Friday Tadhkirah With Abdulkadir Salaudeen: Alhaji Musa’s Comedies: Islam and the Muslims

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It is proven that laughter has some health benefits. It is also proven that its excess has adverse effects on health. This explains why the Prophet warned us against laughing too much.

He said, “Do not laugh too much, for laughing deadens the heart” (Trimidhi 2305)
A man said to ibn Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, “joking is not right, it is to be denounced”. He replied, “rather it is Sunnah, but only for those who know how to do it and do it at the appropriate time” Bilaal ibn Sa’d said: I saw them (the Companions of the Prophet) jokingly pretending to fight over some goods, and laughing with one another, but when night came they were like monks”
The quotes above show that Islam is not against amusement and entertainment as thought by some extremists.

Islam only puts some restrictions in from of conditions. Put differently, entertainments which are comprised of jokes, satires, comedies, or humors are permitted provided they do not involve lies, and mockery of other people by making snide remarks about them. Entertainment and comedy, of whatever category, should also neither be excessive nor making fun of Islam. No one should make fun of Islam by their comedies—be they Muslims or non-Muslims.

On the case of Alhaji Musa, it is important to establish the fact that he is neither a Muslim nor is he a Hausa. However, his perfect mimicry of a typical Hausa Muslim is uncontested. This earns him wide admiration and he gains huge followers on the social media; even among the northern Muslims. He is an Igbo whose real name is Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, also known as NEDU. And I think it is right to appreciate such a perfect mimicry of Hausawa personality by an Igbo whose languages are mutually unintelligible and whose cultures are poles apart (mutually exclusive). For this has the potential of bringing about the needed unity and oneness in Nigeria.

However, the popular comedian called Alhaji Musa deserves condemnation because his comedies center on sexploitation. He regularly acts like a sexpot putting on an attire to simulate a Hausa Muslim man and to portray him as someone whose sexual appetite is unquenchable and insatiable. He depicts, through his comedies, a Hausa, nay a Muslim, who knows nothing but sex; and can condescend to the level of animal (or even below) to get his appetite satisfied. This is a bad depiction!

Few days ago, a recorded video by a concern Muslim in which the comedian, Alhaji Musa, was condemned went viral. May Allah reward the brother. Before then, only few Muslims reason to see and fathom the damage his comedies do to Islam and the Muslims—especially Hausa Muslims.

Above and beyond, the sextravaganzas which are the visible hallmarks of his comedies call for concern. It is not far fetch to think that his comedies, and those of his ilk, account for the sexualization of our youths who are gradually becoming sexualizers after being sexualized. This is manifested in nude parties that are rendering our cultural spaces to be sexually ungoverned.

In a previous article, I alluded to the botched sex parties in Kaduna and Bauchi. Just last week, another strip party was about to take place in Ilorin, Kwara State (my state). Accolades to those policemen who thwarted it and arrested a member of the notorious gang that planned to organize the party.

Only Allah knows the number of such parties that took place unnoticed (or noticed but unchecked); and those already in the pipeline.
Is this how we shall continue to live our lives? Shall we continue to abuse our intelligence and prostitute our talents? A misuse of talent is talent prostitution. When shall we channel our talents towards invention, innovation, and new discoveries? When shall we use our talents to become successful administrators, politicians, parents, teachers, and experts? When shall we use our talents to turn around our economy for the betterment of all?

Alas! A large fraction of our youths are sexually drunk. They only have sexual sense of entertainment, and nothing more. It is apt to think that a young unmarried man (even the married one) would commit rape or at least think of rape after watching that nonsense called comedy acted by Alhaji Musa—especially when women voluptuous parts are seductively revealed. If this generation is morally bankrupt to this extent, one can only imagine the bankruptcy of generations to come—those of our children and grandchildren.

It is high time for people like this so-called Alhaji Musa to repent if repentance has meaning in the religion he professes. I am not aware of his religion. If he doesn’t have religion, at least he should understand that religion is a major flashpoint in Nigeria. Its boomeranging effects are well known. Ridiculing a religion or its adherents in the public is wrong by any ethical standard, and by any system of justice.

In reaction to the viral video, many aver that the comedian purposely dresses himself in an Islamic attire to denigrate Islam and ridicule the Muslims. While this is possible, I prefer an innocuous explanation of his action. He is perhaps not ridiculing Islam and the Muslims. Yes, it is incontrovertible that his satirical portrayal of Islam is vexatious. Still, I doubt it is premeditated.

These are my reasons: one, he is a disappointed graduate who studied accountancy but could not secure a relevant or related job after several failed attempts. Struggle for survival, or in Nigerian parlance, ‘struggle to make it in life’ made him grab what was available (media and comedy) when the desirable was not available. Two, he was brought up in Kaduna where he was able to master Hausa and the accent, and lastly, he has many Hausas (Muslims) in the north who are his fans on Facebook and Instagram.

From the foregoing, is it plausible to conclude that he does not see anything wrong in what he does? I am afraid to say yes. I may also be wrong to say no. But many have concluded that he does what he does deliberately to lampoon Islam and the Muslims (I remain neutral on this). I hope I would be pardoned for my shillyshallying on making a definite judgment on whether he intentionally denigrates Islam or not. This is due to my inability to penetrate his mind to interrogate his intention. So, it is better to say Allahu a’lamu (Allah knows best).

At any rate, the so-called Alhaji Musa should desist from portraying the Muslims in a bad light. He should tender an unreserved apology to the Muslims with an explanation that he does not intend hurling any insults at them in his comedies. This would be the litmus test to ascertain his motive and conclude thereof.

And for Muslims who may want to pursue a career in comedy, know that Islam discourages excessive laughter. The Prophet said, “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.” (Trimidhi) “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak what is good or remain silent” (Bukhari). Woe to him who lies to make people laugh. Who to him! Woe to him! (Abu Dawud)—this is a condemnation in the strongest term. Ask yourself, “how can I be a comedian without telling lies?” The answer is obvious.

Lastly, it is scientifically established that intense laughter can trigger fainting, asthma attacks, headaches, incontinence and what have you. This is the kind of laughter one is exposed to in comedy. It is an Islamic principle that you do not cause harm to yourself. The Qur’an says: “and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction” (Q2:195). We ask Allah for guidance and uprightness.

 

Abdulkadir Salaudeen writes from Gashua
salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
Twitter handle, @salahuddeenAbd

 

 

 

 

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