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(Friday Sermon)The Virtues Of Eating Halal And The Evils Of Eating Haram

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Imam Murtadha Gusau
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the 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! In some of my previous Friday sermons (Khutbah) I discussed Luqman Al-Hakim’s first advice to his son with regards to the quality of Prayer (Salat). The second advice he gave was about food. He said that you should guard and watch your food intake. It is a two-part advice. One is that over eating should be avoided, because it is the root cause of ill health. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had advised us to divide our stomach into three compartments; one for food, the second for water, and the third for air. If applied, this formula can ensure good health.
The second part of the advice means to be careful about the Halal (pure and recommended) and the Haram (forbidden) food, because the Noble Qur’an and Hadiths of Prophet (Peace be upon him) mandate Halal food. Halal food means that food must be procured and purchased through fair, legitimate, and honest means. According to a Hadith quoted in Sahih Muslim:
“Prophet (Peace be upon him) mentioned a person, who had dust on his clothes and hair due to a long journey, was making supplications saying “Ya Rabb, Ya Rabb”, but his food, drink and dress was Haram. Though Allah Almighty accepts supplications of a traveler, but his involvement in Haram made his supplications unacceptable.”
According to one of Prophet (Peace be upon him)’s Hadith:
“Supplications of three persons are accepted: the traveler, father’s supplication for his off spring, and supplication of the oppressed against the oppressor.”
According to yet another Hadith:
“Allah Almighty has appointed an angel, who day and night announces from Baitul-Maqdis that obligatory and supplementary prayers of a person, who eats Haram, will not be accepted.”
Anas (RA) asked Prophet (Peace be upon him) to pray for him so that he may become “Mustajabud-da’awah.” The term “Mustajabud-da’awah” means a person whose prayers and supplications are accepted. Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied: “Ya Anas, earn an honest living and eat Halal food, Allah Almighty will make you “Mustajabud-da’awah”, and will grant you whatever you ask. Keep yourself away from Haram, because even a morsel i.e. a small bite of Haram food invalidates supplications for forty days.” [At-Targhib wat-Tarhib]
There are many other spiritual and physical disadvantages of Haram food. Let me listed four disadvantages:
1. Haram food extinguishes the light of Iman (faith), and the heart become dark.
2. It makes man dull, lethargic, and inactive.
3. It causes to commit Haram deeds and corrupts thoughts and action.
4. It kills conscience and puts a barrier between man and virtue.
The essence is that Haram creates a distance between man and religion, ruins the Hereafter, the door of virtues is closed on him, and that of temptations and sin is flung wide open.
Yusuf Ibn Artat (Rahimahullah) is quoted in Kitabul-Kaba’ir that when Shaitan (Satan) finds a youth busy in prayers and submitting to the obedience of Allah Almighty, he asks his friends to find about his food and drink. If it turns out to be Haram, then there is nothing to worry about as his prayers and obedience is futile and wouldn’t be of any good to him.
Respected brothers and sisters! In today’s society Haram is practiced in many ways, and majority is not even aware of it. Interest, usury, bribery, cheating in commercial transactions, lying, disregards of duties of the self and rights of others, theft and larceny and many other Haram acts are a common practice. Knowledge is not scarce, but it is action which is missing. And the main reason is that our earnings are not honest, and our food and drink is not fair and pure. As a result we cannot practice virtue and are devoid of righteousness.
According to a Hadith of Prophet (Peace be upon him) there will be some people on the Day of Judgment whose virtues will match the size of the mount Tihamah, meaning that they will have abundance of good deeds. But when they will stand before Allah Almighty, all their good deeds will be on no value, and they will be thrown into Hell Fire. Companions (RA) submitted, why will that happen o Messenger of Allah? Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied that they performed Prayer (Salah), observed fast, paid Zakah, and performed Hajj, but never saved themselves from Haram, which ruined all their good deeds.” [Kitabul-Kaba’ir]
Allah Almighty says in verse 51 or Surah Al-Muminun:
“O Messengers eat good things and do good deeds.”
The Qur’anic verse has used the word “Tayyibat” which means nice, pure and decent things. In the Islamic Shari’ah, things that are condemned as Haram are neither pure, nor appealing to common sense, that is why “Tayyibat” means things which internally and externally are pure and appealing. The verse tells us that all the Prophets and Messengers were given two main instructions. One: Eat pure and Halal food, and Two: Perform good and righteous deeds. When Prophets and Messengers, who are Ma’sum minal-Khata (incapable of committing sins), have been commanded as such, then we their followers should be very particular in taking all precautions possible to avoid Haram and the forbidden.
Scholars say that the combination of these two commands Akli-Halal and Amalis-Salih, i.e the fairly earned wages and pure food and the righteous deeds are interdependent. There is a wise saying that goes as follows:
“Halal earnings and food make you do good and righteous deeds, and Haram earnings and Haram food prompts you to commit Haram acts and deprives you of the ability to think or do good.”
Dear Servants of Allah! It was due to the teachings of the Noble Qur’an and training of Prophet (Peace be upon him) that companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) were very cautious and conscious about their food. Let me give you just one example here. Once Sayyidinah Abubakar Siddiq drank the milk brought by his servant. He later asked as to where he did bring the milk from? The servant replied that he had performed a “Kahanat” for a certain tribe and was given milk in exchange as wages. “Kahanat” is a Haram act, a sort of chanting that was common in the pre-Islamic days. Hearing this Sayyidinah Abubakar Siddiq immediately put his finger in his throat and threw out, and kept doing that for some time. People who saw the situation thought that perhaps Sayyidinah Abubakar Siddiq will pass out due to pain. Sayyidinah Abubakar Siddiq made repentance, prayed and submitted:
“O Allah, I repent and apologise for the milk which has gone into my system. When Prophet (Peace be upon him) heard of the incident, he commented: “Don’t you know that nothing goes to the stomach of Abubakar Siddiq (RA), except what is “Tayyib”, pure and Halal food?” [Bukhari and Muslim]
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 Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday sermon) was prepared for delivery today Friday, Rajab 12, 1444 AH (February 03, 2023).

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Commission of inquiry to hold inaugural sitting Monday

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

The judicial commission of inquiry on public properties and assets established by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to probe the previous administration led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has scheduled its inaugural session for Monday, 29th April 2024.

The commission’s secretary, Salisu Mustapha, said this in a letter addressed to the Director General Media and Publicity on Saturday.

Mustapha specified that the session will take place at High Court No. 3 within the Audu Bako Secretariat on Monday 29th April, 2024 by 10.am prompt.

Earlier this month, Governor Yusuf inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry (JCI) to investigate instances of misappropriation of public properties and assets, political violence, and missing persons between 2015 and 2023.

During the inauguration of the JCI members, Governor Yusuf pledged to hold accountable anyone found culpable, emphasizing his commitment to uncovering and prosecuting those responsible for political violence in the state before and during previous elections.

The governor urged the Commission to thoroughly investigate cases of misappropriated public properties and assets during the tenure of immediate past administration.

He instructed the commission members to uphold their integrity, remain true to their oath, and serve the people of Kano State by ensuring justice is served. Governor Yusuf clarified that the initiative was not politically motivated or directed at any individual but rather a response to the mandate of the people of Kano State.

You may recall that Justices of the State High Courts, Farouq Lawan Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf a long with other eminent personalities were selected and appointed as chairmen and members of the two commissions of inquiry respectively.

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Almajiri Returns Lost Phones Worth Over 2.5 Million Naira

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Haruna Adamu left who found the phones ,right Ibrahim Muhammad Abdullahi the owner

Haruna Adamu, a 37-year-old resident of Kano who recites Quran at Tsangayar Malam Sani, has returned lost phones worth over 2.5 million Naira at Masjidurrahma Mosque in Kano.

The owner of the phones, Ibrahim Muhammad Abu Abdallah, recounted that after prayers, the Muazzin usually cautioned people to take care of their pockets. However, upon checking his pockets after prayers, Abdallah realized his two phones, worth over 2.5 million Naira, were missing. He recalled having visited the mosque’s toilet during that time.

The two phones, both with two terabytes of storage, were essential for Abdallah’s work, and he expressed immense gratitude upon their recovery through Haruna Adamu after forgetting them inside the toilet . He acknowledged that losing the phones could have resulted in a loss of over 20 million Naira due to the valuable data they contained.

The mosque later announced the discovery of the phones, which were found by another worshipperi inside the toilets Mosque , Haruna Adamu , a 37-year-old resident of Tarauni located close to the Mosque. Adamu, who is staying at Tsangayar Malam Sani for Quranic memorization and recitation, returned the phones promptly.

Masjidurrahma is a multi-million Naira Mosque situated along Maiduguri Road,Kano built by renowned businessman AY Maikifi and recently commissioned by Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Saad Abubakar.

The Agony Of The Almajiri System In Northern Nigeria

In appreciation, Abdallah later gifted 100 thousand Naira to Haruna Adamu for his honesty. Adamu resides at Tsangayar Malam Sani, where he recites and memorizes the entire Quran in Tarauni local government area.

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Ace Nigerian Journalist and Parliamentarian Dies at 86, Governor Yusuf Offers Condolences

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Late Sidi Ali

 

The First Republic politician and Second Republic parliamentarian reportedly died in Kano on Thursday evening at 86.

Late Sidi Ali was a prolific writer with National dailies and was one of the Nigerian journalist who covered the civil war.

In his later life, he was a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member of the party’s Elders Committee in Kano State.

The elder statesman spent years serving the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission, among other critical institutions.

Born in Kano but raised in Ghana, Ali’s wide travels reportedly influenced his love for journalism and communication.

 

In his 2018 birthday message, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari noted that Ali spent most of his life serving the country as a Public Affairs Officer, “most remarkably for ensuring accurate and balanced information on government activities during and after the Civil War.

 

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has condoled with the families of late Sidi Ali who died Thursday evening at the age of 86.

In a statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described late Sidi Ali as a trusted Public Affairs Officer who worked hard to ensure the flow of true stories during the Civil war.

The Governor also noted the positive contributions of the deceased as a Senator in the Second Republic in shaping the Senate and the overall development of democracy in the country.

On behalf of the Government and people of Kano State, Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir extend condolences to his families, prayed for the repose of his soul, Aljannah be his final resting place, the courage and the fortitude to bear the loss.

 

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