26062020 - APC crisis: Why Buhari moved against Oshiomhole

28 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020
DhulQadah 4, 1441 A.H.
Why y Allah Almighty tests His servants
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
DEAR brothers and sisters, many
people ask, why are we tested and
tried? Why the hardships? Why the
calamities? Why the tribulations?
Why the covid-19 and its harsh and
difficult restrictions? Why the armed
banditry? Why the cattle rustling?
Why the Boko Haram terrorism?
Why the kidnappings? Why the rampant
rape in our societies? Why the
bad leaders? Why the bad followers?
Why the killings? Why..? Why..?
Why..? These are the very common
questions from Muslims, from people
of other faiths, or no faith – so it’s
important to reflect on them. Because
lack of answers can sometimes
distance people from their faith
(Imam) – if a person doesn’t understand
why tests and trials happen
they can start to feel that life is unfair
to them or even that Allah is being
unfair to them. But Allah is Al-Adl,
The Just, and He is Al-Rahman, The
Most Merciful; He never wants ill for
His servants, He only wants the best
for us. There are a lot of evidences in
the Qur’an and Hadith that helps us
answer these questions.
We were created to worship Allah
alone. We were created to worship
Allah, and we all made a promise to
do so before we were sent to earth.
Tests are a means for us to fulfill this
promise, in fact, they are a ‘Sunnah
(way)’ of Allah – i.e. tests are the
means by which Allah distinguishes
between us, because they help to
expose faith and lack of faith. Allah
Almighty states in the Qur’an: “Do
the people think that they will be left
to say, “We believe” and they will
not be tried and tested? But We have
certainly tried those before them,
and Allah will surely make evident
those who are truthful, and He will
surely make evident those who are
false.” [Qur’an, 29: 2-3]
Allah tests us to purify us and wash
away our sins. The Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) said:
“No calamity befalls a Muslim but
that Allah expiates some of his sins
because of it, even if it were the prick
of a thorn.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
So instead of seeing tests as a punishment
from Allah, this shows that
in fact, Allah wants to save us from
punishment – i.e. the punishment
of the hereafter which is much worse
than any test and trial faced in this
world.
A test can sometimes replace a
worse misfortune.
A test can be a form of protection
from something that might have
befallen us. Or being deprived of
something might, in fact, be saving
us from something that is not good
for us, even though we don’t have
the knowledge to realise it at the time.
Allah the Most High tells us:
“Perhaps you dislike a thing and
Allah makes therein much good.”
[Qur’an, 4: 19]
Therefore the test which might
seem so awful to you at the time is, in
fact, a blessing.
Tests are given to us to strengthen
our Iman (faith). The Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) said:
“The people who face the most difficult
tests are the Prophets, then the
righteous, then those following them
in degree. A person is tried according
to his religion. So if there is firmness
in his religion, then the trial is
increased, and if there is a weakness,
then it is lightened. Verily a trial re-
mains with a servant until he
walks the earth having no sin left
upon him.” [Bukhari]
Allah Almighty wants to refine
us, out of His love and mercy, so
that we can attain not just Jannah
(Paradise) but the highest
rank of the Prophets and the righteous.
Tests expose our faults and
weaknesses to ourselves – and
that awareness enables us to be
more focused and proactive in
rectifying those aspects of our
character. Allah tests a person He
loves.
The Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) said: “Whenever
Allah wills good for a person,
He subjects them to adversity.”
[Bukhari]
Why? Because if the servant
reacts with Sabr (patience) and
contentment with Allah’s decree,
it brings them closer to Allah. And
“Allah loves the Patient.” [Qur’an,
3: 146] Some ways to deal with
tests and trials
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)
stated that when we are
tested we are faced with two options:
To be patient! Not to be
patient! So when we lack patience
and get frustrated/bitter/lose
hope/panicky/attack, abuse or
insult our leaders/or blame Allah,
this is actually a choice we
make and not a very good one.
But those who choose option one
(to be patient), as difficult as it is,
benefit from their tests in this life
and also gain in the next life, i.e.
...punitive actions
may not be
enough, we must
create a culture
where rape is
never allowed to
flourish
Jannah (Paradise).
So how can we choose to have
more patience and contentment
when tested and tried? Please read
the following suggestions:
Read/listen to Qur’an (because
Zikr gives contentment – see Surah
Ra’ad: 28).
Make Du’a for Allah’s help,
strength, and relief from the test –
just as Prophet Ya’qub (AS), and
Maryam (AS) and the Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
all did.
Gratitude puts our tests in perspective
and stops us from complaining;
it is the greatest route
towards Patience (Sabr).
Remember what others are going
through – remember the Ummah
(nation), and people around
you in your own communities;
remind yourselves of the tests the
Prophets of Allah went through –
they provide us with good examples
of perseverance. Bear in mind
every single person is being tested
in different ways.
Remember nothing in this life
lasts forever, so the test and trial
will have an end In Shaa Allah.
Allah Almighty says:
“verily with every hardship
comes ease.” [Qur’an, 94:5-6]
Allah does not burden any soul
beyond what it can bear [Qur’an,
2:286]; Allah has confidence in us,
so we too need to have confidence
in our ability to get through the
test and trial.
Muhasabah – use tests as an
opportunity for self-assessment;
are there things you can do better
next time? Are there habits/characteristics
you need to change?
Deal with your test one step at a
time – i.e. if you have a task to complete,
give yourself small goals. Or
if you are facing a long-term test,
try to have patience for that day,
and start afresh with your goal of
patience the next day etc.
Have trust in Allah (tawakkal),
whatever the test is – because Allah
is the best of Planners and
teaches us the best lessons.
BARKA JUMAH
Doing good in life
Every single day is a good day for good and enlightened
persons because they feel free knowing that nothing can
despoil their wisdom of faith and trust in Allah.
“Doing good is life's amazing matchmaker that glue your
life to Allah's protection and eternal goodness. “Be joyous
as you pray and let the doing of good be the compass of
your life. Happy jumat. — Dr. Adewale Adeeyo, OON
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You’re
free to o get t refund or deposit
for or 2021 hajj, Kano tells Pilgrims
By Bashir Bello
THE Kano Pilgrims Welfare Board (KSPWB) on Thurs
day said it was ready to refund all monies paid by
intending pilgrims for the 2020 Hajj pilgrimage, adding
that they are also at liberty to book ahead of the 2021
pilgrimage.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Muhammad
Abba, made this known while speaking with newsmen in the
State yesterday.
Recall that the Government of Saudi Arabia recently said
that no pilgrims travelling from other countries would participate
in the 2020 Hajj due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said that Muslims of any nationality
residing in Saudi Arabia would be permitted to participate
in the Hajj and that participant must be under 65 years and
will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival in Mecca.
Abba said, “Intending pilgrims who would want their money
refunded would get it and none would lose a kobo.
“Similarly, for those who would be interested to book for the
2021 Hajj could leave their money with the board,” the Executive
Secretary, Abba however stated.
Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zhikrullah Hassan in a meeting
with the leadership of the Association for Hajj & Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). The Commission
decided to returm their caution deposit and Licence Fee to Tour operator to ease refunding of 2020Hajj
deposits to their pilgrims. The meeting was held yesterday at Hajj House, Abuja.