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(Friday Sermon) Verify Any News, Stop Spreading Lie To Ignite Enmity, Crisis And Wars In Society!

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3 years ago

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Imam Murtada Gusau

 

By Imam Murtadha Gusau

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Dear brothers and sisters, surely, today we live in difficult times, full of different trials and tribulations. And one of the ways that we are tried and tested by Allah Almighty is by testing us with rumours and how we react to them. Today, we are bombarded with all sorts of information every day, be it directly from a person, on television, on Newspaper, on social media or via email. And many good-hearted people may just accept them, assuming this piece of news as indisputable facts coming from trustworthy sources. However, as a Muslim, what is our role towards such sayings and claims? What does the Shari’ah say about such information? Allah Almighty says:

Behold, you received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things which you had no knowledge of; and you thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.” [Surah Nur: 15]

So before we accept what anyone and everyone says, there are certain points to keep in mind, as we all have to stand in front of Allah Almighty one day.

We have to verify the information and ascertain, to the best of our ability, the truthfulness and authenticity of the news that reaches us. WHY? ……

Because Allah orders you and me to be JUST. Allah Almighty says:

“Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He gives you! Truly, Allah is Ever All­Hearer, All­Seer.” [Surah Nisa’i:58]

Please, think about what is being said, who is saying it and about whom is he saying it, before believing it. Allah Almighty says:

“O you who believe! If a Fasiq (evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” [Surah al-Hujurat 49:6]

And the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Deliberation is from Allah and haste is from the Shaitan.” [Albani, in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah]

Sometimes something may appear or sound true on the surface but, you may not know the full circumstances behind the statement, news or the report may be taken out of context. Imam Al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah) said:

“The believer reserves judgment until the matter is proven.”

Therefore anyone who claims a statement or levels an accusation against another person must provide proof. Allah Almighty says:

“Say (O Muhammad), Produce your proof if you are truthful.” [Surah al-Baqarah:111]

And if they fail to produce any solid proof for what they claim……

“Since they produce not witnesses, they are the liars in the sight of Allah.” [Surah al-Nur 24:13]

The people in charge can explain the facts of the matter and remove any confusion or doubts a person may have. Allah the Most High says:

“When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people); if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allah upon you, you would have followed Shaitan (Satan), save a few of you.” [Surah al-Nisa’ :83]

Search for and stand up for the Truth, and do not accept any false statements from anyone, even if it is from someone you love or hold close to your heart. Allah Almighty says:

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O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well­Acquainted with what you do.” [Surah Nisa’:135]

The Shari’ah issues a stern warning against passing on all that one hears. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“It is enough lying for a man to speak of everything that he hears.” [Muslim]

Imam Al-Nawawi said:

“Usually a person hears truth and lies, so if he speaks of everything that he hears, he is lying by telling of things that did not happen, and lying by speaking of something other than the way it happened….”

Many people just believe any news they hear and pass it on without even stopping to think that it may not be true. In that case it is a slander against the person that the news is a

that the news is about. And slander is a major sin. Allah the Most High says:

“Woe to every backbiter, slanderer.” [Surah Humazah: 1]

And the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“No man accuses another of an immoral deed or kufr, but it will come back on him, if the person he accuses is not as he says then he is.’” [Bukhari]

And he (Peace be upon him) said:

“No (Muslim) man will desert a man who is a Muslim in a place where his respect may be violated and his honour aspersed without Allah deserting him in a place where he wishes help.” [Abu Dawud and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani]

And Allah Almighty says:

“Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” [Surah Qaf:18]

And the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Indeed a servant may say a word from which Allah’s displeasure is gained and he does not realise it. Allah will put him in Jahannam (hellfire) due to it.” [Bukhari]

Allah the Most High says:

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Surah al-Tawbah 9:119]

And why did you not, when you heard it, say?

“It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah, this is a most serious slander.” [Surah Nur:16]

Respected brothers and sisters, remember, Allah Almighty says:If a Fasiq (liar- evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” [Qur’an, 49: 6]

And the respected Imam, Abu Al-Fida, Imadud-Din Isma’il Bin Umar Bin Kathir Al-Qurashi Al-Busrawi said concerning the above Qur’anic verse:

“Allah the Exalted ordered investigating the news that sinners and the wicked bring, to make sure of its authenticity. Otherwise, if the sinner’s word is taken for granted and a decision is based on it, regardless of whether the information is true or not, the authorities will be taking the lead of the sinners. Allah the Exalted and Most Honoured forbade taking the path of the corrupted and sinners. This is why groups of the scholars of Hadith refuse to accept narrations from narrators whose reliability is unknown, for they might be from among the wicked people, in reality.”

Dear brothers and sisters, whatever news we hear we must verify it before believing it. We must not circulate it further unless first we establish if the news is based on truth or not. It is Major Sin, to believe a story or news before verifying it, and to spread untrue stories and news in the society because the untrue stories can create enmity, crisis, wars, turmoil, confusion and injustice in society. For all Major Sins there is the punishment of burning by unending Hellfire. For many Major Sins the punishment starts from this world and continues in the Hereafter.

Lastly, I pray, May Allah Almighty guide us and enable us to stand up for the Truth, wherever it may be. Ameen.

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, Dhul-Hijjah 19, 1444 AH (July 07, 2023).

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PenCom Alleges Non-adherence to Pension Laws

Published

15 hours ago

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May 8, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The National Pension Commission has said that only seven states and the Federal Capital Territory are fully implementing pension reform laws despite widespread adoption of contributory pension frameworks across the country.

 

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Mrs Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the maiden edition of the bi-annual consultative session for heads of service of states yet to adopt or fully implement the Contributory Pension Scheme or the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme.

 

She said, “Out of the 36 states with pension reform laws on their books, only seven states, together with the Federal Capital Territory, are fully implementing these laws.”

 

The session was organised to encourage dialogue with affected state heads of service and to explore practical ways in which PenCom could provide technical support for the successful adoption and implementation of pension reforms at the sub-national level.

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According to Oloworaran, 30 states and the FCT had enacted laws on the contributory pension scheme or the contributory defined benefits scheme, while six states still had pension reform bills awaiting passage in their state assemblies.

 

She noted that 23 states had pension laws that were either inactive or only partially implemented, leaving many civil servants uncertain about their retirement future.

 

“That leaves 23 states whose laws are written, inactive, or only partially being implemented. Twenty-three sets of public servants or civil servants whose retirement future hangs in the balance, not because there is no law, but because the law has not been activated,” she said.

 

The PenCom boss described pension reform as a constitutional and fiscal obligation rather than a policy option, citing Section 210 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees pension rights for civil servants.

 

She said the old pension structure had failed because it created uncertainty and unsustainable liabilities, adding that the contributory pension scheme was introduced to promote accountability, sustainability, and transparency in pension administration.

 

Oloworaran stressed that the main challenge facing many states was no longer the passage of pension laws but the discipline required for implementation, including regular remittance of pension contributions and adequate funding of accrued pension rights.

 

“Across our states, the challenge is no longer the enactment of laws. The challenge is the discipline of execution. It is the regular and timely remittance of contributions. It is the adequate and consistent funding of accrued pension rights,” she stated.

 

She urged heads of service to see pension reform as part of their governance legacy, noting that the success or failure of implementation in states would largely depend on their commitment.

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NECO Computer-based Exams Will Commence this Year–Education Minister

Published

16 hours ago

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May 8, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

 

The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled a major reform in Nigeria’s examination system with the introduction of computer-based examinations, CBE, by the National Examinations Council, NECO, as the nation celebrated the examination body’s 25 years of existence amid glowing tributes to its rise from a troubled national initiative to an internationally recognised.

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The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the reform at NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration in Abuja, declared that the transition to technology-driven examinations would significantly curb examination malpractice and reposition Nigeria’s assessment system for global competitiveness.

 

Speaking at the event held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja, Alausa described NECO as a “standard-bearer for credible external examinations”, saying the council had become a critical pillar in safeguarding integrity, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.

 

“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year,” the minister said.

 

According to him, the new system would provide real-time monitoring of candidates, track suspicious activities and drastically reduce examination fraud that has continued to undermine confidence in public examinations.

 

The minister said NECO’s 25-year journey reflected Nigeria’s determination to build a credible national examination system capable of guaranteeing equal opportunities for learners across the country.

 

He noted that the council had over the years strengthened examination security, improved reliability in scoring, widened access to examinations in underserved areas and embraced technological innovations that restored public confidence in national certification.

 

 

Alausa said the Ministry of Education would continue to provide policy direction and oversight to ensure NECO examinations aligned with national curricula, learning outcomes and broader development goals.

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2026Hajj: Nigerian Pilgrims Begin Movement from Madinah to Makkah

Published

16 hours ago

on

May 8, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah have begun their movement to Makkah as of Thursday.

 

According to an update from the commission, the transfer commenced after the pilgrims had completed a four-day stay in Madinah.

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NAHCON further disclosed that the four official airlines handling this year’s Hajj operations—Max Air, Umza Airline, Air Peace, and Flynas—have so far transported 9,756 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

 

The commission also advised pilgrims intending to visit the Rawdah (the sacred area containing the Prophet Muhammad’s burial chamber in Madinah) before departing for Makkah to coordinate with their respective State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards for proper guidance and scheduling.

 

“NAHCON wishes to assure the Nigerian contingent that officials of state pilgrims’ welfare boards have already been trained and adequately guided on the procedures for booking Rawdah visits,” the statement read.

 

“However, pilgrims are kindly reminded that due to congestion and crowd management measures, access to the Rawdah is strictly subject to space availability and approved bookings. Pilgrims are therefore advised to remain patient, orderly, and to heed the guidance of their Ulama regarding the validity and acceptance of their Hajj rites.”

 

The commission emphasized that while visiting the Rawdah is a blessed opportunity, it is not a condition for the validity of Hajj.

 

“Allah grants such opportunities according to His will,” NAHCON added.

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