Ahmadiyya leader charges Muslims on morality

By Adebayo Waheed

The vice chairman, NUPENG, Alhaji
Tajudeen Olalekan (left) being
congratulated by Imam Abdulfatai Alaga,
Personal Assistant to Chief Imam of
Ibadanland after the former’s installation as
the Baba Adinni of Young Muslim Brothers
and Sisters of Nigeria (YOUMBAS), during its
34th anniversary held at the Oja’ba Central
Mosque, Ibadan, Oyo State recently.
Photo: Tunde Babajide.The spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, has challenged Muslim parents to set a high moral standard for their children so that they can contribute positively to the socio-economic development of their various countries. While noting that education is a factor that bind the people together, the Ahmadiyya leader, stated that as parents, they have roles to play in the spiritual upbringing of their children through prayers.

The leader of the Ahmadiyya, while speaking at the Khalifat Ahmadiyya Centenary Jalsa (convention) in Ghana, urged them to equip their children with good behaviours so that they also could be meaningful and contribute to the positive growth and development of the countries of the world. Ahmad while addressing the over 210,000 Ahmadis from various parts of the world noted that the three-day convention was not just a mere convention but it has become a source through which “you can mould your behaviour and change positively thereby contributing to the development of the world.”

While calling on them to enforce the convenant they made with the founder of the mission, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Ahmad stated that it was an opportunity for making changes within oneself. He said that the three-day programme with the theme: “Love for all, hatred for none” was comprehensive enough for anyone to make changes in his or her life by sowing new seeds. “The purpose, therefore, is to learn how to work hard before the seed can germinate. If you are taking the seeds of good deeds deep down your heart, then you must have realised the objective of Jalsa,” he said.

According to him, “the more efforts you put in at redefining your heart, the better. Your coming to the convention is to prepare your heart for the betterment through the presentation of speeches by various speakers at the convention”, he said. He explained that it was an opportunity of redeeming the heart towards doing good work and rejecting harmful deeds so that the good of the seed of the convention might go into fulfilment.

He stated that asking for Allah’s forgiveness is about determination and to make changes in the heart, a lot of efforts are required to protect one against sin. He identified three ways through which sins could be forgiven by Allah. These, he said, include resistance, repentance and the desire to resolve not to sin again. The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, who was the guest speaker at the closing ceremony, Alhaji Aliu Muhama, noted that the mission had contributed immensely to Ghana’s education, agriculture and health sectors of the economy. He said that the convention was significant to the government and the people of Ghana especially as the country faces elections.

Five questions on Salat (V)

By Taoheed Gbadamosi

When leaving the bathroom or toilet, one is to say: Ghufranakal-hamdu Iillahi Iadhiadhaba ‘annil-adhaawa‘afaani, meaning: I seek Your (Allah) forgiveness: Praise be to Allah, who relieved me from the suffering or filth and who has given me health. Do not enter the toilet while carrying anything that bears the name of Allah such as the Holy Qur’an or any books with the name of Allah on it, or jewelery such as bracelets and necklaces engraved with the name of Allah. One must not talk or exchange greetings while in the bathroom and if the name of Muhammad is mentioned one must not seek Allah’s blessing for him until one is out. Remain silent in the toilet except in a life-threatening situation such as guiding the blind person. If one sneezes, he should say in his mind Allhamdulillah. The Ghusl is then perform thus:

1. Pour water on the hand and wash the two hands three times. 2. Wash the organ and the parts contaminated with the impurity very well. Note: Do not put the hand into the water bowl. 3. Perform a complete ablution like the one for prayer. 4. Pour water on the head and wash to the depth and root of the hair. Wash the face, ears and the neck. 5. Separate the body into two using the line on the chest from the neck to the pubic part. Wash the right side starting from the shoulder and right arm to the right side chest and thigh to the leg. Wash the left side the same way.

6. Pour water on the chest, let it draw to the trunk, use your left hand to stop it and draw it up back to the neck and say: Ash-hadu an laa ilaha ilia Allahu wahdahu lashareeka lahu, Wa ash-hadu ann a Muhammada ‘abduhu wa rasulu. (3 times).Meaning: I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone. He is One and has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and messenger.

This ends the Ghusl. While making the Ghusl if the hand does not touch the pubic part again after the ablution then the Ghusl can be used to observe solat. A properly performed Ghusl is also needed to observe ‘Eid and Jumu’ah Prayer, and to purify the body of a dead Muslim before burial and a new convert into Islam.

AT-TAYAMMUM.
If you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Truly Allah is ever oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving (Q4: 43). Tayammum is ablution performed with the use of sand (or the like) when it is time for prayer and the worshipper; 1. finds no water around. 2. is ill and can not use water for ablution or the water is too cold for use. 3. is travelling on a lawful (Islamic) journey and cannot find water. 4. is incarcerated and cannot get water to pray.

5. is involved in holy war or there is drought and there is need to save the available water for drinking. 6. The worshipper must find clean and pure sand, stone, soil, brick and so on. A sick person can get a clean stone beside his bed to perform tayammum when it is time for prayer as it is compulsory for anybody still alive to observe solat. If there is no stone one can use a wall or floor not plastered with cement.

HOW IT IS PERFORMED
Have the intention of performing tayammum to pray to Allah in mind. Say: Bismillahi Rahmanir-Raheem. Strike your hands (the two palms) on the sand, blow the sand or dust away from the hand and rub the face and the hands from the wrist to the elbow. The tayammum can only be used for one obligatory prayer and whenever water is sighted either before or after the tafammum, it is nullified but the prayer performed with it, is valid.

BRUSHING OF THE TEETH
Hudhaefa (RA) relates that when the Holy Prophet woke from sleep he brushed his teeth (Muslim). Anas (RA) relates that the Prophet said: “I have impressed upon you repeatedly the importance of brushing your teeth” (al-Bukhari). Aisha (RA) relates: “We used to prepare for the Holy Prophet his toothbrush and the water for his ablution so that whenever Allah awakened him during the night he could brush his teeth and make his ablution and offer prayer (Muslim).

(To be continued)