni has charged politicians and office holders in the country to consider patriotism and philanthropy as point of duty to the nation.

The scholar made this remark while delivering a lecture at a Three-Day Da’wah Camp programme organised by ISBON in Ogbomosho, Osun state.  He stated that “Almighty Allah has provided enough to go round, wealth that is capable of taking care of, not only himself and his family but, his community at large,” adding that  failure to care for others, might result into loss of recognition, honour, dignity and povertywhich could in turn trigger crimes in the society.

The biennual event also coincided with the formal inauguration of Ogbomosho branch which had eminent dignitaries in attendance.  The personalities included the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso land, the Mufassir and other members of League of Imams and Alfas, Ogbomoso, the former governor of Oyo State, Gov. Alao Akala among others.

Ahmadiyya tasks leaders on good governance

The Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation, has charged leaders at various level of governance to lead by example, show justice and equity and eschew all forms of vegeance inorder to move the nation forward.  The cahrge was contained in a communique issued at the end of its 41st annual convention held at Oke-Ado, Ibadan Oyo State recently.

It also held that Nigerians, irrespective of their religious persuasions should bow at the threshold of the Divine power and pray for God’s intervention in the affairs of the nation.

The group noted that “Government should guarantee the security of life lives and property by establishing social justice and refraining from double standards in the administration of justice. Those who are truly guilty of perpetuating violence and those aiding them must be brought to book regardless of who they are and the cause they claim to pursue.”

The convention also condemned the treatment being given to Muslim brothers and Sisters in Pakistan. “We hereby implore the international community to look into the murders of minority religious groups in Pakistan being engineered by some Muslim clerics and ask the Pakistani government to respect freedom of religion has fully entrenched in the UN charter on human rights.”

Among other key observations at the end of the 4-day Convention are, “that the salvation of Nigeria as a nation, at this time of its beleaguered history, depends largely on the youth who are the custodians of its future.”

It also held that the pluralist nature of the country is not an accident of nature but a divine scheme to teach Nigerians the virtues of tolerance, mutual understanding and cooperation.

The event was attended by no fewer 2,500 participants who were  drawn from 22 states of the federation, including  representatives of the Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya from the Republic of Benin, Republic of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Cameroon.

Other participants are  Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, President, National Youth Council of Nigeria- Comrade Wale Ajani ,founder of Shafaudeen Islamic Society, Engr. S.A. Olagoke, Director of Youths -Oyo State Ministry of Youth, Alhaja Adegbola, representative of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, President of the, representative of the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Other activities at the convention included educational and sports events such as Taekwondo, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tug of War, among others.  Also, MKAN, in conjunction with Humanity First, an international NGO founded by the former Supreme Head of the World-Wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, conducted a health camp at Oja’ba in the heart of the city of Ibadan during which free medical services were rendered to the people irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations.

During the period, the youth wing of the Ahmadiyya muslim jamaat, also embarked on  Humanitarian Visit to Orphanage to FOMWAN Motherless Babies participated in environmental sanitation by clearing drainages in the community.