Between desire and destiny

Two young men who hailed from Bida local government in Niger state were recently killed in their ill-fated search for prosperity. The heinous crime was allegedly committed by another young man whose thirst for wealth was apparently more parched. In a shocking story carried by the February 20, 2016 edition of Daily Trust on Saturday, Muhammadu Kudu Abubakar and Umar Tanko Abubakar were purportedly murdered and buried in a shallow grave by a self-acclaimed spiritualist called ‘Malam’ Ibrahim Mohammed. 
The two victims who were brothers had reportedly visited the telepathist for spiritual assistance to boost their businesses. The two siblings left their family home on January 10, 2016 but were never to be seen again; a situation that prompted their family members to go all-out in search of Muhammad and Umar. The matter was reported to the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police which immediately launched investigations in to the incident. The complainant had told the police of their findings which showed that the last call on the deceased’s phone was from Ibrahim Mohammed and that the call terminated at Karara village near Lokoja.
With the aid of modern tools of information technology, call-tracking facility led to the eventual arrest of the suspect, Mohammed Ibrahim. During interrogations, the suspect confessed that the two brothers came to him for the second time on January 10, 2016 for spiritual consultations. The duo had gone back to the diviner to complain about the ineffectiveness of the earlier concoction given to them. So, the suspect prepared another mixture, a poisonous one, for his two clients which they drank and consequently died. The two brothers were hoodwinked by the spiritualist in to believing that the concoction was meant to cleanse them from ill-luck. The team of the SARS operatives who exhumed the remains of the victims from the suspect’s compound at Kugbani village discovered that the suspect used a pestle to smash his victims on their heads before burying them. What a brutal ‘Malam’ indeed!
After killing his victims, the suspect took away their red Toyota Camry car to Lokoja where he reportedly repainted it gold. Although the two brothers had gone to consult with Ibrahim Mohammed for spiritual assistance to conquer poverty and then prosper, the fact that the telepathist killed his gullible clients and thereafter took possession of their car illustrates how poorer the suspect was; standing also in dire need of the aid the two brothers had come for. The Nupe in this regard would say, ‘If the hyena had the medication to treat others for diarrhea, it would have first treated itself for it’. In essence, if the suspect had a solution to the economic predicament presented by his clients, he wouldn’t be there doing any spiritual consultants in the first place.
There is no harm asking others for prayers especially those seen by others as pious and righteous in order to get our material needs gratified by Allah (SWT). However, incidents such as happened to the two brothers allegedly murdered by Ibrahim Muhammad calls for caution in today’s world of fraud and deception. Some so-called ‘Malams’ of today are very unlike those of the glorious days during which Malams were far from been known as murderers, cheats, betrayers, scammers, 419ners, etc.
A person who cannot help himself pretends to be helpful to others using tricks and fraudulent means to attract unsuspecting clients. There is the story of a spiritual consultant who was among the VIPs lined up to receive an eminent visiting guest. When the guest was to shake the hand of the diviner, the latter reportedly hanged the chaplet (he was holding) in the air before shaking hands with the guest. He thereafter took hold of the chaplet he had suspended in the air; a design by the telepathist to endear the guest to his illusive dealings.
As human beings whose hearts are always naturally full of wishes, it is important for us to imbibe the virtue of patience as we persevere through difficult and unfriendly situations; yet remaining pious and constant in prayers. Allah (SWT) admonishes us in Qur’an 2:45 ‘Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayers: It is indeed hard except for those who bring a lowly spirit’. No matter how desperate one is over a matter, and no matter how desirable or unwanted a situation might be; a person cannot be faster than Allah (SWT). The road to prosperity lies between desire and destiny. We must learn to effectively control our instincts and skillfully manage our desires. If Allah (SWT) has not destined for a person to be rich, nothing on earth can alter the person’s fate.
Allah (SWT) knows when it is best for us to have that which we have requested for. Sometime, He (SWT) delays the request which man may consider too long. Yet, Allah’s choice of time is the best. At other times, Allah (SWT) accepts the prayer of those who ask by granting the need that is altogether different from what was actually requested. Allah (SWT) could also refuse to grant a believer’s request in any form because He (SWT) knows that which is best for everyone. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 2:216 ‘…But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you; and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows and ye know not’. Man’s insistence on a particular thing at a particular time could sometimes lead to dangerous consequences.
While murder attracts capital punishment, deception practiced by telepathists is equally a great sin in Islam. Allah (SWT) warns in Qur’an 3:161 ‘…If any person is so false, he shall on the Day of Judgment restore what he misappropriated; then shall every soul receive its due, and none shall be dealt with unjustly’. May Allah (SWT) guide us to tame the excesses of our innate tendencies, amin.