Celebrating Academic Excellence: A Remarkable Reward for Hard Work
I am truly overwhelmed by the incredible recognition and generous reward given by His Excellency, Dr. Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State, to Haroun and Samuel for their outstanding academic achievement.
In Ogun State, we take immense pride in celebrating excellence, and today, we honor two outstanding young men—Samuel Badekale and Haroun Adebakin—who emerged as the best graduating students at the University of Lagos with a perfect 5.0 CGPA. Their remarkable achievement is not only a personal victory but also a moment of pride for Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
To recognize their dedication and inspire future generations, we have appointed them as Education Ambassadors of Ogun State. In this role, they will engage with students, share their experiences, and encourage academic excellence. To further appreciate their hard work, we are supporting them with N10 million each as a token of our gratitude and a symbol of the limitless opportunities that come with diligence and perseverance.
Education remains a priority in our Building Our Future Together agenda, and we will continue to honor and support exceptional individuals who make our state proud. By investing in young minds and reforming our education sector, we are equipping our future leaders with the tools to succeed and contribute meaningfully to society.
We celebrate these ambassadors and encourage other students to embrace hard work, discipline, and integrity, knowing that success comes through commitment and determination.
#BuildingOurFutureTogether #DapoAbiodun #ISEYA #EducationAmbassadors #OgunState #Excellence
Pages of the Glorius Qur'ān today, Thursday 18/6/26, Sūrah al-'Araf (7): 171-187, tafakkur verse 7: 178
Theme: True Guidance Comes Only from Allāh, and Real Loss Is the Loss of Guidance
{مَن یَهۡدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدِیۖ وَمَن یُضۡلِلۡ فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرُونَ}
"Whoever Allāh guides - he is the [rightly] guided; and whoever He sends astray - it is those who are the losers".
LESSONS:
This verse comes after a discussion of people who reject the signs of Allāh despite clear evidence. It reminds us that success, intelligence, wealth, status, or popularity do not guarantee guidance. The greatest blessing is to be guided by Allāh, while the greatest calamity is to be deprived of that guidance.
1: Guidance Is the Greatest Gift from Allāh
Many people seek wealth, influence, education, and worldly achievements, but the greatest gift a servant can receive is guidance (hidāyah). A person may possess the entire world yet remain spiritually lost, while another may own little but be among the most successful in the sight of Allāh because he knows and follows the truth.
This is why Muslims repeatedly ask in every ṣalāh: "Guide us to the straight path." (Qur'ān 1:6)
Guidance is not a one-time gift; it is a blessing that must be sought, preserved, and increased every day.
2: Misguidance Is Often the Consequence of Human Choices
Allāh is perfectly just. He does not wrong anyone. When people repeatedly reject truth, follow desires, become arrogant, and turn away from divine guidance, Allāh may leave them to the path they themselves have chosen.
The Qur'ān repeatedly teaches that hearts become sealed after persistent rejection of truth. Therefore, believers should never become arrogant about their own faith. Rather, they should constantly ask Allāh for firmness and protection from deviation.
The Prophet frequently supplicated:
"O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion."
3: Real Success Is Not Measured by Worldly Standards
Society often judges success by wealth, fame, power, or social influence. The Qur'ān presents a different standard. A person may be celebrated by the world yet be among the losers before Allāh, while another may be unknown among people but beloved to his Lord.
The truly guided person is one whose beliefs, actions, and character conform to the guidance of Allāh, regardless of public opinion.
Therefore, Muslims should measure themselves by obedience to Allāh rather than by worldly comparisons.
4: The Greatest Loss Is the Loss of One's Hereafter
The verse describes the misguided as "the losers." This loss is not merely financial or social. It is the loss of eternal happiness, divine pleasure, and success in the Hereafter.
A business loss can be recovered. A lost position can be regained. A damaged reputation can be repaired.
But if a person loses his relationship with Allāh and dies upon misguidance, that is the ultimate loss.
This is why the righteous predecessors feared spiritual decline more than worldly hardship.
5: Guidance Requires Gratitude, Humility, and Constant Effort
A believer should never assume that guidance is guaranteed forever. Hearts can change, circumstances can alter, and temptations can increase.
The more grateful a servant is for guidance, the more likely Allāh is to increase him in it.
This verse teaches that guidance is the greatest treasure a human being can possess and that misguidance is the greatest loss. The believer therefore lives between gratitude for the guidance already received and constant supplication for continued steadfastness. Success is not merely reaching worldly goals; true success is meeting Allāh with sound faith, sincere worship, and a heart firmly attached to His guidance.
O Allāh, guide us among those whom You have guided, keep our hearts firm upon Your religion, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself. Indeed, You are the Bestower. Āmīn.
Tomorrow is Thursday.
Fast if you are able to, if not earn reward by reminding others.
Remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers (Q51:55).
Baarakallahu Feekum.
اللهمَّ صلِّ على محمَّد وعلى آل محمَّد، كما صليتَ على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنَّك حميدٌ مجيد. اللهمَّ بارِك على محمَّد وعلى آل محمَّد، كما باركتَ على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، إنَّك حميدٌ مجيد
Important Dates to Remember:📌
16 June 2026 — Islamic New Year.
24 June 2026 — 9th Muharram.
25 June 2026 — Day of Ashura.
A month of reflection, fasting, and drawing closer to Allah.♥️
Dear Muslim Lady,
Be industrious.
Work diligently.
Acquire beneficial knowledge.
Earn good money through lawful means.
Own properties.
Build businesses.
Invest in your health.
Invest in valuable assets.
Be financially grounded.
Develop useful skills.
Read widely and continuously.
Save consistently.
Plan for the future.
Avoid unnecessary debts.
Support your parents.
Take care of your children.
Be a blessing to your husband if you are married.
Be independent, but never arrogant.
Be ambitious, but remain humble.
Be confident, but preserve your modesty.
Build your intellect as much as you build your appearance.
Protect your dignity.
Protect your reputation.
Choose your friends wisely.
Use social media responsibly.
Do not measure your worth by likes, comments, or validation from strangers.
Have goals bigger than fashion and trends.
Contribute positively to your community.
Give charity regularly.
Help other women rise.
Stand for truth and justice.
Fear Allah in public and in private.
Pray consistently.
Recite the Qur'an regularly.
Maintain good character.
Guard your tongue.
Guard your chastity.
Guard your heart.
Remember that beauty fades, trends change, and wealth can disappear, but faith, character, knowledge, and good deeds remain.
Strive to become a woman who is respected not merely for her appearance, but for her faith, intelligence, wisdom, compassion, integrity, and contribution to humanity.
May Allah make you among the righteous women of this world and the successful women of the Hereafter.
Āmīn.
🔊Reminder: Morning Adkhar⏰👇
“Believers, remember Allah often and glorify Him morning and evening”.
“It is He who blesses you, and His angels, in order to lead you out of the depths of darkness into the light. He is ever merciful towards the believers” – (Q33 :V41-4)
Pages of the Glorius Qur'ān today, Wednesday 17/6/26, Sūrah al-'Araf (7): 160-170, tafakkur verse 7: 163
Theme: Never normalize evil and never join those who commit it
{وَسۡـَٔلۡهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡقَرۡیَةِ ٱلَّتِی كَانَتۡ حَاضِرَةَ ٱلۡبَحۡرِ إِذۡ یَعۡدُونَ فِی ٱلسَّبۡتِ إِذۡ تَأۡتِیهِمۡ حِیتَانُهُمۡ یَوۡمَ سَبۡتِهِمۡ شُرَّعࣰا وَیَوۡمَ لَا یَسۡبِتُونَ لَا تَأۡتِیهِمۡۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ نَبۡلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَفۡسُقُونَ}
"And ask them about the town that was by the sea - when they transgressed in [the matter of] the sabbath - when their fish came to them openly on their sabbath day, and the day they had no sabbath they did not come to them. Thus did We give them trial because they were defiantly disobedient".
LESSONS:
This verse refers to a community from among the Children of Israel who lived in a town by the sea. Many scholars identify it as a place called Aylah (near present-day Aqaba), though the Qur'an does not specify the exact location.
Allah had commanded them to honor the Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of worship and rest, during which fishing was prohibited. To test their obedience, Allah caused fish to appear abundantly near the shore on Saturdays, making them easy to catch. On other days, the fish were scarce and difficult to find.
Instead of obeying Allah sincerely, some people devised a trick. They placed nets and traps on Friday, allowing fish to be caught on Saturday, and then collected them on Sunday. Outwardly, they claimed not to be fishing on the Sabbath, but in reality they were circumventing Allah's command.
The community then split into three groups:
1. The sinners who violated the Sabbath through deception.
2. The righteous reformers who condemned the wrongdoing and warned the people.
3. Those who remained silent, neither participating in the sin nor actively condemning it.
When the sinners persisted despite repeated warnings, Allah punished them severely. The Qur'an mentions that they were told: "Be apes, despised." (Qur'an 7:166).
This punishment was a manifestation of Allah's wrath against their deliberate rebellion and mockery of divine commands.
1. The fish appeared precisely when catching them was forbidden. Often, our greatest tests come through the things we most desire. Faith is proven when obedience becomes difficult.
2. The Sabbath-breakers thought they had found a legal loophole. They changed the form of the sin but not its reality. Allah judges intentions and realities, not merely appearances.
3. A person may outwardly comply with religious obligations while inwardly violating their spirit. Islam requires both lawful actions and sincere hearts.
4. The righteous group continued advising the sinners even when success seemed unlikely. A believer is responsible not only for personal righteousness but also for encouraging righteousness in society.
5. The Qur'an highlights those who questioned the usefulness of warning the sinners.
Lesson: Remaining indifferent to public wrongdoing can lead to spiritual decline.
6. The punishment came only after persistent disobedience and rejection of advice. Every sin that goes unchecked makes repentance more difficult.
7. The issue was not fishing itself but obedience to Allah's command. The true test of servitude is submission, even when we do not fully understand the wisdom behind a command.
8. The people wanted fish, which was lawful. Their problem was the unlawful method they adopted. A lawful goal does not justify unlawful means.
9. The fate of the town was tied to its response to wrongdoing. Societies that normalize deception and disobedience place themselves at risk of collective decline.
May Allah teach us to be good and unite us with righteous believers. Āmīn.
Muharram is one of the four sacred months in Islam and the first month of the Islamic calendar. It holds special virtues and opportunities for worship.
1. Muharram is a Sacred Month
Allah says in the Qur'an: "Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve... of these, four are sacred." (Qur'an 9:36)
Muharram is one of these four sacred months, along with Rajab, Dhul-Qa'dah, and Dhul-Hijjah. During sacred months, sins are more serious and righteous deeds carry greater reward.
2. It is Called "The Month of Allah"
The Prophet (ṣallāLlāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The best fasting after Ramadan is fasting in Allah's month, Muharram.", (Sahih Muslim).
This special attribution ("Allah's month") highlights the honor and virtue of Muharram.
3. Fasting in Muharram is Highly Recommended
Voluntary fasting throughout Muharram is among the most rewarding acts of worship. While fasting the entire month was not the regular practice of the Prophet (ṣallāLlāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), fasting frequently during it is strongly encouraged.
4. The Virtue of the Day of Ashura (10th Muharram)
The greatest day in Muharram is Ashura (10th Muharram).
The Prophet (ṣallāLlāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope from Allah, expiates the sins of the previous year." (Sahih Muslim)
This refers to the forgiveness of minor sins, provided major sins are avoided and one sincerely repents.
5. Following the Sunnah by Fasting the 9th and 10th
When the Prophet (ṣallāLlāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) learned that the Jews fasted on Ashura to commemorate Allah saving Moses and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh, he said: "We have more right to Moses than they do."
He fasted Ashura and encouraged Muslims to fast it. He also intended to fast the 9th and 10th together to distinguish the Muslim practice.
Therefore, the recommended options are:
1. Fast the 9th and 10th Muharram (best).
2. Fast the 10th and 11th Muharram.
3. Fast only the 10th Muharram if unable to combine days.
Recommended Acts in Muharram:
1. Increase voluntary fasting.
2. Recite and reflect on the Qur'an.
3. Make abundant dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
4. Give charity.
5. Make sincere tawbah (repentance).
6. Perform extra prayers and good deeds.
May Allah make Muharram a month of blessings, forgiveness, and spiritual growth for you. Āmīn 🤲
🚨 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪: Saudi Arabia's flag was not placed on the pitch before the game vs Uruguay.
Unlike most national flags, the Saudi flag must remain raised at all times because it contains the Islamic declaration of faith (the Shahada), one of the most sacred phrases in Islam.
The flag must not touch the ground or water out of respect for its religious significance.
🔊Reminder: Morning Adkhar⏰👇
“Believers, remember Allah often and glorify Him morning and evening”.
“It is He who blesses you, and His angels, in order to lead you out of the depths of darkness into the light. He is ever merciful towards the believers” – (Q33 :V41-4