CHANGE BEGIN WITH US

©Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

We sincerely need to change our attitude in this country if real change must come. The common citizens are fond of criticizing the leaders, whereas, those leaders didn't fall from heaven, they were part of us before winning elections, and they would soon return to us whether they like it or not. This shows that our political system is a reflection of the kind of people we are. 

Nigerian citizens have over the years created a conducive atmosphere  for corruption to flourish in almost every aspects of human endeavors. We don't obey our leaders in matters that are useful to us as individuals and as a nation at large. It is a great evil for us not to obey our leaders. Going by the Qur'ān and Sunnah, obedience are generally three (3): obedience to Allāh, His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and those in position of authority. Many of our mundane problems if we obey our leaders in matters that do not offend the sharī'ah. One of the scholar said:

عليك بالطاعة السلطان سرا ** وجهرا ما بقيت مدا الزمان

"Upon you is following the instructions of a leader (in matters that are beneficial) in secret, and in the public as long as you remain within a period of time"

One of the worst areas of disobedience to the authority I have personally discovered is poor waste disposal culture. It is part of corruption to finish pure water and throw the nylon wherever you like. It is a serious form of corruption to finish orange or any other fruit and throw it on the street. Some people would drink water or other drinks and throw empty bottles anywhere they like. What stops us from keep those bottles, nylons and garbages until we get to where we can dispose them properly? A lot of people dump their wastes in uncompleted buildings belonging to another person. Some people dump wastes on the streets or by the road sides. Some people dump wastes in the gutters and canals. This usually leads to blockage of waterways and transforms into serious environmental disasters in the future. Dumping wastes wrongly also causes serious health issues if proper care is not taken.

Let us stop dumping refuse just anywhere. And when we see people dumping refuse inappropriately, we should advise them against it. If they persist on it, we should report them to relevant authorities. Keeping quiet when an act of injustice is being committed is not the best. Allāh warn us against injustice, corruption and rebellion. We should refrain from them and warn others against them. 

We take acts of corruption of this nature so lightly that we fail to recognise the fact that it is sinful and detested. Instead of protesting against corruption at the highest level to gain cheap popularity, why not let us start with ourselves and our immediate neighbors? The change begins with me and you. When you encourage goodness and discourage evil, it is sadaqah (charity) and you will meet it on the Day when money and connections would not be useful. In a hadith reported by Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

وأمر بالمعروف صدقة، ونهي عن المنكر صدقة

And commanding of righteousness is charity, and warning from evil is charity [Muslim]

The government at various levels have been trying their best to keep our environments clean by employing sweepers and providing big containers where wastes are to be dropped for onward transmission to recycling centers. It is disturbing that a lot of people still find it hard to march to those containers to dispose their wastes. They will throw them anywhere. Even where there is clear instruction not to dump refuse, you would still see stubborn people dumping wastes there. As citizens, simple instructions, we don't take, and we are always out to condemn our leaders.

May Allāh guide us aright.