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Muslims Are Brothers And One Body!

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4 years ago

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Imam Murtada Gusau

By Imam Murtadha Gusau

Friday, Jumada Al-Ula 15, 1444 AH (December 09, 2022)

In the name Of Allah, Most merciful, Most compassionate

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation—may He extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels and send His peace and blessings upon him—likewise upon his family, Companions, and true followers.

Dear Brothers and Sisters! This week’s (Friday) piece will In Shaa Allah be on the brotherhood in Islam.

Respected servants of Allah! Wallahi, Islam has taken every necessary measure to preserve humanity from division and discord. One of these measures is the principle of brotherhood. This principle wipes away all the differences that exist between people, like lineage, wealth, and all other qualities that people use to distinguish themselves above one another.

This is brotherhood of the closest kind.

The meaning of brotherhood as I intend it is a brotherhood based on faith and respect. It is a brotherhood that exists between a large number of people who share the same beliefs and religious identity. Allah Almighty says:

“And He has brought their hearts together. If you had spent all that was in the Earth, you would not have brought their hearts together.”

And Allah Almighty describes the believers as being brothers. He says:

“The believers are but brothers.”

The reason for their being described in this way is that they: all share the same beliefs, work towards the same goals and share the same code of behaviour.

Brotherhood can be based on belief and religious identity. This is the meaning intended when speaking about faith and other related topics. Allah the Most High says:

“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood.” [Qur’an, 49:10]

And He says:

“…so you, by His grace, became brothers.”

This verse means that they became brothers by virtue of their Islam and loved one another and were united through the greatness of Allah, so they cooperated in acts of righteousness and piety. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) said:

“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, forsake him or despise him.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters! Please let’s think for a moment: Why did Islam establish brotherhood on the basis of faith and not on the basis of relationship or race?

The reason why Islam did not build its concept of brotherhood on blood relationship or race is because these two things have their basis in material considerations. Consequently, they cannot bring about a strong and united community that can resist the disagreements and conflicts that might tear it apart. This is especially true if the differences are ideological in nature or are based on beliefs and methodology. It has repeatedly been seen that blood brothers can be brought to kill one another when their beliefs or interests differ (eg: Kabilah (Cain) and Habilah (Abel)). In contrast, people who share the same faith or belief system can work together even though they come from different countries, speak different languages, or have different racial backgrounds.

The concept of the Ummah (Nation), that all Muslims are linked in one community of faith and belief, is an integral part of Islam. The Islamic Brotherhood is not based on economic interests, race, or colour. It is based on something infinitely superior: rejection of falsehood and acceptance of the Truth as revealed by the One True Allah (God). Not only is this Brotherhood based on faith, it is also a part of that faith. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“You cannot enter paradise unless you become a total believer and you won’t become a total believer unless you love each other. Shall I tell you what would increase your love? Spread the salam (peace), between yourselves.”

In one of his Hadiths, our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) says:

“They do not do injustice to others nor do they tolerate any injustice to themselves. In their love and concern for each other, all members of this Brotherhood are one body: when any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels the pain. When one of its organs fails, the rest of the body responds and watches over it by contracting fever.” [Muslim]

It is related by Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) that The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“The connection between Muslims is like that of a strong building – one part strengthens another.” The Prophet then showed this by interlocking the fingers of one hand with those of the other (that Muslims should remain united – thereby strengthening one another). “It is sufficient evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother. The life, wealth, and honour of a Muslim are inviolable by another Muslim.” [Muslim]

And in another Hadith:

“Two brothers are likened to a pair of hands, one of which washes the other.”

Hudhaifah (RA) relates that:

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“The Battle of Yarmuk had just ended. I was walking over the battlefield among the martyred and injured with a pitcher of water. I was looking for the son of my uncle. I found him lying in blood on the burning sand. He was about to die. I asked him whether he wanted water. Unable to speak, he gestured that he did. I was just offering it to him when a groaning was heard: ‘Water! Water! Please, a drop of water!’ My uncle’s son, whose name was Harith, heard that and gestured that I should take the water to him. I hastened to the groaning one, who was Ikrimah. Ikrimah had not yet taken the pitcher when a similar groaning was heard. Refusing to take the water, Ikrimah wanted me to take it to the one groaning. When I got to that one, who was Iyash, he was supplicating: “O Allah! We have never refrained from sacrificing our lives for the sake of faith. Honour us with the rank of martyrdom (Shahadah), and forgive our sins!” Iyash saw the water but did not live long enough to drink it. I immediately returned to take the water to Ikrimah. However, I found Ikrimah also martyred (died). Then I hastened to Harith, my uncle’s son. Unfortunately, he too was lying dead on the burning sand. This is the most touching event I have witnessed in my life. It was their unshakable belief in Islam, which caused them to behave that way. It was Islam which created such degree of brotherhood among people.”

Anas (RA) reports that Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) once said:

“I swear by the Allah Almighty in whose power my life is, any one of you cannot be a true believer unless he desires for his fellow-brother what he desires for himself.”

Allah, The Almighty, says:

“And hold fast, all of you together to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves and remember Allah’s favour on you, for you were enemies one to another, but He joined your hearts together so that by His Grace you became brethren.” [Qur’an 3:103]

On another occasion the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“The believer is friendly and easy to befriend. And there is no good in the person who does not befriend and does not get befriended.” (Ahmad)

Dear brothers and sisters! Another dimension of this brotherhood relies upon the idea of loving one another just for the sake of Allah. This idea can be exemplified by the words of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him).

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) says:

“On the Day of Judgment, seats will be placed around the Throne (Al’arsh) [of Allah] for a group of people whose faces resemble the full moon. These people shall not experience any fear or terror although all others will. They are the friends of Allah (Auliyah) upon whom there shall be no fear and who shall not be sad. It was asked, ‘Who are those people, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Messenger (Peace be upon him) replied, ‘They are the ones who love one another for the sake of Allah, The Exalted.’”

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) once said:

“A man set out to visit one of his brothers for the sake of Allah and Allah Almighty appointed an angel to watch over him. The angel asked the man, ‘Where are you going?’ The man replied: ‘I wish to visit my brother.’ ‘Do you need anything from him?’ asked the angel. ‘No,’ replied the man. ‘Then why are you going to visit him?’ inquired the angel. The man answered, ‘I love him for Allah’s Sake.’ The angel said, ‘Then know that Allah has sent me to tell you that Allah loves you because of your love for your brother and that He has decreed Paradise for you.’” [Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) also said in a Hadith Qudsi:

“Allah, the Exalted, says ‘Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who visit each other for My Sake. Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who love one another for My Sake. Indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones who approach one another in humility for My Sake. And, indeed, My Love shall be bestowed upon the ones that rush to help one another for My Sake.” [Ahmad]

Please, I beg all my Muslim brothers and sisters to forgive me, as In Shaa Allah myself, I forgive everyone who offended me.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon our Prophet as our Lord commanded:

“Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.” [Qur’an, 33:56]

O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.

O Allah, we ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know.

O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know.

O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge.

O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good.

Respected servants of Allah! Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation; may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security―and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly and sincerely until the establishment of the Hour.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761.

This Friday piece was prepared and sent to you from here on my admission bed in National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. Please your kind Du’a and prayers are needed, and if Allah Almighty take my life, ask Allah please, to forgive my sins, my shortcomings and my failings, and grant me Jannatul-Firdaus.

Thanks, Wa Jazakumullah Khairan.

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President Tinubu Names New Petroleum Institute After Late Gen Shehu Musa Yar’adua

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June 12, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new university in Kaduna State and named it after Late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to the honour the former Chief of  Staff Supreme Headquarters (equivalent to Vice President)as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.

The President announced the decision on Friday during his Democracy Day nationwide broadcast that the Federal Government had approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

Tinubu said the decision was taken in recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and his vision of national unity and partnership.

The late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, an older brother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was one of the political gladiators in the aborted Third Republic and advocate of June 12, 1993 presidential election actualisation.

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“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” the President said.

“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology,” Tinubu declared.

The President paid tribute to other prominent figures, living and dead, who played significant roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.

He described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history and remembered several heroes of the democratic movement, including late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, whom he said helped lay the foundation for the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.

Tinubu noted that the country owed a debt of gratitude to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death in the fight for democratic governance.

He also announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, lawyers, politicians and military officers who, according to him, suffered persecution and incarceration during the struggle to restore democratic rule in Nigeria.

Among those recognised were Arthur Nwankwo, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Ishola Williams and several military officers who participated in the June 12 democratic struggle.

Tinubu said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, the President said the country has enjoyed 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the longest stretch of democratic governance in the nation’s history.

He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, stressing that the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes must not be in vain.

“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” Tinubu said.

The President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying democracy must translate into improved living standards, economic opportunities and security for all citizens.

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We Could Only Watch Helplessly’ — Kano Traders Recount Horror of Market Inferno

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23 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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A fire incident has destroyed a popular home appliances and office furniture market located along Murtala Mohammed Way in Kano, leaving traders counting losses running into millions of naira.

It was gathered that the fire broke out at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday and rapidly spread across the market, engulfing shops and their contents before firefighters could bring the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses said the fire consumed a large section of the market, reducing valuable goods and property to ashes.

One of the affected traders, who spoke to newsmen, described the incident as a major disaster for business owners operating in the market.

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According to him, the fire completely gutted several shops, destroying goods worth millions of naira.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. We could only watch helplessly as officials of the Kano State Fire Service battled to contain the inferno,” the trader said.

He further disclosed that the fire extended to a nearby building occupied by the international courier company, DHL, where part of the roof was damaged by the flames.

The affected market, located between the DHL office and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) along Murtala Mohammed Way, is widely known for the sale of household and office furnishing items, including furniture, carpets, air conditioners, refrigerators, mattresses, televisions and other interior decoration materials.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire had not been officially established, while authorities were yet to provide an estimate of the total value of property destroyed.

Traders affected by the incident have appealed to the government and relevant authorities for support as they begin to assess the extent of their losses and rebuild their businesses.

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Northern Youths Hail National Assembly’s Approval of State Police, Describe Move as Landmark Security Reform

Published

24 hours ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has commended the National Assembly for its approval of the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish State Police across Nigeria, describing the development as a landmark step toward addressing the country’s persistent security challenges.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Abdulhafiz Garba, the group said the overwhelming support for the bill by federal lawmakers reflects a growing national consensus on the need to strengthen security through a more decentralized and community-focused policing system.

According to the assembly, the endorsement of the bill by 289 legislators, with only four voting against it, demonstrates the urgency attached to security reforms and the recognition that local communities must play a more active role in maintaining peace and order.

The group noted that insecurity has remained one of the most pressing concerns across Northern Nigeria, where communities have grappled with banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling, and communal conflicts. These challenges, it said, have disrupted economic activities, displaced families, and undermined social stability across the region.

The NYA argued that while officers of the Nigeria Police Force have continued to make sacrifices in the line of duty, the existing centralized policing structure has struggled to adequately respond to the country’s complex and evolving security threats due to Nigeria’s vast population and geographical size.

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It maintained that the creation of State Police would provide an additional layer of security by enabling state governments to establish law enforcement agencies capable of responding swiftly to local challenges while complementing federal security institutions.

The assembly highlighted intelligence gathering as one of the major advantages of the proposed reform. It explained that security personnel recruited from local communities would possess deeper knowledge of the language, culture, terrain, and social environment of their states, making it easier to detect criminal activities and prevent threats before they escalate.

The group further stated that decentralized policing would improve emergency response times, as state-controlled police formations would be able to act promptly without waiting for instructions from distant command structures.

Beyond security, the Northern Youth Assembly said the reform could create significant employment opportunities for young people. It noted that recruitment into state police services would provide jobs for thousands of youths while helping to reduce unemployment and strengthen community engagement.

According to the organization, improved security would also encourage investment, boost agricultural production, revive local economies, and facilitate safer movement of goods and people across Northern Nigeria.

The group pointed to several countries operating successful decentralized policing systems, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Germany. It argued that these examples demonstrate that state-based policing structures can coexist with federal law enforcement agencies without undermining national unity.

Rather than weakening the federation, the assembly said decentralized policing has proven effective in enhancing accountability, improving public safety, and ensuring more responsive governance in many democratic nations.

Describing the passage of the bill as a historic moment, the NYA said the reform offers renewed hope for communities affected by insecurity and represents a significant step toward building a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

The organization pledged its continued support for policies aimed at promoting peace, security, youth empowerment, economic development, and national unity, while urging relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed State Police framework once it becomes law.

 

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