28TH EDITION OF VOICE OF THE MIMBARR: GOOD COMPANY AND TODAY'S REALITY; ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES- BY DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE

26-12-1444 AH/14-07-2023 CE.

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim.

The similitude of keeping good company mirrors a fruit-bearing tree awaiting prospective three climbers to harvest its fruits. The first person takes the orthodox stem route method. The second person took solace in throwing a rope to the branch to be twined to the fruits while the third person employed the service of a lada to climb to the fruits. The first person got to the tree-top successfully, ate to fill his belly before thinking of fending for other contenders. The second became utterly disappointed as the rope became non-supportive for his ambition of quenching hunger. The third person was later frustrated while the lada broke mid-way to the height of the tree.

Youth of nowadays are categorized into three as depicted above. Relying on parental valour as against taking absolute control of his life often leads him to utter disappointment. While the rope represents various diabolical means of affluence which culminate in 'getting rich quick syndrome' which is rampant in the society, the orthodox ways of getting affluence appears the only sustainable as the natural means to glory.

Contemporary society is greeted with realities of short-cut attitude of youth with attendant results in increased mortality rate, sociality of no essence, chain smoking of substance abuse, basket of youthful lunatics, irreligiosity with impunity and unrepentant materialism. 

Most reasons ascribed to the situation include but not limited to perpetual lack of consciousness of Allah, looking for favour where there none exists, time wasting on non-issues, reliance on creatures that the Creator, severity from good legacy, raising too much hope and utterly irreligiosity. 

The maxim: 'Show me your friend and I will tell you the type of person you are,' suffices in view of ill-management of time, acute plunging into arguments, and unguarded jealous as they are capable of destroying man in totality.

It serves same purpose to relate here the comments of Imam Malik (R.A) that: "Whoever has no value for himself may not value other people's life. For his life takes priori over others', and in case he eventually injures his life he may not give damn in doing same to others'. Therefore, anyone who loves his life will protect it and remains on it." Whereas, it is of prime importance to thread cautiously in order to attain success both in life and hereafter.

To a large extent, the Glorious Qur'an 28:83-84 categorically declares that: "That home of hereafter We shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth: and the End is (best) for the righteous. If any foes good, the reward ro him is better than his deed; but if any does evil, the doers of evil are only punished (to the extent) of their deeds."

From the above, it is indicative that keeping bad company is a virile avenue to ultimate malfunction of natural order which inherit goodwill and ultimate blessing. Watch the company of people you are engaged, carry out routine self-examination, be ready to change cause of actions, waste no time on ingenuity and make better use of resources.

Till we meet next year (1445), thank you for your attentive. See more of you.

DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN, 

Imam Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Ipaja Branch, Lagos State

- Nigeria