Friday 28 June 2013

G-13 SET TO PAINT ILOBU RED WITH RUQAYYAH AROGUNDADE-ABDULHAKEEM ODUMOSU'S COLOURFUL NIKKAH

The ancient town of Ilobu, Osun State, South-West, Nigeria will be painted red this Sunday, June 30, 2013 when Vanguards Academy G-13 storm there for the nikkah of Ruqayyah Aderinsola Arogundade, who will be tying the nuptial knot with Abdulhakeem Olasubomi Odumosu.

Some of the members of G-13, Vanguards Academy first set, including Nusaybah Dhikrullah, Taofeeqah AbdusSalam, Bushrah Olagunju and Habeebah Ibraheem are already in town to honour and support the yet-to-be wife. Others expected to be there tomorrow (Saturday) for the Sunday colourful Nikkah are Safiyyah abdurRazaq, Hajarah Alli, Rafiah Ayoola and other alumni, including the G-23, Vanguards Academy's second set, which the bride was a member.
 


"Ilobu tinz. Ruqayyah Aderinsola Abike's wedding on my mind", one of the excited G-13 members, Taofeeqah AbdusSalam posted on her blackberry dp, adding, "we're here to make our friend's day with our large turnout."

In her cheering manner, Nusaybah Dhikrullah also has this on her blackberry dp, "Hmmm!Ilobu,here I come @ Rukadauda wedding Loading...! The Gs of VA: An avenue 4 reunion! Gbam!"

AL-FAHM also learnt that prominent islamic scholars will be attending, while members of the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), The Muslim Congress and Al-Muminaat will also grace the holy solemnization that marks the beginning of a new life for the couple.

Meanwhile, the families of both sides are also warming up. The elated groom, Abdulhakeem will lead his family all the way from Ijebu, Ogun state to Ibadullah Nursary and Primary school, Ilobu, Osun State for the great occasion, while the bride's family has spared no cost to make the nikkah ceremony a grandeur.

Oh Allah, let this couple (Ruqayyah and Abdulhakeem) be helpers and protectors of one another, let them be a refuge and comfort to one another, let them be beautiful garments for one another, and let them experience the many treasures and beauties of marriage.

After Ruqayyah, whose Nikkah is next? Watch Out!!!
 
story by Abdur Rasheed Abubakar

Tuesday 18 June 2013

TILL HE COMES... By Bushrah Olagunju

PRINCE CHARMING

At a point in our lives, we have dreamt or had this fantasy of ‘Prince Charming’ coming to sweep us off our feet maybe from excessive watching of Snow White, Sleeping beauty, Cinderella blah blah blah. Well, I took the pain to help you achieve your fantasy and see your dream come true. I took to the internet and searched Prince Charming up. It would interest you to know what Wikipedia thinks! 

Wikipedia defines Prince Charming as, "a star character that originates in a number of fairy tales, he is a prince that comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress and therefore must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell." Keywords to note: fairy tale, quest and evil spell, we’ll get back to that later. I don’t know about you, but something sounds shady about this guy. Prince Charming married Snow White, Sleeping beauty and Cinderella with each marriage ending in divorce due to compulsive womanizing. Keywords: divorce and womanizing. He himself comments: “I always truly love a woman when I first pursue her; I’m just not good at the happily ever after part.” So sisters, do you really want to wait for this character to come knock at your door? My advice, stop waiting!

Now to the keywords, Fairy tale: synonyms to this word are fable, myth, untrue story etc. It simply means it does not exist. Quest: I’ll like to ask what quest Prince charming is embarking upon. Evil spell: Sister, are you under any spell? I doubt that. Divorce: I’m sure you know what that means? Womanizing: I’m sure you know what this means too. So sisters, are you really sure you want to end up with a guy like this? 




For starters, he doesn’t exist and if you still believe he does, I’m sure you don’t want your marriage to end up in some way (divorce). I will say at this point, wake up to reality. Some sisters are in reality, so they’re not waiting for Prince charming. They’re waiting for ‘Mr. Perfect’. Again, we both know he doesn’t exist either. No one’s perfect. Others wait to accumulate degrees upon degrees thinking it will make them more attractive and sought after while others wait for the combination of a rich, handsome and honest gentleman. 

For the millionth time, I say my sister, check the time, what does it say? It is reality O’ clock! I’m sure you must be tired of seeing the word ‘REALITY’ appear in this article and must be asking yourself what this reality is all about. First of all, Prince charming is not coming, there is no Mr. Perfect, your accumulated degrees won’t make you more attractive, the combination of RHH (rich, handsome and honest) is rare and as a lady your biological clock is ticking. Now that’s reality. The older you get, the less the proposal you get and the less attractive you are. 

most handsome muslim man
 
For a guy, the older he gets, the more time he has to build his career and be financially stable and the more attractive he will be. A lady’s youth make her beautiful while a man’s wealth and success make him attractive. Having established the realities, what is the plan? What is the solution? A first thing first is what you’re looking for in a husband realistic? If what you’re looking for is that guy with the duplex in GRA or Lekki, drives the latest Mercedes E-class, is extremely handsome and has an obese account, well it is safe to say you’re Alice in the wonderland or more like Aliyah in the wonderland. 

Do you want a man who will be a complement to your numerous degrees? I’m sorry to disappoint you but you won’t find any. Men are not meant to be complements. So get off your high horse and do what is right for you. Remember that hadith of the Rasul (PBUH) about reasons why people get married, contrary to what many think, the hadith refers to both men and women. As we all know, the best reason to get married is because of the deen. So, wait for the man with the deen. Again, there are numerous men with the deen. 

Good news! You don’t have to wait. The point is, find someone you’re attracted to because of the deen. It must be noted here that even with the best of characters and Godliness, you still might not be attracted to someone. Again, one silly mistake most sisters make is waiting for the man she is attracted to make the first move by proposing. The truth is, he might not even know you are attracted to him and so don’t expect him to mysteriously know you’re interested in him. Here’s a secret, men are blind when it comes to women signals especially if the feeling is not mutual. 



There are many halaal ways to pass your message across, just go through the proper channels. Take a cue from our mother Khadijah (RA) on how she passed her message to our noble prophet (PBUH). Any man can give you riches, comfort and latest rides but it only takes a man who understands the deen to give you love, understanding and most of all closeness to Almighty Allah here in this world and in the hereafter. Although naturally, beauty and success are attractive qualities, the one quality that brings happiness to a marriage is deen which I’m sure we all desire. 

So, look out for his deen first when you’re looking for your other half because if that is missing, you can kiss your marriage goodbye. Other things might follow but don’t dwell on those other things. Remember, marriage is half your deen, so don’t expect it to be an easy task. This life is nothing but a trial and the process of getting married is nothing but a trial too. Be prayerful always. “A woman is married for four reasons: her wealth, lineage, beauty and her religion. So marry the religious one otherwise you will be a loser”, agreed upon.

Friday 14 June 2013

TWO NIKKAH THAT SET LAGOS MSSN AGLOW ON SATURDAY, JUNE 15 - YUSUF AND FATIMAH BECOME ONE IN LOVE AS IS-HAQ ANDAZEEZAH UNITED IN MARRIAGE


All is set as the families of Imam Murtada Abdul Gafar and Imam Muslim Abdul Azeez prepare to tie the nuptial between their children, Azeezah Mojisola Ajoke and Is-haq Olamilekan Alade in a Aqdu/Walimatu Nikah (marriage solemnization/banquette) which holds insha Allah tomorrow, June 15, 2013 at Abdul Azeez Islamic Foundation Schools, Unity Estate, Abule-Odu, Idimu, Lagos by 10am prompt.

Also, the families of Late Imam Daud Ibitoye and Alhaji Yakub Sanni have picked tomorrow, June 15, 2013 for the Aqdu-n-Nikkah (marriage solemnization) of their children Fatimah Adeola and Yusuf Olatunji Ayinde at Beleke Smith Memorial Mosque, Rabiatu Thompson Crescent, Shitta, Surulere, Lagos by 10am.


As they move into a new beginning, AL-FAHM wishes them a fruitful marriage filled with barakah. AMEEN

ISRAELIS' REIGN OF TERROR IN PALESTINE EXPOSED Children, Aged Men and Women – highest casualties Why Arabs, Muslims are indifferent Boycott Israel Campaign, A Must! By Abdur Rasheed Abubakar

For more than six decades, the Holy Land has been a place of blood, tears and suffering. Palestinians have been under siege since the illegal creation of the State of Israel on their land in 1947. Lives of innocent people, mostly children, young and aged men and women have so far been lost with lots of heinous crimes committed to jeopardize the quest for justice and liberation of Palestine from the shackles of oppression of the Zionist-led Jewish government.

The world, particularly the Arab League and the United Nations (UN) looked on as Israeli troops maimed and massacred defenseless people to retain its dominance and expand settlements in the region. It has also succeeded in destabilizing the peace of the Middle East, becoming a threat to other neigbhouring arab nations, who till today have failed to openly declare their support for the Palestinians struggle.

Peradventure the Arabs are unaware of the significance of Palestine, or they did but pretended as if they didn't. Or because of their supercilious lives of extreme decadence, plus how they lavish the ill-gotten oil money on Yachts on 'the French Rivera', homes in Cannes, endless nights in London clubs and brothels, and shopping trips to Paris.

Or do you think a Saudi prince who receives 100,000 dollars every year since birth and who by 18 years would be 2 million-dollar-rich will be ready to abandon the luxury and be tagged terrorist, whose death is imminent for supporting Palestine? What of people that castigate you for showing solidarity for Palestine in your deeds and actions? Such people would ignorantly ask, why would you take the Palestinians cause so serious when we have our own peculiar problem Nigerians?




SIGNIFICANCE OF PALESTINE
There is no controversy amongst the scholars over the significance of Palestine to the Muslims. They all hold the same view that Palestine is a sacred land, not only to Islam but other Abrahamic faiths (Judaism and Christianity). The greatest significance of Palestine for the Muslims is that it contains Baitul-Maqdis (the noble sanctuary), the holiest place in Islam outside of the Hijaz. Both Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock are built in the area of the Baitul-Maqdis.
Baitul-Maqdis in Palestine was the center of Isra’ and Mi`raj of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
In the Qur'an Allah says: (Glory be to the One who took his servant on a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa whose precincts We have blessed...) (Al-Israa' 17: 1)
It was the second Mosque established on earth after Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah. In the Hadith, Abu Dharr said: "Once I asked Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) what was the first mosque established on the earth; he said “Al-Masjid Al-Haram.” Then I asked him: then, which mosque? He replied: “Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.” I then asked him what was the time period between the establishment of the two mosques; and he said: “forty years." (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Baitul-Maqdis in Palestine was the first Qibla (direction in which Muslims face when praying). The Muslims faced towards Baitul-Maqdis when praying during the entire Makkah period of Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings be upon him) life and for the first 16 months of the Madinah period, after which Allah ordered the direction of the Qibla be changed towards the Ka`bah in Makkah. Prayers in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa are equivalent to 500 times the Prayers in any other mosque except for Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and Al-Masjid An-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in Madinah. In the Hadith Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prayers in Al-Masjid Al-Haram are equivalent to 100,000 Prayers, and Prayers in my Masjid (in Madinah) are equivalent to 1000 Prayers, and Prayers in Baitul-Maqdis are equivalent to 500 Prayers." (Reported by at-Tabarani)
The Coordinator of the Muslim Awareness International (MAI), Alhaji Luqmon Yusuf said the Muslim Nation, irrespective of their languages, regions, tribes and cultures, is one, stressing that, "Our Qur'an is one, our Lord, Allah is One, our Qibla is one, and the fact the our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said a Muslim that is not concerned about the affairs of his fellow Muslim is not part of us. That's why we should all show serious concerned about the plights and sufferings of the Palestinians.

AL-NAKB – THE CATASTROPHE
The Palestinian suffering got to the climax in 1948 following the creation of Israeli by the British in their Land. In the last sixty years, they violated laws of wars and committed war crimes against humanity. They killed thousands of Palestinian kids, aged, male and female, and rendered them homeless. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also referred to Al-Nakb - the Catastrophe, over 5000 combatant deaths were recorded, including 800 civilians. Similar number of casualties was recorded during the 1949-1967 Fedayeen war. The 1970-1971 Jordanian Civil War otherwise known as Black September had the largest casualties of war. Over 20, 000 Palestinians were massacred by the Israel Defence Forces that entered the village of Karameh.
The War of Attrition, war of the camps, the first and second intifada to 2008-9 Gaza-Israel war where over 6000 people were killed. The December 2012 Gaza offensive that led to the death of HAMAS leader, Ahmed Jabbarri and hundreds of other Palestinians is still fresh on people's memory. Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with artillery shells and about 20 airstrikes on the first day of the offensive. The Israeli atrocities are endless.
The attacks on Gaza received wide condemnation from across the World. There were different 'Free Palestine Protest' across Europe, New York City, Francisco and other major city cities in the US. It's the same message, but with different captions of their placards. Some read, 'End the Gaza Siege', 'Free Palestine', 'Say No to Israel Aggression', and, 'Say No to Injustice', amongst others. For instance, approximately 16,000 protesters came together from across the UK to make a stand against the way Palestinians are being treated by the Israelis.
The protesters also called for the boycott of Israeli products and the companies that have a track record of supporting them. South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) recently voted in favour of full boycott and divestment sanction policies against Israel, an unprecedented move that could bring significant economic pressure to stop the blockade of Gaza and illegal settlement activity on the West Bank.

BOYCOTT ISRAEL AND ITS ALLIES CAMPAIGN
Scholars of Islam have unanimously agreed that boycott is a MUST for Muslims, a means of showing brotherhood and solidarity for their brethren. Among such scholars were Qatari based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, Irananian spiritual leader, Ali Khumaini, and Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi'I from Nigeria.
Luqmon Yusuf opined that the weapon of oppressors is economy, stressing that the only way to stop them from committing their oppression is boycott. He noted that if Muslims are aware and would boycott Israel products all over the world, it will go a long way in curbing the aggression against innocent Palestinians.





Tuesday 11 June 2013

LAGOS LEGALISES VOLUNTARY CREMATION OF BODIES by Abdur Rasheed Abubakar


 We first break the news that the Lagos State House of Assembly had passed Cremation bill into law, and we later presented you the reactions of the Council of Ulamah headed by Sheikh Abudr Rahman Ahmad.Now, Governor Fashola has signed it into law. READ HIS REASONS BELOW...

It is now legal to cremate bodies in Lagos.

Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed three bills for laws to establish the State Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation and another to provide for voluntary cremation of bodies and unclaimed bodies.

The governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said: “The new law tells the story of a full consciousness of how global Lagos State has become in the affairs of things. If people migrate here, choose a home here, set up businesses here and believe from where they come that cremation is the best way in which they want to be treated, I think we should as a global city provide those standard practices as it is done in many other cities in the world and it is for those who choose to use that kind of service.”




“Let it not be said that ‘oh we missed an investment opportunity because we were not responsive to a particular need or we lost interaction because we were insensitive to other people’s belief and this sits well with a report that was brought to my attention yesterday to the effect that Lagos is now just behind Johannesburg as perhaps the most visited African city on the continent”, the governor said.

He reiterated that the State must as expected take her role and provide as many services as possible so that people who visit the city will know that they have come to an international city where they can make choices.

He added that what is uppermost is the need to be sensitive to every section of society as best as it is possible to do so within the ambit and the full width of the constitutional provisions that safeguards the expressions of these rights and privileges and religious obligations.

Fashola thanked members of the House of Assembly for working on the three new bills and passing them into law.



The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaiye said the bill on voluntary cremation of corpses and unclaimed corpses in Lagos and for connected purposes is a private member bill that takes into consideration the need to have formal legal structure for the cremation of deceased persons within the state.

He added that the bill establishes crematoriums for the state and that there can be no cremations except in crematoriums duly recognised, established and managed according to the law, adding that the new law is a clear attempt to strictly regulate the manner in which cremations will be carried out in Lagos State.

“The law also empowers the Commissioner for Health to appoint a registered medical practitioner with at least 5 years experience as the medical officer in charge of the crematorium office and would work with two deputies with specified duties”, the Attorney -General added.

Ipaiye, proffering answers on who may be cremated, said there would be no cremation unless there have been an application for cremation made in accordance with section 9 of the law. “It must be the deceased that provides for it in his will or the families of the deceased who could agree to make the application but before it is considered there must be a death certificate issued. There must also be a certified true copy of the entry of the deceased death in the relevant registers and there must be a medical certificate and confirmed medical certificate which must certify the cause of the death”.

“Section 9 provides that where a will is silent, the near relative who may apply must have attained the age of 18. It also provides that a medical officer can apply for cremation for abandoned corpses which are not claimed after considerable period of time. The law also talks about the aftermath of unclaimed corpses, as 14 days notice is given after cremation and if nobody claims the ashes, the office can dispose of it”, he explained.

Saturday 8 June 2013

ANOTHER RAMADAN WITHOUT AREMU GAWAT, A CALL FOR SERIOUS CONCERN! + “Investigation is still going on…,” Lagos PPRO, Ngozi Braide

AL-FAHM's exclusive story reviewed one year after the eloquent Islamic broadcaster, Alhaji AbdurRasaq Aremu Gawat was declared missing! Read what the Lagos State PPRO of Police told us and what we discovered during our investigations...in our RAMADAN edition. OUT SOON!!!