VOX POPULI II
As-salam alaykum warahmatullahwabarakatuh
I'm
Toyyib, a member of the Al-'Ilaaj Editorial Board. Can you briefly introduce
yourself?
Wa'alaykumus
salaam warahmotuLloohiwabarokaatuH.
AlhamduliLlaah
My
name is Abdulbari Adebambo. I love to go under the name 'Abu Fawzaan' as a
sobriquet. I'm a member of the 2k18 class, Dentistry, COM UI, by Allah's will.
Na'am
Abu Fawzaan. Nice Kunya.
How
have you been so far, with the lockdown and the restrictions from it
Jazaak
Alloohu khoyroo
All
praise is to Allah, things have been really hunky-dory here although I was
between Scylla and Charybdis as the blessed month advanced, trying to figure
out ways to stay motivated on acts of righteousness necessary to stick it out
till the end of the month, given the moratorium on mortar and brick tafseer
sessions and other collateral acts of ibaadat.
AlhamduliLlaah,
it's been a superb experience, may Allah grant us good.
Aameen.
Alhamdullillah.
Na'am,
can you tell us about your experience of Ramadan in this period of COVID-19
pandemic, and how it was different from Ramadan of past years
All
praise is to Allah, it was indeed an incredible and ineffable period to go
through. No doubt commitment is key to success. I grew so blue and downbeat as
Ramadan approached knowing I had to stay indoors and aloof from by brethren who
had always been the fuel to goad me forward on acts of righteousness whenever I
felt lax in past years. But I have hitherto discovered it was only a pro bono
opportunity to reap the reward of serving the Most High with ikhlaas; how much
pages one could read of the book of Allah when no eye is watching, how much
rak'ah one could observe when alone etcetera. No true Muslim is happy in this
dire period where we can't observe SolatJumu‘ah with all masaajid locked; it's
indeed a telltale for all to return to Allah in repentance, may Allah grant us
pardon.
No
bones about it. It was indeed incomparable to Ramadan of past years where we'd
enjoy mellifluous recitations at Taraweeh from our Imams, enjoy the camaraderie
of brotherhood at iftaar sessions etcetera. To cut to the chase, it was a
tremendous opportunity to submit oneself to the worship of Allah, may Allah
bestow His mercy on us.
I
could say the same.The effects have been both good and limiting.
What
do you miss most about fasting in school?
AlhamduliLlaah,
I can't overstate how much I go a bundle on the soothing recitations I enjoy
when I pray in congregation and this I have missed so much, may Allah reunite
us soon.
Aameen.
How about other communal activities in school? The Iftar sessions, lectures...
I
seriously never thought I could go 30 days in Ramadan without our customary
Iftars. May Allah extenuate these ills.
Aameen.
If you had enough money and resources to give out to charity, how would you
give it out and why?
AlhamduliLlaah,
may Allah grant us His bounties.
I'd
love to found a centre for Islamic knowledge upon kitaabwa sunnah that my
brethren may learn and understand the deen ex gratia in its pristineness. I
love to go by the the statement of Al-Imaam ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani (may Allah
have mercy on him) in Fath-al-Bari.
"The
jubilant one is the one who adheres and holds fast to that which the pious
predecessors and successors were upon and he is the one who avoids that which
was innovated by those who came after them (the pious predecessors &
successors).
Many Muslims are now far removed from the
blessed path of the pious predecessors and I love for them that which I love
for myself (i.e guidance).
Mashallah.
May Allah make it possible
Your
Ramadan was in a different environment this year. What were your Sahoor and
Iftar meals like. Which meals did you like taking for these periods?
Sure,
a morsel from the pot of one's beloved tastes more delectable even if smaller
in quantity.
As
for which meals,any delicious meal that won't go down the wrong throat is fine.
May Allah keep us safe! (laughs)
Aameen
So,
no particular meal preference?
Would
prefer to be taciturn.
Ramadan
is a month of self-discipline. How do you relate with this?
Indeed,
Ramadan is a month of self-discipline. It was a great scuffle each day through
the blessed month trying to keep to my commitment by staying away from evil
actions and backbiting that I might have my reward in full. I remember the
statement of Yahya bn Abu Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) in Hilyat
ul-Awliyaa.
"A
man fasts with (that which is pure and permissible) and breaks it with (that
which is) forbidden and repulsive (eating) the flesh of his brother (i.e
backbiting)"
I've
been stricter with this by striving to keep a civil tongue in my head each
moment. This could really be a backbreaking task especially when you're
surrounded by some "Alakoba" that would always want to resurrect some
tale about someone.
Knowing
that this gorges or eats my rewards makes me give folk like that a cold
shoulder so I won't have my rewards up in flames.
Even
if I were to backbite anyone then it would be my parents 'cause they are more
deserving of my rewards.
May
Allah grant us pardon.
Aameen.
What's
your advice for brothers and sisters on their post-ramadanaffairs.
AlhamduliLlaah
for the blessings of this year's Ramadan may Allah grant us our reward in full
and preserve us upon righteousness to reach more of it. I urge us all to
continue to observe taqwa of Allah, our aspirationsshould be meeting our Lord
with the best heart.
Allah
instructs us in the glorious Qur'an; Al-Hijr: 99
وَاعْبُدْرَبَّكَحَتّٰىيَأْتِيَكَالْيَقِينُ
And
worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).
I
exhort us not to settle, to carry on all acts of obedience we have ingrained
(reciting from the book of Allah each day, standing each night in prayer,
exerting oneself on eleemosynary acts etcetera) even in the absence of Ramadan
and also strive to attain the reward of fasting a year by fasting 6 days from
the month of Shawaal.
May
Allah make us of those He's winnowed from the people of Hell. Aameen
Na'am
we appreciate your contributions and advice.
Jazaakallahukhayran
Comments