“Iwo ma dira o!!! Iku pa e”
This statement has made rounds on the tongues of many brushed and unbrushed mouths, many believing and unbelieving minds have subtly acknowledged or rubbished the validity of this statement. From my research it was originally uttered by a man whose preferred nickname not only describes his idiocies but may extend to those who may hold on to his words like it were an authority of truth.
It may ‘simply’ or maybe not translate to “Don’t fortify yourself, you’d just die!” while I am able to perfectly transcribe, I do not fancy myself an excellent translator yet. The statement has also been supported with several videos of individuals screaming the name of our beloved Prophet Isa (A.S) in their seeking protection from his name yet managing to disappear almost immediately after a supposed harm has come to them; this points to the fact that they may have fortified themselves with some charms or are people who practice their Christianity/Islam while subscribing heavily to the traditional religion or beliefs of their choice.
A few may argue that the fortification may not always be in form of charms, but in forms of physical weaponry or skill. I do not mean to dismiss this point. However, the popular belief, especially amongst the majority of my kinsmen; my Yoruba people is that; ‘God does not frown at extra-curricular running” they hold the belief that You being a Muslim should not stop you from fortifying yourself with incisions from your family’s babalawo (Audhubillah, my reader’s family has one).
The absolute bastardization of Islamic Scholarship too has seen the quick rise of devil worshippers parading themselves as ‘Alfa’ and they have a market to sell; they always do and this is why they will affirm it that indeed, God doesn’t mind the extra ‘doings’. Before I drift too much, my point of reference is in relation to Muslims who believe that the statement means you can fortify yourself with things that have to do with magic.
IS IT WRONG TO SAY?
You may subconsciously ask yourself, or even consciously do so. Here is what the prophet of Allah said;
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said:
I was shown the nations before me and one or two prophets would pass by with only a few followers and another would pass by with none. Then a large crowd of people passed in front of me and I asked: Are they my followers? It was said: No, this is Moses and his followers. Then it was said: Look at the horizon. Behold, there was a multitude of people filling the horizon. It was said: This is your nation from which seventy thousand will enter Paradise without being taken to account.
Then, the Prophet entered his house without telling them who the seventy thousand were, so the people started discussing the issue and they said, “It is we who have believed in Allah and followed his messenger, so those people are either ourselves or our children who are born in the era of Islam, for we were born in the time of ignorance.” When the Prophet heard that, he came out and he said:
They are those who do not treat themselves with incantations, nor do they believe in bad or good omens, nor do they get themselves cauterized. Rather, they put their trust in their Lord.
‘Ukkashah ibn Muhsin said, “O Messenger of Allah, am I one of them?” The Prophet said yes. Another man got up and he said, “Am I one of them?” The Prophet said:
‘Ukkashah has preceded you.
Source: Sahīh al-Bukhārī 5378, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
And this goes to show that, believing that statement in the intended form, not only is a great sin but tantamount to leaving the fold of your religion. Islam is not a religion of partial dedication. Our reliance has to be totally be upon Allah our creator, when we are afflicted by any harm or misfortune, it is He alone we must cry to.
WHAT THEN DO WE DO?
You fortify yourself!!!!
BUT HOW???
We fortify ourselves with the adhkars the prophet has related to us and then we rest our mind on what Allah has written for us. The book Citadel of the believer is a good repository for these adhkars. We as Muslim should leave off the idea of “shebi it’s just cruise” and know that we shall account for every single statement we utter. And that in matters relating to the rights of ALLAH, the claim of ignorance is never an excuse. We have been created to worship and we MUST learn to do so with all our resources. Below is one of the reports as to how a muslim is supposed to “dira(fortify)” themselves:
Narrated by Abu Dawood (5088). It was also narrated by at-Tirmidhi in his Sunan (no. 3388) as follows:
“There is no one who says in the morning of every day and the evening of every night ‘Bismillah illadhi la yadurru ma’a ismihi shay’un fi’l-ard wa la fi’l-sama’ wa huwa al-samee’ ul-‘aleem (In the name of Allah with Whose name nothing can harm on earth or in heaven, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing)’, three times but nothing will harm him.”
At-Tirmidhi said: It is hasan saheeh ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in Zaad al-Ma‘aad (2/338) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Also;
Another of the adhkaar that offer protection against evil and ward off harm, by Allah’s leave, is that which was narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Khubayb (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: We went out on a rainy and very dark night, looking for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to lead us in prayer, and we found him. He said: “Say,” but I did not say anything. Then he said: “Say,” but I did not say anything. Then he said: “Say,” and I said: What should I say, O Messenger of Allah? He said: “Say: Qul huwa Allaahu Ahad and al-Mu’awwidhatayn, in the evening and in the morning, three times, and they will suffice you against all things.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood (5082) and by at-Tirmidhi (3575), who said: It is hasan saheeh ghareeb. An-Nawawi said in al-Adhkaar (p. 107): Its isnaad is saheeh.
Of course, if Allah wills, He may decree that your faith gets tested, but only in originally seeking reliance on Allah will you be successful and free from the condemnation of disbelief.
We ask ALLAH for steadfastness and forgiveness of all our sins.
