₦airaland Forum

Stereotyping in Nolywood: Preserving Islamic Integrity by Ibraheem Ladi Amosa

In many Nigerian films, sensitive issues such as religion, gender, culture, and identity often come to the forefront, sparking public debate. However, filmmakers from both northern and southern regions frequently perpetuate stereotypes while neglecting more profound, troubling issues that could advance our nation.

The influence of movies on Islam in Nigeria is significant. Whenever scholars advocate the pure teachings of Islam, filmmakers undermine them; when scholars tighten a principle, filmmakers loosen it.

We see daily degeneration in our youth as they imitate what they see on screen. As the saying goes, "A tree is not brought down by the axe but by the termites within." Our strength as a Muslim community is eroded not by external adversaries but by internal discord. Within the movie industry, Muslim actors, actresses, and musicians often prioritize financial gain over their religious duties. Many are unaware of the Islamic guidelines that govern their profession, and scholars may either ignore or fear confronting them due to their fame. We must guide them away from un-Islamic practices, so they can contribute positively to Islam rather than causing harm unknowingly.

Recently, the Muslim community in Nigeria expressed outrage over a film poster showing actresses robbing a bank while wearing Niqabs. This anti-Muslim film depicts women in niqab wielding weapons and committing crimes, an overt act of Islamophobia. It is reprehensible and offensive. Previously, a music video portrayed Fulanis and Muslims as killers and featured women in hijabs engaging in the notorious 'Shaku Shaku' dance. What is the producer's intention in these portrayals of Islam?

What actions has the National Films and Videos Censors Board taken to protect Islam? Are there no Muslims on this board? Are there no Muslims in the movie industry? What is their stance on such portrayals? Why must Muslims in Nigeria be pushed to the edge before we see respect for our religion?

Furthermore, the most perilous enemy is the one who remains hidden. Disbelief and immoral behavior often masquerade as religious piety. Tragically, some students from Islamiyya/Arabic schools, in full Islamic attire, engage in similar behavior under the pretext of celebrating Maolid, graduation, hijrah, etc. Videos of them dancing provocatively are shared on social media, sometimes even in the presence of religious scholars. When admonished not to spread mischief, they claim to be peacemakers. In truth, they are the ones causing mischief, though they fail to recognize it.

The solution is not to condemn our Muslim brothers and sisters in the film industry but to address their un-Islamic practices. We must build rapport with them, guiding them to contribute positively to Islam rather than causing unintentional harm. Additionally, we must ensure that anyone—Muslim or non-Muslim, from Islamic or non-Islamic schools—who misuses Islamic symbols is held accountable. "The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment." Let us act with wisdom and unity to safeguard the sanctity of our faith and community.

For many people with no finance background, it’s very easy to fall into a “halal” investment scam, meaning being sold an investment product that is not completely halal.

There are many examples I can share, but I decided to list out the obvious ones for now...

If you are confused about the “halalness” of an investment product, this list can serve as a guide in helping you “halalify” your portfolio moving forward.

Here are the most popular investments that you should avoid ❌ :

1. FOREX - except for a simple exchange of two different currencies that is done on the SPOT.

2. Treasury Bills - a government-issued instrument that involves INTEREST. Avoid it! Good alternatives are halal fixed income and halal mutual funds.

3. Bonds - corporate or government-issued long-term instruments that involve INTEREST. A good alternative to this is Sukuk.

4. Shares in unethical companies - e.g., interest-based banks, brewery companies, adult entertainment, etc.

5. Index funds that contain shares or funds that are UNETHICAL - e.g., S&P 500. Good alternatives are halal filtered index funds like SPUS, HLAL, etc.

6. Sovereign Debt Notes - they involve paying interest. A good alternative is Sukuk.

7. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) - they involve interest. Good alternatives are halal fixed income, halal mutual funds, and Mudarabah savings accounts.

8. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - except for those that invest directly in real properties and where dividend payment is a reflection of the income generated from the properties.

9. Peer-to-peer lending - except for those that involve equity financing or asset-based financing with no interest.

10. Mutual funds - pool of funds invested in a number of companies. Best alternative is halal mutual fund that invests in ethically curated companies.

Note: I deliberately avoided those investments that scholars have differed on (e.g., Crypto) and focused exclusively on the investments that are outrightly prohibited.

As a young children, many of us were dragged to the dentist. Once at the surgery, despite our protests, we were seated on the chair and made to open our mouths, after which the dentist carried out ‘unspeakable atrocities’ against us. Scaling, polishing, filling and worst of all – injecting and extracting – are some of the horrors that we were made to undergo. To our disappointment and dismay, our emphatic appeals to our parents to bring an end to the torture simply fell on deaf ears, and they even went as far as to side with the dentist, scolding us and telling us to sit still! To add insult to injury, while we nursed our wounds, they thanked the ‘torturer’ and paid him handsomely for what he had done!

Now, as adults, we look back, in retrospect, and realize that the dentist was actually a blessing in disguise. Had he not treated us, we would have probably lost some of our teeth – a loss that would have plagued us for the rest of our lives. Thus, although we did not understand it at the time, the difficulty that we suffered was actually for the best.

Similarly, we often face difficulties and trials in our lives. Whether a car accident, a burglary, sickness or any other calamity befalls us, although we suffer and undergo difficulty at the time, we seldom realize that often there is actually great benefit and wisdom in the difficulty. Hence, we should instantly hold firm to sabr (patience) and hope for reward from Allah Ta‘ala.

A few decades ago, a man from Durban was at the Jeddah airport, returning home from hajj. Inexplicably, the airport staff rejected his ticket, although he had followed the procedure and regulation of the time by going to the airline offices and confirming the ticket prior to the flight. The officials refused to allow him to board the aircraft. This man was naturally upset and could not understand why he had been denied his seat on the plane.

Hardly an hour had passed, when this man learned that the plane in which he was originally meant to travel had crashed and all the passengers had tragically passed away! He was now relieved and grateful, realizing that although his ordeal had seemed to be a difficulty at the time, it was actually Allah Ta‘ala’s divine intervention to save him from the plane crash.

If, when afflicted with calamities and difficulties we adopt sabr, remain pleased with the decision of Allah Ta‘ala and do not complain of the circumstances, then Allah Ta‘ala rewards us for these actions of sabr and submission. Furthermore, difficulty is sometimes sent our way in order to ward off a far greater calamity that was otherwise destined to befall us. Simply because we fail to comprehend the benefit and wisdom behind the difficulty, it does not mean that it is not there.

Whenever we face a difficulty in future, let our first reaction be that of sabr and happiness with the decision of Allah Ta‘ala

madridguy:
Is the writer " Qaasim Odedeji " a sunni muslim? Shia? Teblig? Izzala? Qadiriyah? Tijjaniyyah? Ahlu Sunnah or a Salafist?

Padipadi:
What about those who murdered Aguiyi Ironsi?
You are the o e creating incitement here.
It's not to justify what happened in Iseyin as this post is saying but to tell you two wrongs don't make a right. Lukgaf, there's more to this story. Don't just post one side of a report. You are all brewing religious crisis that can set the country on fire. This matter should v gone directly to nearby law enforcement agencies in charge of that town.

22nd June, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

SANCTION SOLDIERS WHO BRUTALISED MUSLIMS IN ISEYIN ON SALAH DAY – MURIC



The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Nigerian Army to fish out soldiers who mercilessly brutalised a Muslim woman in purdah with her husband in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Salah day (16th June, 2024).



MURIC’s complaint was contained in a statement issued on Saturday 22nd June, 2024 by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.



The statement reads:



“We are in possession of video clips and the picture of one of the 20 soldiers who broke the heads of a Muslim woman in purdah and that of her husband and inflicted serious injuries on other Muslims.



“In addition, the soldiers seized a little child, cut open his hand with a knife and took him away. It was one of the chiefs of Iseyin (the Ikolaba of Iseyin) who went to beg the soldiers before the child was released later. This is preposterous, barbaric and unacceptable. We demand justice.



“The incident occurred on Salah day, 16th June, 2024. The Muslim family was attacked as they prepared to slaughter their Salah ram on that day. The pastor of a church located opposite their house protested that the ram was placed in a position facing the church and immediately mobilised his congregation who invited soldiers from the barracks.



It was learnt that there has been a misunderstanding between the Muslim family and the church over noise pollution over which even the king of Iseyin had intervened.



“MURIC is aware that the Nigerian military authorities have maintained a good reputation among patriotic and truth-loving Nigerians mainly because they do not shield the bad eggs among them. We remind the army that this is another brutal attack on innocent civilian Muslims involved in a quarrel with a church. How can soldiers descend so heavily and so mercilessly on a poor and innocent Muslim family?



“This is an unjust, callous and inhuman behavior on the part of the 20 soldiers. We demand justice. We call on the army to investigate, apprehend and punish the belligerent military personnel involved in this atrocity without unnecessary delays. Justice delayed is justice denied.”




Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

A disturbing incident occurred on Sunday, the day of Muslim Eid, in Iseyin.

A trending video shows a man and his two wives being assaulted. The man, a Muslim who lives near a Christian neighbor, was sacrificing a ram on his property for Eid. However, this led to a dispute due to previous issues.

The man had earlier complained to the police, king, and security agencies about the loud noise from the pastor's worship sessions, which included the use of speakers and microphones late at night. The pastor had warned the man not to slaughter the ram on the road, which is still within the man's property, citing its proximity to their own premises.

According to reports, the pastor's son, a newly recruited soldier who had been threatening the man over the noise pollution complaints, led a group of about ten colleagues to attack the man. They broke one of the man's wives' legs, assaulted the other on the head and beat him mercilessly. The incident has been reported to the police, but no action has been taken yet, with authorities allegedly trying to cover it up. Attached are some evidence from the incident.

dmaze:
Jazakumullah Khairan Bro Lukgaf

May Almighty Allah SWT continue to accept our efforts, ameen.