The Ferret

Just when you think you’ve heard it all something new comes along that takes the zinger. We’ve all heard about the case of the man with 86 wives making the rounds. He was brought to the fore last month when a popular dialy published his story. He claimed to have recieved divine order from Allah to marry those women, many of whom have children for him. He calls himself a religious man, and at the same time insists that there is nothing in the Qur’an that forbids a man from marrying as many women as he wishes.

The man is obviously unwell. If someone tells me God positively told him to marry that many women, I won’t even break my neck arguing with him.

Rather than proffer psychiatric solutions to his predicament our religious leaders publicly denounced his multiple marriages with unnecessary pomp and peagantry. Why is it that they hurriedly stride into action when it suits them? While it is unquestionably against the religion (as even non-Muslims know the maximum number of wives is four) one has to wonder what crime the man has committed to warrant him banished from the Nupe kingdom? To the best of my knowledge no where in the Qur’an or Hadeeth (sayings of the Prophet) does it say that if a man marries more than four wives such and such is the punishment for his offence. As far as the Shari’ah is concerned, there is no prescribed punishment. So the committe of Islamic scholars who came up with the wonderful idea to banish the man themselves have to be inspected thoroughly beause I’m certain all is not well with them.

They must really be unwell because these very same leaders keep mum, and by their silence are complicit in the looting and plundering of state treasury. The so called Shari’ah states are no better than the rest of the country. The only thing they are good at is shouting their holier than thouness down at the rest of the world and intimidating the masses with harsh punishment while they’ve failed woefully at fulfilling their own end of the bargain. Didn’t we hear recently tonnes of grains that was released to the Northern states as a way to subsidize the rising cost of food and alleviate starvation was reportedly shared amongst their various leaders. Bloody hypocrites!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Nigerian is too corrupt for any meaningful system of governing to work, be it religious or wordly. We would first have to totally uproot ourselves from the status quo and lay down a brand new foundation for there to be a semblance of synchronimity as per our national psyche. As long as our leaders are pooled form the same populace, any attempt at reformation is just plain talk shop!

I hope to introduce a dua (supplication) every friday to be memorized and put into practice. This way I’ll be motivated to get off my lazy behind and add some spiritual value to my life.

Muslims are advised to ensure their tongues are moist with the remembrance of their Lord because it keeps them away from sin and mischief. The Prophet (saw) was recorded to have said: He who remembers his Lord and he who does not remember his Lord, are like the living and the dead.

All invocations are from my little black book.

In the bok, there are a total of 132 situations that warrant a form of supplication or another. There is a supplication for almost every imaginable scenario. From what to do when you fear you’ve commited a sin to what to say to one who offers you food while you’re fasting. I’ll begin with those I’m ashamed not to know because I think they are essential in my personal development and day to day dealings. 

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 INVOCATIONS BEFORE EATING

Normally I begin eating with the name of Allah by saying ‘bismillaah’ and conclude with ‘alhamdulilah’ – praise be to Allah.

‘Allaahumma baarik lanaa feehi wa ‘at’imnaa khayran minhu’

Meaning: O Allah, bless us in it, and provide us with better than it.

This is to be said before eating. Other acts of sunnah before/while eating include:

1. Washing of hands

2. Sitting down to eat (not to eat standing)

3. Eating with the right hand

4. Eating with three fingers, if possible

5. Eating in moderation filling a third of our tummy with food, a third with fruits and a third with water.

6. Cover food, not leaving it open and exposed

Insha Allah (by Allah’s will) if one strives to practice the sunnah of eating, one would be rewarded for remembering Allah and His Rasul (pbuh) at least, three times a day!

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Well, I’m off to do my assignment!

Salam.