Truth Is Bitter Series (Ep 13)
Short satirical reflections on faith, society and the uncomfortable truths we avoid. First published in the Muharram/Safar 1427 AH (2006) print edition of The PEACE Magazine.
By Abdulfattah Abdussalam
Stop
Just remember: Allah is watching you.
If being a Muslim were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict us?
Why is it so difficult to tell the truth, yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why do we feel sleepy in the mosque, but suddenly become energetic once the prayer is over?
Why is it difficult to speak about Allah, yet easy to engage in indecent conversations?
Why do Islamic articles seem boring to us, while harmful and immoral content attracts our attention so easily?
Why do we ignore messages that remind us of Allah, yet eagerly share gossip and inappropriate material?
Why are mosques becoming emptier while nightclubs and entertainment centres continue to grow?
Pause for a moment and reflect.
Do not give up on your faith. Do not become careless with your soul.
Remember always: Allah is watching you.
In the grave
The grave makes the same announcement to every human being each day until the moment that person is laid within it: “I am a place of solitude. I am the dwelling of loneliness, dust, and worms, and I await your arrival.” When a righteous believer dies, it is said that every creature and tree mourns and prays for him. And when he is finally buried, the grave welcomes him, saying: “You are most welcome. Of all those who have passed over me, you are among the most beloved to me. Today, you have entered my domain, and you shall witness how gently I will treat you.” Thereafter, the grave expands for the believer as far as the eye can see, and a window from Paradise is opened for him, sending cool breeze, light, and fragrance into his resting place. But when a wicked person dies, creation breathes a sigh of relief from the harm and corruption caused by his actions. The grave then says: “Your arrival is not welcome. Of all those who have passed by me, you are among the most disliked. Today, you have entered my domain, and you shall witness how I will deal with you.” The grave then tightens upon him until his ribs are crushed together. It is said that torment descends upon him, and a window from Hell is opened, filling the grave with heat and anguish until the Day of Judgment. Brothers and sisters in Islam, every soul is journeying toward one of these destinations. The question is not whether we shall enter the grave, but how prepared we are for what awaits within it.
Lagos traffic headache
Driving in Lagos has become a nightmare for both motorists and commuters alike. The much-celebrated wonders of Lagos are increasingly being overshadowed by the seemingly intractable gridlock and traffic snarls that plague the city’s roads. Travelling from one part of the state to another can consume an astonishing amount of time in traffic. Take, for instance, a journey from Ajah to Iyana-Ipaja via Ikeja. On some occasions, commuters spend nearly ten exhausting hours on the road, about five hours from Ajah to Falomo Bridge, and another five hours or thereabouts to Ikeja. Ironically, many road users are often unable to identify the exact cause of the congestion. However, one major contributing factor appears to be the poor timing of traffic lights. Most traffic lights along the Lekki–Victoria Island corridor reportedly allow only about 45 seconds of passage at each point. Within such a short window, only a limited number of vehicles can move before another backlog begins to build up. As a result, Lagos residents are losing valuable productive hours daily in traffic, a situation that is not only mentally exhausting but also detrimental to economic productivity. Authorities must act swiftly to address the worsening traffic crisis before it spirals further out of control.
Editor’s Note: Truth Is Bitter is a weekly reflective and satirical column drawn from the “Front of the Book” pages of PEACE Magazine. It seeks to provoke introspection, not hostility; reform, not ridicule.
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