The Learner

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com @muhsin234 (Twitter) An investigation by the World Value Survey   discovered that India and Jordan top the list of the least racially tolerant countries on the planet . As an African living in the former for over a year, I have witnessed numerous such incidents. Indians, particularly northerners, associate colour with higher or lower social standing. Needless to say, the lighter colour is held in esteem, while the dark is in contempt or as “low caste”. It has been happening for so long and has been itching for some time. I often didn’t care or show any reaction, knowing that racism is a hot-button issue. But I was now pushed to the wall; I had better spill the beans to at least get some relief. It is worth noting, though, that we are individuals. Some equally ‘light-skinned’ Indians would treat you dearer than your own dark-skinned brethren. I have met some such individuals, one of whom once took my wife and me to his ...

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com @muhsin234 (Twitter) A few days ago, Aiman Al-Zawahiri, the leader of the terror group, Al-Qaeda, released a video  in which he unveiled plans to open a new branch in the Indian subcontinent with a particular interest in India and then Bangladesh and Myanmar. He further explained that the franchise would extend beyond these borders and into other countries until it establishes what he calls the “Islamic Caliphate”. This can be a sham or for real. I have got two substantive observations. First, as many analysts and security experts have suggested, Al-Zawahiri may have been seeking relevance because his group has been largely neglected by the mainstream media. Al-Qaeda has apparently been eclipsed by the more daring, more powerful and less conscientious terror group of the Islamic State (formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS]). The main character is now Al-Baghdadi, not him. The ISIS charter and modus operan...

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com muhsin234 (Twitter) On many occasions, Nigerians stand out among their fellow Africans. “Giant of Africa” is the enviable, controversial title often applied to Nigeria, owing to its largest population and economy on the continent. It also once had the mightiest military, having undertaken numerous successful peacekeeping missions in other African countries such as  Liberia , Sudan , and Serra Leon . The Nigerian army is no longer, however, regarded as such, as they have yet to combat and contain the insurgency of the Islamists called Boko Haram within the country since 2009 and for the violation of civilian rights in other instances. Nigeria is arguably roughly divided along religious lines. The North is predominantly Muslim, while the South is mainly Christian. There are over 200 distinct languages, but only three (Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo) are considered major. So, Nigeria is a country of plurality and complexity, s...

A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from a friend on this article.  He ‘requested’ me to remove it from my blog as it makes the subject I discussed mad. It was actually more than a request, for I could sense a sort of threat in his husky voice that I either comply or face the music. I can’t give in to that. Here is Veena’s reaction and subsequently my reply. This I believe balances the equation. Hi Muhammad, I hope you know Jesus Christ wasn't a drunkard. Just like having a pint of beer doesn't make one an alcoholic. Your facts are unchecked and unconfirmed, leaves your entire buzzworthy online debate on a teen smoker a farce. Also, that's wrong journalism as: i) On receipt of a report or article of public interest and benefit containing imputations or comments against a citizen, the editor should check with due care and attention its factual accuracy apart from other authentic sources- with the person or the organisation concerned to elicit his/he...

Muhsin Ibrahim @Muhsin234 (Twitter) While serving the nation as corps members, there was nothing more on our minds than life after the assignment. Life was full of uncertainty and apprehension. The allowance, which was almost doubled during our stream, of N19,800, and the little stipend from our various primary places of assignment (PPAs) will stop coming once we finish. Subhanallah! My confidant, Anas Musa, went and purchased job application forms for us at the Kano Senior Secondary School Management Board (KSSSMB). He filled him, but I was somewhat reluctant to do the same, for I was tipped off that I might be retained at my PPA or employed by a few other greener places. I finally did, and we submitted our applications. About a year passed, and no one invited us to an interview, an aptitude test, or anything else. Immediately after the Service, I got an appointment with BUK and later Anas with the Federal University, Dutse. Months later, I got a call from a prestigious priv...

Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim muhsin2008@gmail.com @muhsin234 (Twitter) “What is your name?” Muhammad. And all eyes would turn around. It often starts just like that, for them, every Muslim is a potential threat, a terrorist. It is incredibly awkward, if not annoying, to someone like me who was born and reared in an almost 99% Muslim community. Hitherto, I didn’t know that being Muslim means that much and weighs that much; some feel even reluctant to disclose their belief. Muslims living in multi-religious and non-Muslim majority societies today have a lot of stories to tell. The story is sometimes nasty in conservative, religiously touchy and volatile places like India , where I presently reside. Although home to about 200 million Muslims, it was discovered in a recent survey that some  Muslims have to masquerade as Hindus for Indian jobs.  This happens due to the schism and sometimes animosity between them and other faithful, particularly the majority of Hindus. ...

We are, yes, individuals. But we are, sometimes, stupid individuals. Perhaps you and I are among the latter group; who knows? Forgive the affront and don’t take any offence. None is really intended. It’s baffling, to say the least, what we humans sometimes do with our lives. I firmly believe that we are all endowed with one or another intellect with which we lead our soul and body toward certain mental gratifications, such as eating to quench our hunger and thirst; wearing clothes to cover our nudity; and communication to express our feelings and wants, etc. But yet, we tend to do other things that are glaringly self-destructive for no constructive reason whatsoever, in the name of fashion, passion, and thingamajig . I am not moralising or sensationalising anything, for that is, or can be, relative and subjective; I am instead rationalising them. Often it happens that we utter: to each his own. I shake my head at this pomposity and respond: to each his ruin. It was only a few da...