In the September 3 2007 edition of Tell, a Nigerian weekly news magazine, the infamous activities of Nigerians, most especially women were graphically enunciated. The disturbing expose was captioned, Ashawo Mecca. The title may not be unconnected with the absurdity constituted by prostitution in Saudi Arabia, a renowned Muslim country and the sacred Makkah in particular. Apart from prostitution, other crimes linked with Nigerians and Nigerian’s passport carrying criminals, are handset, jewelry and passport stealing (or stealing generally), drug trafficking, passport racketeering and fake dollars production. Prostitution and women trafficking being the most prominent has earned the notoriety of being called Yan Shahadan Saudia (cliff jumpers of the Kingdom). Young girls and women of 10 - 45 years age bracket are said to be involved. These sex traders are said to be mostly Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri and Yoruba women. They live under the most inhuman conditions on hilltops, in caves and other unthinkable places. Some are said to have abandoned their husbands to get themselves into the calamitous crimes in the Kingdom. The feature writer, Abdul- Rafiu Lawal established, with precision, that the dirty and inhuman activities thrive in the Sacred City of Makkah, commercial city of Jeddah, capital city bof Riyadh and industrial city of Damman.

The writer also traced the root of the women trafficking business to deep rooted syndicate in Kano, Nigeria. He wrote that the anti-human trafficking unit of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Kano has been withdrawn due to pressure from the traffickers. This is pitiable, in the sense that they are measuring their success in naira and dollars rather than in the pleasure of Allah (SWT). If some elements, anywhere in the world, could deem it fit to launch such catastrophic assault on the Sacred City of Makkah, then those set of people are only willing to secure, unfailingly the wrath of Allah, Who protects the City.

Makkah. This is the city referred to as Baladul-Amin (Secured City) (Q95 v 3). It is a place where Prophet Ibrahim (AS), on the order of Allah (SWT) settled his wife, Hajar and son, Isma’il. A land blessed with Zamzam, the water of life that quenches thirst and cures ailments. A land whose boundary was delineated by Malaikah Jubril [Angel Gabriel] (AS), with Prophet Ibrahim (AS) marking it. The city of pilgrimage (Hajj), visited by blessed prophets and messengers including Prophet Musa and Yunus (AS). The homeland of the leader of all prophets and messengers, Muhammad (SAW). This is a city secured by Allah against Abraha’s elephant riding calvary and the Qiblah of all Muslims everywhere. A land where bloodshed , hunting, tree felling and picking of lost items (except on conditions) ,are prohibited. It is a city where the sacred Ka’abah is located. In the Holy Mosque, a salat (worship) performed is equivalent to one hundred thousand performed elsewhere. Same goes for fasting, spending in charity and all other virtues.

The above piece is a brief perspective on Makkah, the honoured city. It is indeed a beloved city that is very dear to the hearts of all believers the world over. Can you then imagine the consequences of crimes in the precinct of such city?

The pertinent question now is: Do Nigerians, especially the women, want to be the vanguards in the pollution of the holy land? A case of subtle cultural and spiritual war, you may say.

The implications of this piece by Tell are many. But the general one is that it is going to serve as eye opener for the parties concerned with maintenance of order in the two countries. The final implication is that it is going to be of benefit for the Muslim Ummah and the humanity as a whole.

Some of the implications are examined in the following passages.

The first implication is recognition of the fact that such highly revered environment should not have been subjected to such bestial tendencies, noting the high moral and spiritual platform expected of the Saudi environment. It also emphasised the need for the environment to be watchful against such dastardly polluting tendencies which only harbour doom for humanity.

Another implication is that it vindicates the hard stance of the Mutaween (religious police) against decadent ones among the residents of the country, whether citizen or migrants. This will eventually strengthen a willing Saudi government that has the purpose and the will to protect the Islamic values of the kingdom, particularly, the sanctity of the Holy Haram (Ka’abah) and its precinct. And it will safeguard the moral fabric of the people in the area as well as bar it from joining the expanding geography of HIV/ AIDS.

The write up will also serve to deter the prospective prostitutes who must have been warming up to exchange the violation of their dignity for US dollars and Saudi Riyaal. This is attainable if necessary steps are taken by the peoples and governments concerned.

The absurdity of the sex trade and other crimes listed above is a by-product of decadent family living and corrupt and confused leadership structures. It is a clarion call to the Muslim families of whatever social standing to watch out by imparting Islamic values into their offspring. This is to prevent the continuation of nursing nuisance into the world including the sacred ones. It also calls for sincerity, and uprightness on the part of people and government of Muslim states of Nigeria in terms of Shari’ah initiative, banner of which they are flying high. That Kano city is the source region of Saudi cultural pollution is heart rending. And that this evil is being exhibited by women from respected Hausa-Fulani, Kanuri and Yoruba peoples is most disgusting. These are Muslim populated tribes of Nigeria.

The Saudi families should also watch out against the unwholesome curiosity to imbibe Western lifestyle which is now largely permissive due to their constant alienation from primordial Christian tradition of decency. They are presently undergoing liberal post-modernism which is infecting humanity with moral decadence engendered by deregulated lifestyle. They should be wary of the luxury that is capable of infecting their emerging generation with culture of indifference and profligacy. Whatever cultural practices that put off their youths should be properly examined by employing erudite Islamic scholars, not just from Saudi Arabia alone, but from other parts of the world where genuine experiences could be shared with them. The time to ace up and act is now. Tomorrow is going to be late. It must be made known clearly that being the custodian of two sacred places of Islam (Haramayn), they are model of decency for humanity, and not just Muslim peoples the world over.

Hence, the need to without fear of losing influence with any nation or being given any name, carry out their duty of helping the Muslim peoples in the world. Muslim peoples need empowerment in terms of knowledge and livelihood. May Allah continue to empower them in this onerous duty.

Nigerian government must also realize that it will come to a time when public officials from Nigeria will be subjected to humiliating search if they fail in their responsibility at home. They need to utilize peoples’ wealth on the people. They should shun the escapist programmes of poverty eradication that is used only for party patronage. They should stop promising years 2015 and 2020. Today is our tomorrow. If you intend and act on good, the impact will be immediate. Stop neglect, hypocrisy and rhetoric.

However, in the cause of tackling the festering invitation to calamity, the government of the two countries should tow the path of civility in dealing with innocent pilgrims and businessmen and women. This is to prevent miscarriage of justice.

The major solution to this problem is proper family management and comprehensive educational attainment. By comprehensive I mean the education that does not underrate the Creator Who originates knowledge. We should understand His will for the creatures and how to worship Him. This is the only source of felicity. As we learn, sincerity of purpose should be the watch-word. The fear and love of Allah is the greatest of wisdom. Faith triumphs over evils and put Satan and his foot soldiers to shame. Let the Muslims wake up to the great duty of reviving the Islamic orientation in our life by knowing and practicing its tenets.

Taking infamous and corrupt acts to the precinct of the Sacred City is an invitation to calamity which may not be on those who are involved in it alone. Let the perpetrators desist for they cannot evade Allah’s wrath no matter their suffering. I pray Allah forgive us all and cover us with His limitless mercies.

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