DESPAIR NOT, O MOTHERS OF CHIBOK

In bloodletting, we are at the apex. Even nations at war may not see so much blood in so short a time in one place. In corruption, which could be the main trigger in all this, there can’t be any higher, or worse, anywhere else in the world.To compound our problem, those entrusted with making […]

In bloodletting, we are at the apex. Even nations at war may not see so much blood in so short a time in one place. In corruption, which could be the main trigger in all this, there can’t be any higher, or worse, anywhere else in the world.
To compound our problem, those entrusted with making our laws and overseeing the enforcement of those laws have themselves become altogether lawless. Instead of making laws, they are busy and impudently breaking them, and our National chairs in the process. No wonder then that those charged with keeping the law are also abusing it. And the reason for this state of affairs is not far-fetched: it is sheer greed, alibarbarism. Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaiHi raji’un’! (From Allah we come, and to Him shall we return!). Something will have to give, and soon, in sha Allah.
Sometimes we wonder the inexplicable happenings around us. Many tragic events occur, called TRIALS in religion, which really test our faith. Over time, many of us may have read or heard the ultimate lamentation: “O God, why me?” Sometimes some of these tragedies are plainly inexplicable, but sometimes they come around to explain themselves. People who are deep in faith do not question, or try to rationalise, these happenings.
The security (or more correctly, insecurity) situation in this nation of ours has reached hand-wringing, la haula wa la quwwata proportions. Those entrusted with keeping law and order are not keeping them, they are busy abandoning them. There today seems to be a perfect symmetry between the time the security people leave (or abandon) their beats and attacks on hapless communities especially in the North East. “Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaiHi raji’un!“
The recent inexplicable murder of more than 300 souls in Gamboru is such an inexplicable – Gamboru is not any little village, it is a busy commercial town smack on the border with Cameroun, always busy with traders and merchants. Yet residents were wantonly murdered as if they were chicken. How can this happen? How can anyone explain the lack of reply by the security forces while this massacre was going on? This coming three weeks after the mysterious kidnapping and abduction of our daughters and sisters from Chibok. Haba! “Inna lilLahi wa inna ilaiHi raji’un!”
We have, on this page several times in the past, discussed two books ‘Gems and Jewels’ and ‘Don’t Be Sad’ (now available at many booksellers) that try to explain the many inexplicables in our lives. As we are now in times of Trials, we again narrate some stories from these sources. They may give a hope to the afflicted. First, this story on the Justness of Allah:
“It is related that a woman once went to the Prophet Dawud (David), upon whom be peace and said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, is your Lord just or unjust?’ Prophet Dawud said to her, ‘Woe unto you, woman; indeed, my Lord is Most Just and never acts unjustly.’ Having said that, he then asked her, ‘What is your story?’
“The woman said, ‘I am a widow; I have three daughters, and I provide for them from what I spin with my needle and yarn. Yesterday, I wrapped my yarn in a cloth and went with it to the marketplace, intending to sell it and use the proceeds to buy provisions for my children. But while I was walking to the marketplace, a bird suddenly swooped down and took my yarn and my cloth, after which it flew away. I sat there in a sad and miserable state, faced with the reality that I owned nothing that I could use to provide for my children.’
“As the woman was with Prophet Dawud telling him her story, someone just then knocked on the door, asking for permission to enter. Ten men then entered; each one was a merchant, and each one of them had one hundred dinars [one thousand dinars in all, millions in today’s Naira] in his hand. They said, ‘O Prophet of Allah, give this money to someone who is deserving of it.’ Prophet Dawud asked them, ‘What prompted you to bring this money here?’
“The merchants said, ‘We were travelling in a sea vessel, when the waves began to roar tempestuously, and our ship began to sink. Then suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a bird came and dropped a red cloth that contained yarn inside of it. Using those materials, we quickly worked to repair the hole in the ship that was causing us to sink. Not much time passed before the winds and waves calmed down and the hole was repaired. We then made an oath to Allah (exalted be His Name) that each one of us would give one hundred dinars in charity. This is that money, which you may give as charity to whomsoever you please.’
“Turning to the woman, Prophet Dawud said, ‘The Lord Who does business for you on land and in the sea, yet you make Him out to be unjust?’ He gave her the entire one thousand dinars and said, ‘Spend it on your children.’“ What a business! How just God can be!
So there must be hope, and we must keep it. God, Allah, will not abandon us as our leaders have done. At some time in the past, this Column had quoted a blogger, Abu Muhammad Yusuf had written an article titled ‘The Smoke Signal’ on www.eislam.co.za. It is worth repeating, for the ways of God are many:
“Life’s difficulties are necessary for our own development, so when they come along, accept them, embrace them and never ever lose hope and always place complete reliance and trust in Allah. Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles; they toughen and make you strong.
“The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. He nevertheless remained hopeful of Allah’s help and continued his praying every day. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
 “The ‘worst’ had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief. ‘O Allah, how could this happen to me!’ he cried. Early the next day, just before Subh, the early morning prayer, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. ‘How did you know I was here?’ the man asked the sailors when he was on the ship. ‘We saw your smoke signal,’ they replied.
Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground–it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace and help of Allah!”
O Allah! Our little hut has burned. Send us a ship!