Imam Soliu Musa Esinniobiwa

COVER YOUR 'AWRAH DURING SALAT

Immediately after we observed 'Ishā' yesterday, one of the congregants called my attention to the way some male congregants were dressing, most especially an elderly man who usually comes to Masjid in shorts. I made him understand that it's a case I've addressed several times in the Masjid, even in the presence of those who engage in it.

I could remember there was a day I sighted a woman in the Masjid wearing a short gown not beyond her knee level. One has to be diplomatic in handling such case with a married woman. I had to invite a well-dressed woman and sent the message through her. AlhamduliLlaah, she's gradually getting better now.

It's pertinent to mention that while praying, a man must cover himself beyond his knee while a woman must cover every part of her body except face and hand (except for Niqabites). We have to worship Allah the way He wants and not the way we want.

May Allah rectify our affairs.

©Soliu Musa Esinniobiwa,
Ibadan, Nigeria.

Why do people always use flogging to justify their laziness to further in Islamiyyah schools when it's even done worse in some western schools?

USTADH, ARE YOU MARRIED?

In 2015 when I just got a teaching job in Abuja, I was tasked to teach JS2 Arabic and JS3 Islamic Studies. On a particular day I was to teach the topic "Marriage in Islam" to JS3 students, I entered the class, greeted the students and wrote the topic "Marriage in Islam" on the whiteboard. The moment I turned back to the students, I sighted a female student raising her hand saying "Ustadh, I have a question". I was wondering what she wanted to ask when I've not even mentioned a word about the topic. She insisted to ask her question and I permitted her to do so.

Student: Ustadh, are you married?

Other Students: Haaa!!! Haaa!!! (They were all in shock).

Ustadh: Why the question?

Student: Please, answer it. I have a reason for asking.

Ustadh: Okay, I'm not married.

Student: (In a rude manner) That means you're not qualified to teach us this topic. What do you know about marriage?

Ustadh: (I felt disrespected, though I responded to her calmly) I'm not here to teach you my own experience in marriage but the Islamic perspectives on it. So, I'm qualified to teach you.

Student: (She was ready to argue further) but Ustadh...

Ustadh: Sit down and focus (I rebuked her and started the lesson).

MORAL:
1- Never let any obstacle block you from achieving your aim. Learn how to remove every obstacles from your way and move further. The young girl was the obstacle that was standing in my way to achieve learning objectives in that classroom but I was able to put her in her place in time and continued with the lesson. Had it been I gave her further chance, other students might later support her and disrupts the smoothness of the learning process.

2- If every teacher was to teach his own experience about concepts to students, many learners would have been led astray because we all experience same things in different ways.

© Esinniobiwa, Musa Soliu
Ibadan, Nigeria.
19th November, 2023.

LIKE BIRD LIKE HUMAN BEING!!!

I was heading of the Masjid last night to observe 'Isha' prayer when I sighted a little bird struggling to fly in darkness. It was hard for it to reach the fence level to vacate the premises of the Masjid.

All I was thinking was how the little bird left its mother to miss its way into the Mosque premises? Was it that it left where the mother put it or the mother died and it didn't know where to stay anymore? All the same, the bird lost its way and didn't even have the capability of flying alone.

I had to call one of my students to show the little bird to him. I told that what's happening to this little is the similitude of what a disobedient child faces when he goes against the guidance of his parents and feels he is mature enough to be alone. He will later get lost in the darkness of life and find it difficult to make it back home.

NB: I felt like helping the bird out but I felt it was even safe for it in the Mosque premises than being outside where it could be easily hit by a moving vehicle.

Lesson: Do not be like a strayed bird, respect the guidelines of your parents as they have better life experience than you do.

Soliu Musa Esinniobiwa,
Ibadan, Nigeria.

Suffocating your Imams daily with financial requests affect their mental health. Being an Imam in Nigeria doesn't make one a millionaire, take note.

I wonder how some people feel after cleaning up with just tissue paper. Nothing can be compared to water when it comes to cleaning.

URGENT & SERIOUS REQUEST FOR HELP

Assalaamu 'alaykum warahmatuLlalhi wabarakaatuHu.

A sister is in a dire need of financial assistance to settle her accumulated debt amounted to N300, 000 only. Her business ruined down and as a result of that incurred the debt.

She's currently depressed and that can lead to anything. Save a life today, please. Your N500, N1,000, N2,000, N5,000, N10,000 will go a long way in restoring her mental and religious health for the sake of Allah.

Here is her bank details:
Number: 3045518150
Name: Rufai Kafayat Ajoke
Bank: First Bank of Nigeria

May Allah ease your affairs as you donate to her. JazaakumuLlaahu Khayran.

*WARNING TO MOSQUE IMAMS*

*USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE MOSQUE/ MUSLIM ASSOCIATION & GROUP ON WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PRISON NEW CONDITION/LAW.*
Let us as a Mosque/ Imam avoid the following so that we don't get into trouble that can land someone in prison.
1) Don't guarantee or stand in surety of any loan for people.
2) Don't introduce businesses and investment schemes from your khutbah/Ta'alim - as you may not know the origin of such business.
3) Don't do Dua /spiritual healing on people when members of his/her family are not around.
4) Don't sign bail bonds for people you are not sure of, especially new members or people whose family members you cannot trace or locate.
5) Don't officiate Nikkah program when their parents have not given consent to the marriage.
6) Don't hide anyone that the law enforcement agencies have declared wanted in your house or Mosque premises.
7) Don't force people into marriage - if the marriage have issues, it can land you in prison.
8) Don't allow sick people to sleep in your house or in Mosque premises. If you must admit them, let it be on the permission of a certified Medical Doctor or let them sign some documents that can extricate you from any blame should anything happen to that sick person.
9) Don't allow your jamaah or persons use your account number to pass huge amount of money. You could be arrested as an accomplice for advanced fee fraud, money laundering, kidnapping or drug peddling etc.
10) Don't conduct a Haqiqah of a child whose gestation history you don't know. What if the child was stolen, kidnapped etc. You could be arrested as an accomplice for kidnapping, child trafficking etc that can land you in serious trouble with prison terms.
11) Don't bury a co**se that the family are not available with full medical reports and death certificate - especially co**ses brought from distant destination.
12) Limit your direct involvement in politics as a spiritual leader; you are supposed to be non - partisan. Don't be tempted to project political party from your khutbah/Ta'alim, it may land you in serious trouble or prison.
13) Don't visit a member of a family when the husband or wife or either parent is not around. You may be tempted or implicated in cases that can land you in serious trouble.
14) Don't allow a woman that has quarrel or issues with the husband or a child that has issues with parents to pass night or remain under your custody. You may be implicated on issues you know nothing about.
15) Don't take any one to hospital without the family being aware or possibly present.
16) Don't accommodate any strange person you don't know or allow into your house/Mosque in the name of hospitality at any time. What if she/ he is trying to escape arrest.
17) Know the kind of relationship you are keeping. Your best friend may be hiding his/her secret deals from you, only to be innocently arrested along side with him or her.

We really need wisdom - the principal thing to be able to manage or keep relationship or handle issues with people now. A lot of Imams and Alfas have innocently in matters of clear conscience fallen victims and destroy their jamaah/Group or sent into undeserved prison terms.

I believe, that can not be our portion but caution is needed in the present life challenges.
God bless you as you take to these few advice.
**
# # Culled from Nigerian Correctional Service Document.

Performing miracles does not determine the sainthood of a Muslim. Magicians do them better sometimes. Just fear Allah and be steadfast with your faith.