Outline
- Introduction
- The Jokers
- The Jokers’ Pattern of Fortune-Telling
- The Jokers Get the Attention They Need
- A Muslim’s Stance in A Claim of Prophecy
- Probably, You Believed the Jokers
- What If Buhari Really Died?
- The Jokers Cause Damages Every Single Moment
- Possible Measures
- Conclusion
Introduction
Alhamdulillah… Perfect thanks and praise are due to the worthiest One for praise and gratitude. Complete peace and blessings are upon our Master, Sayyidunā Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path.
In the wake of President Muhamadu Buhari’s victory, which secured him a second term in office in the 2019 general election in Nigeria, many videos belonging to the jokers who falsely call themselves men of God and prophets surfaced in social media. At least, one video shows a pastor who predicted the death of President Muhamadu Buhari, if he dared to contest in the presidential election.
Well, the election took place. Not only that Buhari contested. But he won vehemently. He’s still alive, healthy and kicking well.
This article raises awareness about the danger posed by the jokers on the ordinary Muslim. It also addresses how a Muslim should handle a situation like this. I find discussing this matter important because, knowingly or unknowingly, engaging in and with videos of such kind affects the faith of the Muslim.
The Jokers
In this article, usage of the jokers refers to those magicians, sorcerers, and fortune-tellers, who have emerged as men of God. They are in the mosques, churches and many places of worship. They cast fear in people’s hearts by predicting misfortunes. They only predict calamities and accidents.
This happens because we live in a time and space, whereas if you want to reach fame faster, be an entertainer, or a clown. In fact, if you want it in a blink of an eye, be a joker.
These jokers know plainly, that they’re misleading their followers. Their followers know for the fact, that they’re being misled. But due to the complicated ingredients involved, one doesn’t realize until he’s fallen a prey to them.
The sad part is, they make richness out of that. Because they’re jokers, sometimes, people of good faith don’t take them seriously. And with the existence of social media we even, unknowingly give them attention, add them more fame and allow them to mislead and misguide even more innocent people.
The Jokers’ Pattern of Fortune-Telling
Please pay close attention to the predictions made by all these cheats, and you’ll come to one conclusion. They do one thing. They cast fear in people’s hearts.
These people, fortune-tellers and sorcerers, who I choose to call the jokers in this article, hardly predict good and hope. They only predict wars, deaths, and unfortunate occurrences. Many of such predictions never occur. Some do occur… because life is full of coincidences. Already they’re liars. But they must cause you to be afraid and become desperate, so they can suck your money.
Whether you choose to believe them or not, many people will believe them. When this happens, those who can reach out to them will do so to seek escapes from the possible unfortunate occurrences that the jokers have falsely predicted. Those who can’t reach out to them will develop some belief in them and their possible abilities and powers.
This is serious. And the Muslim must not entertain anything that comes from them. Remember, that The Prophet Muḥammad ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, in a ḥadīth reported by Imām Muslim from some of the wives of the Prophet:
مَنْ أَتَى عَرَّافًا فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلاَةٌ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً
“He who visits a diviner (‘Arraf)(a fortune-teller) and asks him about anything, his prayers extending to forty nights will not be accepted.”
In an era of social media, you may not go physically to a fortune-teller or a sorcerer. All he needs is your phone number or your Facebook username, and he will start luring you to the path of hell. May Allah forbid and protect you and your loved ones.
Mind you, perpetual liars never go short of excuses. They never run out of ways of mincing their words to regain your trust. They will never go short of words to defend themselves. Your only sward is to keep away and hold on to your faith.
The Jokers Get the Attention They Need
It goes without the need to indicate, that we all agree that the jokers (who falsely call themselves prophets sometimes, and men of God some other times) who only make predictions about unfortunate occurrences are nothing but jokers and cheats. The truth is, they’re successful in making people render them their trust. And shamelessly, they take advantage of it.
Furthermore, for them to be successful, they must gain attention. This attention is what earns them the crowd they need. It matters not to them, whether you are concerned about their integrity or not. Because in the first place they’re people with no integrity. All they need is that we help them to get attention. Once they get that attention, many people who happen to be desperate will reach out to them. And voila! you can guess the rest of the story.
A Muslim’s Stance in A Claim of Prophecy
Any Muslim who is grounded in his faith, knows with no slight doubt, that the Prophet Muhammad is a true Messenger of God. In addition to that, he’s the final prophet of all the chosen Prophets and Messengers who were sent by God.
This is clearly stated in Surah al-Aḥzāb, where Allah tells us how to give the Prophet the due respect and love he deserves:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّـهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّـهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا ﴿٤٠﴾ـ
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but is Allah’s Messenger and the seal of the Prophets. Allah has knowledge of all things” (Sūrah al-Aḥzāb, 33:40).
Therefore, it’s a common sense in Islam, that no claim of prophecy should be entertained, no matter how jokingly it is put.
It’s unfortunate, however, that we give such jokes attention, despite the severe instant and long-term implications their activities carry to humanity. I’m afraid, entertaining their jokes, by the means of sharing them on social media or even making mockery of them affects our faith without our realization.
Probably, You Believed the Jokers
Do not misunderstand. But we must accept, if not admit to the fact that many people have believed in them. It may not be you and me. But one of our loved ones.
The moment President Muhamadu Buhari was announced the winner in the election, we’ve seen friends who took the trouble to dig the Internet and come out with videos of the jokers, in which they put forward their false prophecies.
By doing so, you’re telling your followers on social media, that had something really happened to Buhari, you’ll have not come out with that sharing. And you’ll have quietly believed in the so-called men of God. The jokers.
It’s as if you’ve been holding your breath; praying hard to God, to saves Buhari from possible death.
Now, let me ask you: what if Buhari really died?!
What If Buhari Really Died?
President Muhamadu Buhari didn’t die. Despite that, these jokers have gained fame. Thus, had Buhari really died, these liars would have gained more popularity and more crowds.
I won’t say they would have emerged as truthful and trustworthy. Even if Buhari died as per their predictions, the jokers still stand as liars. They are not prophets. Are they?
A Muslim must always remember, that when the Dajjal comes out, he will carry out acts that seem supernatural to many people. However, only people with stronger faith will resist and reject it. Those “superpowers” will never make Dajjal god. But still,l some will still choose to follow Dajjal. They will perceive him as a god.
The Jokers Cause Damages Every Single Moment
There’s one thing we should be mindful when sharing anything in the cyberspace or social media for that matter. That is the effect sharing a post can cause and the extent it may go.
If sharing fake news can cause harm to the stability of nations, then sharing false prophecies of the jokers and clowns can be equally or even more damaging.
In other words, when you don’t share something right away, you can share it in the future, after you’ve really thought about all the possible implications. But if you quickly share something, the damage can’t be undone, even if you delete it after realizing something isn’t right about it.
You and I do agree. It’s really tempting when surfing the internet or while scrolling your news feed and come across some funny or provoking stuff. But we need to learn to put that temptation under control. Don’t underestimate the impact of the influence you make on social media. Every single like, comment or innocent sharing you make counts. Just like you get influenced by others’ sharing, Likes, and comments, others too are influenced by your sharing, Likes, and comments.
Possible Measures
We can’t decide for the jokers what to do and what not to do. Especially when we have no authority nor power to stop them and the damage they do. But we can determine how we react to their falsehood. And that has a great implication. Not only on us, but possibly on our children, our offspring and the beautiful generations to come. We can create awareness for ourselves and for the people we love and care for.
Clearly, what the jokers are doing is evil. The devil is behind it. But we have the immune system which we can use to protect ourselves.
It may be convenient to put the blame on the Devil, but anytime you want to cast the blame on the Devil, remember what Allah says about this type of excuses:
وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖوَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى ۖفَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم ۖمَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ ۖإِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ ۗإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ـ
“When the Judgement has been passed, Satan will say to them, “God made you a true promise; I too made you promises, but I failed you. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. Do not now blame me, but blame yourselves! I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I reject your former act in associating me with God.” The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.” (Sūrah Ibrāhīm, 14:22).
The jokers know precisely why they’re doing whatever they’re doing. Have you ever stopped and thought through why you are reacting the way you are reacting to their falsehood? Have you ever stopped and thought about the value your sharing about them will add or the damage it may cause?
As for the jokers, they’re doing their business. They’re making a living. By getting you hooked up, they’ve succeeded. Objective achieved, and soon mission will be accomplished for them.
Why should I blame them? I blame those who know they’re imposters, yet they give them attention and unspoken recognition. They give them fame. In addition to authority. And when the damage is done, they turn to throw the blames on the jokers.
Conclusion
This discussion is not about President Muhamadu Buhari. Buhari has come to go. But the jokers have come to stay. So should your spiritual awareness and faith immune system should be forever active.
The discussion is rather about creating awareness against the damage caused by the jokers. Regardless, whether they claim to be Muslims or otherwise. A cheat is a cheat. A liar is a liar. A criminal is a criminal. Regardless of his affiliation.
Also, you might have noted that I’m not linking to any reference about the jokers in this article. They don’t deserve a space here. If you haven’t heard about them then you don’t really need to know about them. Maybe you can save your time for more productive activities. But if you have heard about them, then you already know what I’m talking about.
O Allah, the Controller of the hearts, make my heart firm to your religion. And guide us always to righteousness that pleases you and grants us Your pleasure. Amin!
If you’ve read up to this point, then let me emphasize it that I’ll very much appreciate it, if you will share your thoughts after having read the article. Do tell me how you find it beneficial, where you agree or disagree and don’t forget to suggest and give your feedback.
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Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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