TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS ARE TEMPORAL.

Life can be so interesting if you commit all your affairs to The Almighty God, The Ultimate Disposer of all affairs. I have realize, severally, not because my faith taught me to be patient, persevering and above all prayerful in every situation, but because patience, perseverance, and prayers are in themselves soul soothing actions.

One often encounters hardships and problems along the path to success because he/she is being prepared by The Almighty to face a "challenging" success in the near or far future. I refer us to The Holy Qur'an 94: 1-8 for the evidence that after every hardship there is always a solace that envelopes the one that has been in hardship.

The Gregorian year 2011 (Hijira 1431/32) was a trying year for me in most aspects of my existence as a man. I need not mention those trials and tribulations because I have decided to take the "hakuna matata" approach and moreso 2011 belongs to the past; although the past can be so hurting and most often it heals by fibrosis to remind you of its foregone presence in your temporal life.

Alhamdulillah, the Gregorian year 2012 (Hijira 1433) has been a "soothing solace" for me. And every time I sit back to reflect on the successes and achievements God Almighty rained on my life in recent times, I truly realize that life is interesting, and much more interesting when it is accompanied by patience and perseverance that the helping Hands of The Almighty are always there to lift the one who prays.

This may sound like a "sermon" but I just want to pass a message to all those out there who wallow in depression because of underlying temporal trials and tribulations - man made or otherwise. The passing times may be apparently trying but believe you me, it's going to end, and most often as quick as you less thought of it. And I assure you that it's going to come with success at the end, especially when you remain patient and prayerful.

This is a piece of my mind written at MM2 Lagos while I awaited my "unscheduled" flight to Maiduguri. I hope it convince you to change your mindset about temporal trials and tribulations.

A REMINDER...ESPECIALLY TO LEADERS.

Every time I tune on to watch or listen to the news, either on cable, radio or internet, what I see and hear is more of war (within or without), "terrorist" attacks, economic melt-down, ethnic cleansing, you name it. Little does one see or hear of good news from the world around. The most hurting aspect is that most of  these things are caused by man in the quest for "profitting" from others suffering.

Ones immediate environment is shrouded in corruption and bad governance which in turn have led to insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and disease. Every day comes with its ramifications of stress-anxiety effects. You feel as if all these trials and tribulations wouldn't cease.

Majority of the leadership we see around don't help the situation. Worst and disheartening to know that most of these troubles and problems are deeply rooted and connected to bad leadership.

Overwhelming as all these may be...

But just close your eyes, remind yourself that The Almighty God is watching. Your efforts, your deeds, your patience will never go wasted. Remind yourself that it’s all being written down for a later reference. Open your eyes and keep going. Look past the struggles, look past the pain. Remind yourself of how good it would feel to have it all one day come back to you to elevate you in your status. Don’t let go. Don’t give up.

Assist others with the little you have. Feel the pains and sufferings that others have. Pray for them as that may be the source of their relief from pains and suffering.

Don't just walk away. Speak to them a nice and comforting word. Perhaps, someday it will echoe in eternity that you did use God's given gift of speech to help your fellow humans when you had nothing to offer but your comforting words.

Leadership is a trust from GOD and you will be questioned on how you honour or dishonour this trust.

ALWAYS HAVE THE FEAR AND LOVE THAT THE ALMIGHTY GOD EXPECTS FROM YOU.

N.B. I thank Sheikh MB Lawan Adamawa for the Facebook post (italized part of the above) that prompted me to write this piece on my blog.

FEEL FOR OTHERS...

If you want to succeed and be happy in life

Be an instrument to someone else's happiness or success

It will surely reflect in you

Unhappiness, depression, and anxiety

Most often are as a result of your feeling sad because someone else has succeeded

Feel for others as you want others to feel for you.

This, though short, can make lots of positive changes in your life if you decide to put it into practice.

CHILDREN (YOUTHS) AS FUTURE LEADERS.

I still remember my beloved headmaster during many of the morning assemblies saying to us (most atimes in Hausa) that "MY CHILDREN, YOU ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS, SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE CHALLENGES. WE WILL, AS YOUR TEACHERS AND PARENTS,  TRY OUR BEST TO SHAPE THAT FUTURE FOR YOU".

Those encouraging words have always had an effect on me and, I believe, in most of my primary school contemporaries. The time when those words were spoken the standard of living in Nigeria was better than what we have today.

We are now in "that future" the headmaster talked about and, perhaps, we are somewhat leaders in one way or the other. I will continue to praise The Almighty Allah (SWT) for all His blessings on me and all those who had it relatively easy to be what they are at present. May HE (SWT) also continue to bless and guide all the past and present "shapers" of the future of humanity in a positive way. Ameen.

One thing we that had it apparently "easier" should always remember is that the future of TODAY'S children (and YOUTHS) is apparently at risk especially when we sit back and ask ourselves the following questions that I read in a book titled "GROOMING A MUSLIM CHILD" published by Al-Amin Foundation, Kaduna, Nigeria in 2006.

1. How can a child (youth) obtain QUALITATIVE EDUCATION when the society does not see education as an industry that is worth investing in?

2. How can the child (youth) learn when he/she has virtually no TEACHERS to teach him/her, and where he/she has a teacher, the necessary teaching materials and operations are not adequate and sufficiently provided for, and where such things are provided for, the the teacher is not (properly) paid and cared for?

3. How can we have good results when the society does not (as a matter of necessity) reward good work and excellence?

4. How can the child (youth) get the correct exposure when all that he/she finds on our street is fighting, destruction of lives and property, looting (of public treasury), daylight (and night) robbery for reasons he/she is not aware of?

(N.B. words in parenthesis were mine for emphasis).

I add the following questions to the above ones:

5. How can the child (youth) be a future leader when the society he/she lives doesn't care to provide the necessary preventive and curative health measures to shape his/her future?

6. How can the child (youth) be a better and responsible part of humanity in the future when what he/she sees around are bunch of irresponsible "elders"?

7. How can the child (youth) see his/her future as bright when the "grown-ups" constantly take every advantage and opportunity to darken his/her future?

These and many of similar questions need our individual and collective answers because by the time these children (youths) reach their future we will all be aged or death...a time when we will need them to reciprocate to us what we did to them while they were children (youths)...good or bad things we've done to them.

These are questions we may shy away from today, but we will somehow regret shying away from in the future...us or the progenies we leave behind.

You may be in your well secured mansions enjoying yourselves with your family while the multitudes of the children (and youths) whose parents you "presently" lead are suffering because of your many neglects as a leader. But recall all those past leaders who have embezzled the future of their country.

Leaders we may be at present... all of us. The ONE above us sees all we do and someday we will be answerable to all our commissions and omissions.

We are all in this together and together we should correct the ills where and whenever we can.

Remain blessed.

SUNSET OVER RAMADAN, 1433 AH.

Every day has its sunset, and some day our lives would have one too. Today marks the 30th day of the Holy month of Ramadan, 1433 years after the Hijirah of our Noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Makkah to Madinah. The month of Ramadan is about to have its final sunset for this year.

Alot has been learnt from the days of Ramadan... the month of fasting, recitation of the Holy Qur'an, helping the needy, visitations, and all other rewarding acts of worship. May Allah (SWT) accept all our good deeds and forgive all our sins and excessess. Ameen.

My Eid Fitr message to Muslims all over the world is that we should always endevour to keep the spirit of Ramadan and the lessons we've learnt from it. We should practice Islaam as practiced and taught by the Holy Prophet (SAW) and his sahabas. We should practice and preach the true teachings of Islaam to the best of our ability so that on the Day of Judgement, Allah (SWT) will be pleased with us. Let the non-Muslims see the excellent teachings of Islaam in us. They shouldn't merely recognize us as Muslims just by our names, but they should see the true teachings of Islaam in our character as well. Let us strive towards the path of good.

The end of the Holy month of Ramadan doesn't only herald the beginning of the month of Shawwal, in which we celebrate eid Fitr and fast extra six days, it also means that 30 days have been deducted from the days Allah (SWT) willed for us to live on Earth. So let us have the fear of The Almighty in whatever that we do for we don't have the guarantee that we will live to see next year's Ramadan.

May Allah (SWT)'s blessings be upon His bondmen who glorify and fear Him. Ameen.

Eid Mubarrak.

GET MOTIVATED. GET A MENTOR

This is ABOUT my new Facebook page... GET MOTIVATED. GET A MENTOR.

All roads and paths in life must have been trodden by someone somewhere in history... someone who is dead or still alive.

So, if you have to follow a similar road or path, get to know about all those who have passed through that road or path. By doing that you will save alot of time and ultimately reach your destination in a shorter time relative to many of the people that had taken that road or path.

You will get to learn about their adventures on those roads and paths before you embark on your own journey. Their mistakes, regrets, and achievements and experiences will guide you to achieve, perhaps, more than they did.

In essence try and get a mentor in life who will positively steer you to a good and fortunate destination.

I humbly initiated this Facebook page in order to motivate people, through my writings and those of other people, through my photos and those of other people, and through other means. So that at the end of the day I too would, atleast, have some people out there that will one day echoe that I contributed to having them motivated to also mentor... as I have been by so many good people of the Planet Earth.

Please feel free to visit my new Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/GetMotivatedGetAMentor

Or simply search for "GET MOTIVATED. GET A MENTOR" on Facebook.

Thank you.

Dr. Ahmadu Muhammad Sani. BSc, MBBS, FMCR.
Ramadan 23rd, 1433AH (11/08/2012)
@Maiduguri, Nigeria.

THE BEST WOMAN A MAN CAN HAVE (AND VICE VERSA).

The history of the world is but that of a man and a woman. Each of these human species looks up to the other for unique qualities that would make him/her like/love the other. Whatever quality we may try to look for in each other, it's one or all of the following:

1. Piety (this comes with knowledge, especially of God Almighty).
2. Beauty (both in character & learning).
3. Wealth.
4. Good lineage.

Whatever one may have in mind outside these qualities, it's usually a hybrid of these qualitites.

Now how are these qualities related MATHEMATICALLY? A Muslim mathematician was once asked about  the best woman.
He said: if a woman is pious and religious so she is = 1.
If she is beautiful, add a 0 to 1 = 10.
If she is wealthy, add another 0 = 100.
And if she is from a good and known family, add another 0 = 1000.
But if “1” is gone then nothing remains, but a bunch of zeros.

I believe that this should apply to men also.

This is a well thought articulation. So, if there's any woman out there with these qualities (especially quality no.1), let me then assure her that a similar man awaits her, God's Willing.

Wish you all the best in your quest for the BEST woman/man.