The Learner

By Muhsin Ibrahim Procrastination affects not only writers but also people from nearly every walk of life. We all have tasks to do. However, because of procrastination, we keep saying we will do them later, and later, until the time is gone. While writing my dissertation, I struggled with procrastination. I often put off writing, thinking that I could do it later. This led to a lot of stress and anxiety as deadlines approached. However, I was determined to find a solution. I tried different techniques, such as setting strict deadlines for myself and breaking up my work into smaller, more manageable tasks. Eventually, I found a solution that worked for me. I was reading a book with a ‘funny’ title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , when I found the following: ‘When I was in high school, my math teacher, Mr Packwood, used to say, “If you’re stuck on a problem, don’t sit there and think about it; just start working on it. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, the simple act of wor...

Islam: Conversion during 1445/2024 Ramadan   Many people are embracing Islam more than usual during this ongoing Ramadan. Their stories are all over social media. One of the most popular stories is that of American writer and activist Shaun King and his wife, Rai King. We also witnessed one such conversation in our mosque last weekend.   He is a young man of Congolese origin. He was born and raised here (in Germany). The good conduct of his friend, the son of our chairman, influenced his decision. He fell in love with Islam, did his homework and, bingo, embraced it. May Allah grant him steadfastness, amin.   Shaun King (middle) and Rai King (right) Islam has been gaining more members since the start of the Gaza war. That, too, continues. A few days ago, I saw a young white Swedish lady accepting Islam. She said the resilience and fortitude of Gazans in the face of what many people described as "genocide" happening in Gaza led her to their religion. Honestly, seeing and re...

By Muhsin Ibrahim  Even a visually impaired individual can perceive the evident transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia. Although we came from Germany, a country renowned for its technological advancements, we express our admiration for the aesthetic and infrastructural qualities of the Haramain High Speed Railway station. Furthermore, we observed a vast expanse of land undergoing construction, situated a short distance from the station. The name of this project, the Knowledge Economic City, provides an indication of its intended purpose. This is part of the Vision 2030 project. Additionally, numerous construction sites for hospitals, schools, and other facilities are visible in the surrounding area of the railway station. However, further reform is necessary. Our taxi driver appeared to be of South Asian descent. During our brief conversation, I discovered that despite his grandfather being born in Saudi Arabia, he does not possess a Saudi passport and is considered Bangladesh...

  By Muhsin Ibrahim   Language  is   one  of the most amazing things in the world. We often overlook  its  influence  in our lives  because  it is  mundane . W e all use a language ,  verbally   or non-verbally ,  daily. We acquire language , i.e.,  we   grow up speaki ng  effortlessly. Thus, we don’t consider its profound impact on how we interact with others or on how we  think about and view the world .   We had international conferences on Africa in  Cologne, Germany and San Francisco, United States.  This short piece is about something other than  the many academic papers  presented; it is about  how hearing someone speaking our language  or a local language   we are familiar with  in a foreign country attracts our attention.   In both Cologne and San Francisco, I observed a pattern. People speaking the same language form a circle. It does not ...

By  Muhsin Ibrahim & Habibu Ma’aruf muhsin2008@gmail.com As 2023 draws to a close, the closure of Kano Filmhouse Cinema is one of Kannywood’s most regrettable events in the outgoing year. Consequently, there was a significant decline in the number of cinematic releases. Nevertheless, amid this setback, a silver lining emerged as it spurred a notable shift towards series films, with prominent producers and directors venturing into the evolving market. From  Labarina ,  Alaqa , and  Manyan Mata  to  Fatake ,  Amaryar TikTok  and  Gidan Sarauta , Kannywood’s audience has been captivated by numerous enthralling TV and web series. While the series market faces criticism for potentially fostering second-rate productions, the following list highlights the best seven series films aired in the year. Please note that the numbering is not hierarchical in nature.  1. Labarina Labarina  stands out as a household name among Hausa film enthusi...

By Muhsin Ibrahim   I have observed a disturbing development among some young Muslims on social media. As soon as they read some philosophy books, they begin to question their faith and condemn their ‘conservative’ culture.    The youth view anyone who disagrees with them as ignorant, uneducated, and uninformed. That enrages some of their followers, who, in turn, insult them (back), and things fall apart. Both sides are wrong.   First, I call on the youth not to rush to conclusions about matters they barely understand. I, for instance, passed through a similar stage. While growing up and reading voraciously, I imagined myself as more learned than I actually was. In public (especially online fora), I challenged some people, including a professor many of you here know. I was wrong. Second, those who respond to those young guys in kind (by abusing them back) should change their approach and tactics. We need to listen to them. We must find ways to answer them with wisdom...

  By Muhsin Ibrahim   The year (2023) will end in less than a week. Many of us had “New Year’s resolutions” around this time last year. It’s time to look back and check what you have achieved or failed to achieve. You should also deliberate on what you can do better to realise your dreams for 2024. Yes, there is always room to do better. As a famous saying goes, “Man proposes, God disposes”. Still, we must do our best to actualise our dreams—there is no room for complacency. The world is changing and changing very fast.    The world is also becoming very competitive. Thus, as we say in Hausa, “ Idan kana da kyau, ka ƙ ara da wanka ”, meaning, “Step up your game”. Explore the internet for opportunities (such as scholarships, fellowships, legit jobs, etc.). Don’t waste your data or Wi-Fi sub on trivial, often viral topics. Stay focused.  It’s also essential to build a network and knock on others’ doors for more opportunities, referrals, recommendations, and other ...