The Mind Builders

by Yusuff Ademola Adesina Editor: Sherif Tanimola ‘And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands[in regret]he will say, ‘Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.   He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me…’ (Q25: 27-29) According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, relationship means the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other. Islam as a religion emphasizes the importance of relationship which cut-across a broad spectrum of areas including family, friendship, and good neighbourliness. Many types of relationships have been identified in previous writings of others; among them are friendship, family, romantic, and professional relationships. However, in this article, we shall limit our discussion to forming and maintaining family and friendship relationships. Forming and Maintaining Family Relationship Islam is ...

by Munirah Abdullah (d_dignified_Muslimah) Editor: Tanimola Sherif Merriam Webster defines the word ‘Divorce’ as ‘to dissolve the marriage of (a spouse) by judgment or decree of divorce’. The word shockingly sinks into my brain each time I meet a new friend or a stranger and get to discover, after getting affectionately glued to each other, that his/her parents are divorced. To be honest I hardly see that glimpse of happiness in their eyes. It is far removed from the feelings that will naturally envelope one when one hears of his mum being delivered of a baby, or the news of a wedding ceremony. The countenance and expression on their faces appear stale like ‘it happens, that's life’. In this era of gigantic world civilization compounded by feminism, women tend to perceive themselves as being equal to men, regurgitating expressions such as ‘what a man can do, a woman can do better.’ This has undoubtedly made the percentage of divorced people to be astronomically high. Alth...

by Yusuff Ademola Adesina “And of His signs is that He created you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Q30:21) The religion of Islam attaches great importance to marriage and marital life of human. It is believed that progress and development in every aspect of our live roots in how our family is formed. Hence, choosing a spouse should not be taken lightly, nor left to chance. Rather, a spouse should be chosen in accordance to the Islamic guide lines. The first criterion to consider when choosing a spouse is faithfulness and righteousness. Whoever you are choosing as your spouse should have a firm belief in Allah and the principles of Islam. Relationship without primary, common goal of religiosity is, perhaps of no value. A person who has no religion is worthless! This is the reason Islam strongly recommends marriage between believing men ...

byMubaraq Abdul-Wahab Have you ever wondered about the essence of knowledge in Islam? In Islam, knowledge is very important. All the books of Hadith have a chapter on knowledge. In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari there is a chapter entitled "The virtue of one who acquires learning and teaching others." The Quran frequently asks us to observe the earth and the heavens. This instills in man a desire to learn natural science as well. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (PBUH)was reported to have said “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Sunanibn majah,224) Therefore, seeking knowledge will make one an obedient servant to the commandments of Allah.   Hence, when knowledge is sought with the good intentions, it turns to an act of Ibadah (worship) which results in getting rewards from Allah. Allah says in the Quran: “…Are those who know equal to those who know not?”(Q39: 9) There are several hadiths that show the virtues and merits of knowledge.   Ab...

by Malik Ademola Sooner than he had expected, the stormy tides of life caught up with Mr Badmus. It started with the anticipated call about the change in management of African Petroleum Plc, which was bought over by the business tycoon Femi Otedola and subsequently changed the name from the initial to Forte Oil Plc. It proliferated when his tenure in office came to end and no allowance for re-election into office. He had to live by the two trucks he managed which brought him the daily needs of him and his family. Some things had to change for his source of income had been affected, and the effect of that was Utmost on Jamal. The beautiful evening that was about to get spoilt has its calmness at its peak, the one that couldn't seem to look gloomy afterwards, and whose breeze sang melodious song to the ears. Jamal was seated at the dining room devouring the meal his mother had prepared, which only happened once in every millennium. Did this instigate that the evening would be...

Misconceptions About Islam (Episode 3): Are Muslims Terrorists? by Yusuff Ademola A. & Yusuf Olalere A. As Muslims, we’re tired of condemning terror attacks being carried out by innately aggressive people, who in no way represent the true essence of our religion; but have hijacked it for their own hidden, selfish political agenda. Every time an act of terror occurs, Muslims closely watch the news with excessive consternation praying that the suspect is not a Muslim. This is for no reason than in instances where they happen to be, we’d see amplified mass media coverage and extreme unjustified hostility towards Muslims. Based on this, misconception is an understatement. It is unfortunate that the so called mass media coverage have been unjust towards the Muslims. Ironically, the media which are seen as an extension of the freedom of expression and the eye opener for every reasonable member of the society without any iota of bias, have turned their 'legitimate' duty t...

by Malik Ademola Lonesome and gruesome, the days would had been if the rule of not using a mobile phone was practicable at home, but that was only applicable at The Vale College. Christine had helped Jamal had a wonderful holiday, and a day wouldn't pass without the two talking over the telephone. The intimacy had grown stronger, so also the trust and confidence. Consequently, Jamal cared not about the wrongs at home again. And once again, though the wrongs were still very much feasible but his home seemed to him, a purgatory, or rather someplace far away from the usual inferno. Jamal had found a reason to live a happy life again. He had forgotten the trauma and thraldom of his broken home and had rather clung to the accolades and unprecedented ecstasies from Christine which had hastened his resuscitation. "Do you know I live in two worlds?" Jamal began when Christine sat with him at the veranda of the dorm during the siesta. They were supposed to be taking the nap...

by Malik Ademola Despite the voice spoke loudly over the radio, there was still an embarrassing silence that hung over between the father and son. The normal chitchat had been replaced with silent soliloquy. The details of the last night incident was still afresh in his head, the response had left him perturbed since yesterday stretching through the night, till the moment he was behind the wheel driving Jamal to school. Jamal on the other hand felt exuberant and anxious to reach The Vale College. He had missed his friends, the gossips, breaking and mending the rules, and the lifeless but enjoyable hostel life, he grinned as he thought, perhaps that (the Vale College) was the only haven he had on earth. "how do we get through to you?" Mr Badmus had asked severing him from his thought.   "You can do that through the hostel master" Jamal replied, alighted from the car, his backpack held on one side and the luggage on the other and scooted towards the dormitory...

by Malik Ademola Jamal retired to the balcony amid awaiting the call of his name when the food was done. It was a Sunday with a drizzling evening, with the rain having satiated the soil in the afternoon. Now the breeze had complemented the calmness of the evening and he had savoured it also. He sat on the cushion meditating, (that's if a deep thought about downturn of his life be regarded as meditation) but there was a lot to meditate about. He picked his jotter and pen and tried scribbling some words, aimed at finding solace putting pen to paper. But his mental state had gone beyond seeking solace by penning out his worries to a mere paper. Momentarily, he dropped the pen, rose up and motioned outside, taking a walk might gain him little relieve.   "Jamal!" his younger sister had called him, but thirty minutes later, there was no response. The family had finished taking their dinner except of course Jamal who had not returned from his walk.   The evening go...

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM (Episode 2): WHY DOES ISLAM COMMAND KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE? By Yusuff Ademola Adesina It saddens my heart to hear my religion- the religion of the whole mankind, Islam- being ostracized in various forms by people around me. Last week, a full bearded man sporting a jumper trouser jumped a queue at the bank I was at, then a misinformed lady beside me commented, “hmmm. all the ‘mallam’. They are Muslims. If you dare correct them for jumping queues, they will massacre you!” Upon hearing this, I was heatedly ruminating about several questions running through my mind ready to pour out. However, not to be a vested party, I want us to continue addressing the issues surrounding misconceptions about Islam, the social stereotype etc. By the way, it should be borne in mind at this junction that not all ‘muslims’ are Muslims . We have factors such as culture, personality, social definition and so on, having great bearing on the type of Muslim they are, be it ...

TECHNICAL RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM (Episode 1): WHY DOES ISLAM OPPRESS WOMEN? by Yusuff Ademola A. The word ‘Islam’ has been negatively associated with terrorism, violence, aggression, extremism, hardships, deprivation, and imprisonment in these present times. This negative view has been strengthened by the actions of terrorists and ‘orientalists’, who in no way represent the true essence of the religion.   They have hijacked the religion and consequent media attention for their own selfish, evil goals. Hence, the global opinion tends towards viewing Islam as a terroristic and extremist religion. Most of the times, you would see people arguing that Islam oppresses women; it permits men to marry more than one woman and commands women to use Hijaab. Alternatively, they would claim Islam legalises baseless killing of innocent people – by the way of religious enforcement or apostasy. However, are these really true about Islam?   Does Islam really...