By Aboo Aamir
I can recall more than two decades ago in the advent of TMC (one of the Ikhwaani blocs in Nigeria) when its leaders used to say Muslims should shun 'wasting time' on 'trivial issues' like men keeping their beard, not allowing their trousers to hang below the ankles, encouraging the youths to marry early; the TMC people were very vocal against other Sunnah callers emphasising such important matters in the Deen.
Though the TMC failed in that endeavour for many of them had to later shamefully imbibe some of those things they say the Ummah doesn’t need.
I can recall the running battle between Dr Luqman Idris Sekoni and the TMC guys infiltrating the MSSN then, Brother Saeed Salman comes to mind. Brother Saeed was vehemently adamant on preaching against those things earlier mentioned. I used to wonder what was the problem these people had against these clear texts in the Sunnah. Later it became clear it was an agenda.
Alhamdulillah, the agenda failed. Many of us married early, our children dey born pikin now. Alhamdulillah rabbil aalameen.
Sticking to above the ankle-clothing injected in us the feeling of standing by the Sunnah of the Prophet - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - come rain or shine. Alhamdulillah rabbil aalameen.
When today people like Ibn Tawfeeq et al make frantic and annual efforts to exert their energy on baseless issue like giving Zakatul Fitr in cash, I ask what happens to 'let's leave trivial issues' mantra of the TMC?
Ashey it was a failed agenda then, they were not really serious about it.
O Ikhwaanis, the Ummah has passed the level of arguing over permissibility or otherwise of zakatul fitr in cash. It is a trite mas'alah, very very watery. Even the mas'alah of zakatul fitr for janeen (foetus) is more ilmee.
You see this zakatul fitr in cash that you teba ti, will never strike any thought. Even a toddler in ibtidaa knows that you are just exerting your energy over nonsense.
The Sunnah is to give it out as foodstuffs, that is what has been handed down jeelun ba'da jeelun.
By the end of today, Ramadan will be 27, Inshaa Allaah, go and get your foodstuff ready. If you buy rice for the needy they will really appreciate you. If you then like add cash to it.
Ire o.
