For a global ‘Tabbat yadaa’

Sometimes I miss the days when the TV was the only screen you watched’ Tahir said, towering over me with a frown on his face.

‘But why?’ I asked, raising my face to him from where I sat in the parlour.

‘Because when you had only the TV for a distraction, at least your ears were free to hear my voice. But now that you have your small phone screen, and those WhatsApp videos keep coming your way, you hear no one and see no one unless they are right before you.’ He complained.

‘Oh I’m sorry Hubby dearest, but it isn’t always like that. I mean this video is particularly disturbing, that’s why it commanded my whole attention. But at all other times my phone doesn’t stop me from hearing you.’ I countered.

‘And when is a video you received not “particularly disturbing”? I’ve heard you say that so many times, it doesn’t convince me anymore. I believe that’s the excuse you use whenever a whatsapp clip arrests your attention.’ He insisted, walking over to sit opposite me.

‘Believe me it’s not an excuse this time. Just look’ I offered, rising from my chair to sit next to him ‘it is a promotional footage featuring interviews with some of the foreign women, who were in Saudi Arabia for the first ever fashion show in the Kingdom. Look at them having their make up done while discussing the upcoming event.’ I urged, handing the phone to him. He took it from me and watched for a few seconds then he handed it back and said:

‘This really is a cause for concern. How far will the Crown Prince go?’

‘I wonder too. I mean, as if it wasn’t bad enough that he hosted that neo-gambling championship and the premiere of the film Black Panther; thereby re-introducing cinema theatres in the holy Kingdom, must he now arrange for virtually naked women to stage a catwalk and complete the desecration of the Kingdom?’ I wondered aloud.

‘He calls it reform and his admirers in the Western World call him a reformer but what is obvious is that the Crown Prince is hell bent on demystifying the Holy Land. He wants it to become like any other place on earth, complete with all the decadence and immorality that characterises modern societies.’ Tahir observed unhappily.

‘But isn’t it ironic for reforms to begin with opening the gateway to immorality?’ I queried.

‘To some people there are positive aspects to Muhammad bin Salman’s reforms because now women can drive and they do not have to wear black abayas on top of their clothing all the time. Which means women have the freedom to choose what colour they wish to wear.’ He responded.

‘Maybe, but don’t you know that even that is an economic break through for those egging him on? All that developed nations want are more markets for their luxury goods. Imagine how much more profit for will go to them when women of the oil rich kingdom develop appetites for beautiful cars and designer wear? That’s really all they are after, but the foolish prince thinks he is taking the kingdom into a modern and globalized world; to the detriment of Islamic values.’’

‘That’s the unfortunate part really. He has no idea how much

harm he is doing to it’s Islamic image or maybe he knows and doesn’t care. Imagine planning all those holiday resorts in Jeddah across the Red Sea and in Riyadh, ostensibly because he wants to attract foreign investment but in actual fact to bring depravity and hedonism to the doorstep of his Arab kin, so they do not need to go far and pay more to get it. No wonder he made sure he arrested numerous royals and countless scholars in order to prevent any opposition to his plans. He clearly intends to divorce the Kingdom of it’s honour and prestige as the birthplace of Islam. How sad.’ Tahir lamented.

‘And you know what he said when he arrested his royal uncles and cousins, he said they were corrupt and had spent decades stealing from the kingdom. He even forced some of them to pay millions of dollars in exchange for their freedom. Yet what did we hear about him? He has gone to the US to buy 500 million dollar yacht and a 300 million dollar house there.

According to Bernie Sanders, the former American presidential aspirant, who spoke after MBS’s recent visit to US, the Saudi Crown recently bought a 500 million dollar yatch in the US because he thought ‘it looked nice’. And he also owns a 300 million dollar house, reputed to be the most expensive house in the world. So how can such an ostentatious, extravagant person say he is fighting corruption by jailing corrupt people in Saudi? One can only afford such purchases with ill-gotten wealth. Any wealth lawfully acquired will not be wasted on such obscene luxury.’ I concluded. ‘And this is the man who wants to be the leader of the Islamic world someday. I mean whether we like it or not the man who rules Saudi, indirectly rules the Muslim world because of their custodianship of our two Holy Mosques, the Haramain.’ Tahir observed.

‘By the grace of Allah, he will never be the Custodian of the Haramain. We will do all we can to stop him, in sha Allah.’ I responded, heatedly.

‘And what can you do dear Bint? For one, you are a Nigerian, an ordinary Nigerian too, not even the Nation’s president. In Saudi, you are equally a nobody. So how can you stop MBS’s march to Saudi kingship?’ He asked, smiling.

‘Simple: by praying to Almighty Allah against him. I can mobilise the 1.5 billion Muslims in the world today to all pray for his downfall and we all will because we can see the harm this corrupt, insincere, double-faced Muslim poses to the land of the Haramain. In these days of social media, I can call for a global tabbat yadaa campaign and will be heeded, in sha Allah.’ I declared.

‘A global tabbat yadaa campaign? How?’ He asked.

‘Well, I’ll send a message urging all Muslims around the world to read Suratul Masad, chapter 111 of the Holy Qur’an, better known as ‘tabbat yadaa abi lahab’ seven times and supplicate to Allah to end this man’s ambition. This way he will neither get the crown nor will he get the chance to continue his evil plans against the kingdom, in sha Allah.’ I disclosed.

‘You are right Bint, only a powerful prayer can stop him. You can count me in as part of this campaign. Indeed, I will gladly forward the message to my contacts too, as soon as you compose it.’ He pledged, patting my hand.

‘Thanks a lot Hubby dearest, I know I can count on you.’ I replied, smiling

back at him.

And this is the man who wants to be the leader of the Islamic world someday. I mean whether we like it or not the man who rules Saudi, indirectly rules the Muslim world because of their custodianship of our two Holy Mosques