Kettle For The Mosque, Dollars For The Musicians

A Disease Eating Our Sadaqah

By Abu Mardiyyah Adeotan Tajudeen Ayeofesin Al Badawii

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Where did you get this orientation from?

Who are the Islamic scholars that mentioned Kettles, wall clocks and Mats to the bereaved family as the only contribution to the mosques?

Last week, somewhere in South-West Nigeria, a family lost their beloved father. They announced: “We will remember him with Sadaqatul-Jariyah.” Alhamdulillah, our hearts were happy.

On the so-called 8th day fidau prayer, they brought 24 small plastic kettles to the mosque. The total cost was not more than N25,000. The Imam said, “Jazakumullahu khairan.”

That same evening, in the same family compound, the drums started. A popular Fuji musician was invited. Canopy like a governor’s wedding of a governor. Live band, spraying of money, aso-ebi of N25,000 per person, food and drinks flowing like a river. The cost was not less than 3 million Naira.

The large banner displaying the picture of the late daddy cost more than the kettles donated to the mosque.

The Fuji musician honoured the family’s invitation after #3.5million was reported to have been paid. His live performance witnessed dollars flying in all corners

Kettle for Allah. Dollars for Shaitan. Yes!

This is the hypocrisy that has become fashionable among us Muslims.

Is This What Our Deen Taught Us?

We claim we are remembering our dead. But ask yourself with sincerity:

Does your father in the grave need a plastic kettle that will break in 3 months, or does he need sincere Du’a and a lasting charity?

Does your mother in her lonely grave benefit from the music you played all night that she never danced to when alive?

Wallahi, we have turned remembrance of the dead into entertainment of the living.

Allah says: “And do not be wasteful. Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” [Qur’an 17:26-27]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity), knowledge which benefits, or a righteous child who prays for him.” [Muslim]

Where in this Hadith is music? Where is Owambe?

The Irony That Should Make Us Cry

1. WE ARE STINGY TO ALLAAH, GENEROUS TO SHAITAN

We bargain with the Alfas to reduce the cost of a borehole for the mosque from N500k to N200k, but we don’t bargain with musicians. We give them extra. We say “there is no money” for an orphan’s school fees, but we have money to spray on a drummer.

2. WE INSULT OUR DEAD

Your father spent his life warning you against music and extravagance. Now that he is dead and cannot talk, you use his death as an excuse to do what he hated. If he were to rise, would he be happy?

A man who devoted his life to the Deen, yet Satanism is being encouraged and propagated in his honour.

3. WE SHOW OUR IGNORANCE OF SADAQATUL JARIYAH

Sadaqatul Jariyah is not a cheap kettle. It is something that CONTINUES to give reward.

A borehole that gives water for many years. A copy of the Qur’an that is read every day. Paying school fees for an orphan. Building a mosque in honour of his memory. Supporting a student of knowledge.

A kettle that leaks in two weeks is not Jariyah. It is a mockery of Jariyah.

What Should We Do Instead? My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, let us fear Allah concerning our dead.

IF YOU TRULY LOVE YOUR DEAD

1. Make sincere Istighfar for them in the middle of the night when no one is watching. That is more valuable than 100 kettles.

2. If you have money for Owambe, use it to do real Sadaqah. Build a well anywhere and write your father’s name on it. Every person who drinks, your father gets reward.

3. If you must gather people, gather them to listen to a Qur’an and Sunnah lecture about death and Akhirah, not to dance. Let the money you would give musicians be given to widows, widowers, orphans, the poor and those in need sitting in that gathering.

4. Remember, your own children are watching you. Today you do Owambe for your father. Tomorrow your children will do a disco party for you and give one small kettle to the mosque and think they have honoured you.

The dead do not need our party. They need our prayers. The living do not need music. They need our guidance

Let us stop giving Allah the leftover, and giving Shaitan the best part. Let us stop giving the kettle to the mosque and dollars to the musicians.

May Allah forgive our dead and forgive us for betraying them.

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