The Month of Ramadan has long ago been established as the month of fasting for Muslims. But from where does the authority and instructions for its observance come? How can we know with certainty the correct performance and acceptability with Allah the Sublime?
Wisdom of Fasting
Fasting is a great act of worship for the Muslim which he performs by neglecting his desires to please his Lord and hopes for His Reward. It just common sense that the one who would not give up desired things except that it would be for something more desirable. In this case the pleasure of Allah is the most sought after desire.
It is also a means of achieving piety and righteousness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah doesn't need his refraining from food and drink."
In other words, Allah is not going to accept this person's fasting.
The heart, through fasting, is apt to maintain its tenderness since the desires are not sought rather shunned, and tend to be more receptive to the words of Allah.
The rich will, through fasting be more appreciative of Allah's graces and bounties. He will also suffer deprivation as do the poor and needy under their everyday circumstances. So he will be more motivated to help them from what Allah has provided him. It helps depress pride of the ego and maintains humbleness. Moreover, fasting has its health advantages by virtue of decreasing the intake of food and relaxing the digestive system. Great is the Wisdom of Allah, and great are His Graces.
Virtues of Ramadan
Abu Hurairah narrated; "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said; 'When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened and the gates of Jahannam (Hell) are closed, and the shayatin (devils) are chained up."
The gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened in this month because a great deal of righteous deeds are performed, and as an encouragement for those who seek Allah's reward. While the gates of Jahannam (Hell) are closed because only a few sins are committed by the believers. The shayatin (devils) will be chained that they may not have the influence on the believers by whispering to them and misguiding them, that they might ordinarily have during the other months of the year.
Allah has prescribed fasting and made it obligatory on all nations. He has said;
"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous"
[Noble Quran 2:183]
If fasting were not a great act of worship, and the reward thereof were not so great Allah would not have prescribed it on all nations.
Of the virtues of fasting is that it is a means for atonement of sins. It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah that;
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) said; "Allah has said; 'All the deeds of Adam's children (all mankind) they do for themselves, except fasting which belongs to Me and I will reward for it. Fasting is a shield (against the Hell and against the committing of sins). If one of you happens to be fasting he should avoid sexual relations with his wife and should avoid quarrelling. Should someone fight or quarrel with him, let him say, 'I am fasting'. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul (Allah), the smell of the mouth of the one who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah than musk (perfume)."
[from the collection of sayings of the Prophet by Imam Bukhari]
It is a shield because it safeguards the believer from vain talk and wrong doing and thereby protects him from the Jahannam (Hell).
Of all the good deeds, Allah has favored fasting to be greatly rewarded by Him and distinguished it with prestige, if it is observed with the pure intention of pleasing Him alone.
From other sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) we know that:
Fasting is so highly regarded for a believer that he would have two occasions of joy, one at the time of breaking his fast, [to enjoy the bounties of Allah, because he has been favored with Allah's mercy to observe fasting while many others have been deprived of this great blessing], and the second would be when he meets his Lord [and enjoys the abundant reward for having observed fasting].
Also, that fasting intercedes with Allah on behalf other believer on the Day of Judgment.
You can get Islamic articles,books,poetry,etc online via http://dawahnigeria.com/ or www.kalamullah.com
RAMADAN KAREEM
LEGAL-EAGLE
Monday, July 8, 2013
what do you think About this work???????????
When ¶ born,¶ black
When ¶ go in sun,¶ black
When ¶ scared,¶ black
When ¶ sick,¶ black
When ¶ die,¶ still black.
And you white fellows
When you born, you Pink
When you grow up,you White
When you go in sun,you Red
When you cold,you Blue
When you scared,you Yellow
When you sick,you Green
When you die, you Grey
And you call me coloured.
This poem written by an African Kid,was nominated for the best poem of 2005
When ¶ go in sun,¶ black
When ¶ scared,¶ black
When ¶ sick,¶ black
When ¶ die,¶ still black.
And you white fellows
When you born, you Pink
When you grow up,you White
When you go in sun,you Red
When you cold,you Blue
When you scared,you Yellow
When you sick,you Green
When you die, you Grey
And you call me coloured.
This poem written by an African Kid,was nominated for the best poem of 2005
Saturday, July 6, 2013
DEDicated to liberty ChAmbers University of ilorin
all for NELSoN MANDeLA.....,Wishn D FatheR OF Libration quick recovery
ur greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
I have walked that long road to freedom.
I have tried not to falter;
I have made missteps along the way.
But I have discovered the secret
that, after climbing a great hill,
one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
I have taken a moment here to rest,
to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me,
to look back on the distance I have come.
But I can only rest for a moment,
for with freedom comes responsibilities,
and I dare not linger,
for my long walk is not ended.
Let freedom reign.
The sun never set
on so glorious a human achievement.
Only free men can negotiate;
prisoners cannot enter into contracts.
Your freedom and mine
cannot be separated.
And there can be no keener revelation
of a society's soul
than the way in which it treats its children.
To be free
is not merely to cast off one's chains,
but to live in a way
that respects and enhances
the freedom of others.
ANIFOWOSHE TITILOpE TAWAkkalt ..300L law student University of Ilorin
Ff @classicaltiti
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
I have walked that long road to freedom.
I have tried not to falter;
I have made missteps along the way.
But I have discovered the secret
that, after climbing a great hill,
one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
I have taken a moment here to rest,
to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me,
to look back on the distance I have come.
But I can only rest for a moment,
for with freedom comes responsibilities,
and I dare not linger,
for my long walk is not ended.
Let freedom reign.
The sun never set
on so glorious a human achievement.
Only free men can negotiate;
prisoners cannot enter into contracts.
Your freedom and mine
cannot be separated.
And there can be no keener revelation
of a society's soul
than the way in which it treats its children.
To be free
is not merely to cast off one's chains,
but to live in a way
that respects and enhances
the freedom of others.
ANIFOWOSHE TITILOpE TAWAkkalt ..300L law student University of Ilorin
Ff @classicaltiti
Thursday, July 4, 2013
NELSON MANDELA
The poem is under my hand.
The images crowd my head.
Poetry is the way
To get this story told.
Poetry has the strength
To tell the story well,
As long as the images hold,
As long as the poem writes.
The Oppressor comes into court.
He is the Prosecutor,
He is the Judge and Jury;
There is no ‘win or lose' -
The case is cut and dried.
The Defendant stands alone.
The Prosecutor calls
Himself as Witness - yes,
The Judge upholds the law
That he himself created:
It changes as he chooses.
The Jury only knows
One word - the word is ‘Guilty'.
This poem is a gun.
This poem's an assassin.
Images mob my mind...
This pen's a spear, a knife,
A branding-iron, an arrow
Tipped with righteous anger.
It writes with blood and bile.
I take this bitter ink,
Blood-red, to make my mark;
Corruption from the wound,
Sap from the poison-tree,
Aloe and gall and myrrh.
This poem's a loaded gun,
This verse a Kalashnikov.
I aim it at the snake
That slithers to our children
And strikes! See where the tell-tale
Blood-beads pearl on the skin.
The snake, the Prosecutor,
The Oppressor, the Judge, the Jury -
You must always aim for the head.
This poem is a gun
And words are ammunition.
This poem tells a story
That can't be cut or censored.
This poem's not up for sale,
It can't be bought as men
And cattle can be bought,
So don't make me an offer,
Put your money back
In your purse... But you can listen,
Everyone can listen,
Not just the great and good,
Not just Nelson Mandela.
Judge and Jury, listen!
Prosecutor, listen!
Policeman, come and listen!
Turnkey, come and listen!
You who perjure, listen!
You who torture, listen!
I want you to hear this poem;
I want you to hear me speak
As if I were Mandela.
I speak for him - Mandela.
I speak for an angry man,
A man whose voice was stopped,
A man whose mouth was gagged
Because he once said, ‘No!'
‘No!' to the Prosecutor,
‘No!' to the Judge and Jury,
‘No!' to injustice, ‘No!'
To indignity and oppression.
He says, ‘Don't think I'm beaten;
Don't think of me as weak
Or wretched. I'm no slave.
I'm not destitute
Although they stole from me.
I'm not without a home
Although my land's been taken.
Don't pity me; don't tell me
I'll have my chance at glory.
Didn't Jesus ask us
To turn the other cheek
And give the Fool who slaps us
Another chance to show us
Just how much he hates us?
And if that Fool should kill me:
Tell me, who's the victor?
He thinks of me, that man,
As someone who has no one:
No friends, no family,
No allies, no supporters.
He cannot see the circle -
Right round the globe - of people,
All races, colours, creeds,
Calling out for justice.
If I say I'm hungry
I mean hungry for justice.
If I say I'm hog-tied
I mean hog-tied by lies.
If I say I'm blind,
I'm blind to compromise.
If I say an angel
Stands at my right shoulder
I mean ‘Angel of Death',
I mean ‘Death in Disguise'.
Everything I've suffered,
Everything I've dreamed of,
Are mine and mine alone.
The Judge and Jury know me.
They know what I have suffered.
They think that what I'm thinking
Is what they think I'm thinking.
It's not. If I say ‘Angel'
I mean Angel of Death.
I mean the Angel's shadow
That darkens all my thinking.
The brush they use to sweep
My thoughts out of the door
Is worn down to the shaft.
Only the thoughts are left.
The snake-bite and the blood-beads,
The blood-beads and the poison,
Are my immunity.
Once my sleep was dreamless,
Once my mind was blank;
Now my dreams are rich,
My every thought is clear.
Now I see a way -
A way others have taken;
It's called the Road to Freedom.
I want you to hear him speak:
Hear Mandela's wisdom.
Listen, all who hear me,
All who think as I do.
Abu Hadra - hear me!
Poet and friend, now listen!
I know you'll understand.
This poem's a ransom-note,
Blood-money to the many
Who cry aloud for justice.
It's payback to Mandela
And everything he stands for
And everyone he speaks for.
This poem has a blade
Hidden at its heart.
That steel will last forever!
So listen, Abu Hadra!
If you will listen, others
Will listen too, will hear
The words as if Mandela
Was calling them to arms.
They'll grasp the blade that's hidden
Deep inside this poem;
They'll show the Jude and Jury
The cutting-edge of freedom;
They'll show the Prosecutor
The blade that lasts forever;
They'll never bow their heads
Or walk in chains and fetters.
This poem is a mirror
I've made for us, Hadraawi,
A mirror we can hold up
To show the ignoramus
The depth of self-deception
That lies in his reflection;
To show the Judge and Jury
How the wide world sees them;
To show the man who takes
Pleasure in pain the guern
Of glee that warps his smile.
Hadraawi, read this poem
To anyone who'll listen.
Help them to find the voice
I've given to Mandela.
And tell them this: our purpose
Is peace; our password ‘Freedom';
Our aim, equality;
Our way the way of light
Anifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt 300l Law student University of Ilorin
Ff@clasicaltiti
The images crowd my head.
Poetry is the way
To get this story told.
Poetry has the strength
To tell the story well,
As long as the images hold,
As long as the poem writes.
The Oppressor comes into court.
He is the Prosecutor,
He is the Judge and Jury;
There is no ‘win or lose' -
The case is cut and dried.
The Defendant stands alone.
The Prosecutor calls
Himself as Witness - yes,
The Judge upholds the law
That he himself created:
It changes as he chooses.
The Jury only knows
One word - the word is ‘Guilty'.
This poem is a gun.
This poem's an assassin.
Images mob my mind...
This pen's a spear, a knife,
A branding-iron, an arrow
Tipped with righteous anger.
It writes with blood and bile.
I take this bitter ink,
Blood-red, to make my mark;
Corruption from the wound,
Sap from the poison-tree,
Aloe and gall and myrrh.
This poem's a loaded gun,
This verse a Kalashnikov.
I aim it at the snake
That slithers to our children
And strikes! See where the tell-tale
Blood-beads pearl on the skin.
The snake, the Prosecutor,
The Oppressor, the Judge, the Jury -
You must always aim for the head.
This poem is a gun
And words are ammunition.
This poem tells a story
That can't be cut or censored.
This poem's not up for sale,
It can't be bought as men
And cattle can be bought,
So don't make me an offer,
Put your money back
In your purse... But you can listen,
Everyone can listen,
Not just the great and good,
Not just Nelson Mandela.
Judge and Jury, listen!
Prosecutor, listen!
Policeman, come and listen!
Turnkey, come and listen!
You who perjure, listen!
You who torture, listen!
I want you to hear this poem;
I want you to hear me speak
As if I were Mandela.
I speak for him - Mandela.
I speak for an angry man,
A man whose voice was stopped,
A man whose mouth was gagged
Because he once said, ‘No!'
‘No!' to the Prosecutor,
‘No!' to the Judge and Jury,
‘No!' to injustice, ‘No!'
To indignity and oppression.
He says, ‘Don't think I'm beaten;
Don't think of me as weak
Or wretched. I'm no slave.
I'm not destitute
Although they stole from me.
I'm not without a home
Although my land's been taken.
Don't pity me; don't tell me
I'll have my chance at glory.
Didn't Jesus ask us
To turn the other cheek
And give the Fool who slaps us
Another chance to show us
Just how much he hates us?
And if that Fool should kill me:
Tell me, who's the victor?
He thinks of me, that man,
As someone who has no one:
No friends, no family,
No allies, no supporters.
He cannot see the circle -
Right round the globe - of people,
All races, colours, creeds,
Calling out for justice.
If I say I'm hungry
I mean hungry for justice.
If I say I'm hog-tied
I mean hog-tied by lies.
If I say I'm blind,
I'm blind to compromise.
If I say an angel
Stands at my right shoulder
I mean ‘Angel of Death',
I mean ‘Death in Disguise'.
Everything I've suffered,
Everything I've dreamed of,
Are mine and mine alone.
The Judge and Jury know me.
They know what I have suffered.
They think that what I'm thinking
Is what they think I'm thinking.
It's not. If I say ‘Angel'
I mean Angel of Death.
I mean the Angel's shadow
That darkens all my thinking.
The brush they use to sweep
My thoughts out of the door
Is worn down to the shaft.
Only the thoughts are left.
The snake-bite and the blood-beads,
The blood-beads and the poison,
Are my immunity.
Once my sleep was dreamless,
Once my mind was blank;
Now my dreams are rich,
My every thought is clear.
Now I see a way -
A way others have taken;
It's called the Road to Freedom.
I want you to hear him speak:
Hear Mandela's wisdom.
Listen, all who hear me,
All who think as I do.
Abu Hadra - hear me!
Poet and friend, now listen!
I know you'll understand.
This poem's a ransom-note,
Blood-money to the many
Who cry aloud for justice.
It's payback to Mandela
And everything he stands for
And everyone he speaks for.
This poem has a blade
Hidden at its heart.
That steel will last forever!
So listen, Abu Hadra!
If you will listen, others
Will listen too, will hear
The words as if Mandela
Was calling them to arms.
They'll grasp the blade that's hidden
Deep inside this poem;
They'll show the Jude and Jury
The cutting-edge of freedom;
They'll show the Prosecutor
The blade that lasts forever;
They'll never bow their heads
Or walk in chains and fetters.
This poem is a mirror
I've made for us, Hadraawi,
A mirror we can hold up
To show the ignoramus
The depth of self-deception
That lies in his reflection;
To show the Judge and Jury
How the wide world sees them;
To show the man who takes
Pleasure in pain the guern
Of glee that warps his smile.
Hadraawi, read this poem
To anyone who'll listen.
Help them to find the voice
I've given to Mandela.
And tell them this: our purpose
Is peace; our password ‘Freedom';
Our aim, equality;
Our way the way of light
Anifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt 300l Law student University of Ilorin
Ff@clasicaltiti
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
ALLOW Me TO INTRODUCE TO YOU....ASUU: NIGERIA'S BEST STRIKER
Being someone who has no interest in football, asking me to mention Nigeria's best striker, is like asking the proverbial Hausa hen the way to the river (Ba a tambayar kaza hanyar rafi). That's the entertainment industry for you.
But when we come down to the Educational sector, where I am an active participant, I can easily tell you within the blink of an eye, that ASUU is the best, unbeatable and number one 'striker' in Nigeria.
Born in 1978, ASUU started 'striking' at the age of 10 -- in 1988. But because it was an 'amateur striker' then, ASUU was given RED CARD on 7 August 1988 for stepping on the toes of Gen. Babangida Maiwushirya (the gap-toothed general).
As a 'good striker', ASUU wasn't discouraged by the red card, it metamorphosed into ULA (University Lecturers Association), under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega, the present elections umpire.
After so much 'off-the-pitch striking', the red card was lifted in 1990, and ASUU returned from 'injury leave' both physically and mentally fit, ready to 'strike' again.
On 14 May, 1992 ASUU did what it knows how to do best -- it striked! This time the strike was so unbearable that General Maiwushirya had to issue another 'RED CARD' to the striker. So ASUU was proscribed for the second time on 23 August 1992.
Ever since General Maiwushirya handed over power, the striker has been striking with impunity. He became so strong a striker that he could maradonically break the defense of General Maikwale (the face-marked general) in 1994 and 1996!
Having striked in tough military regimes, the striker sees the civilian regime as a walk over. That's why ASUU striked twice in the tenure of Retired General Maitsagu (Baba Iyabo) in 2002 and 2007.
Determined to deal with the civilian regime, the striker skillfuly broke the defense of Late Alhaji Umaru Maidamanga (the hand-knitted damanga cap) striking twice - in 2008 and 2009.
Having gained international recognition, the striker sees the defense of Mr. Ebele Maimalafa as that of TAHITI. While the striker scored two goals per president, Oga Ebele's confused defense allowed him to have a hat-trick (three goals) in 4 years! One painful thing is that those goals were scored consecutively -- 2011, 2012 and 2013!
Now, ASUU has become so strong a STRIKER that it can compete with internationally renowned strikers such as Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney!
ASUU, PROUDLY NIGERIAN!
ANifowoshe Titilope Tawakkalt
300 Level Law student,university of Ilorin
Ff @classicaltiti
IN HoNoUR OF NELSON ROLIHLAhlA MANDELA
For the next three or four days..¶ l be posting articles and poems in honour of the Warrior of peace NELSon Rolihlahla Mandela even though there have been speculations as to his state of health and his being alive (¶ pray he is alive,hale nad heary Oo°ÚÚÚ° )).........watch out»»
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