School Sign-out From Islam & Christianity Perspective -By Abdulkadir Jimoh

I Support Banning Of Signing Out T-Shirt In Varsities – Ahmad Zuwa Daya

The tradition of Nigerian University students during their graduations which is popularly known as sign-out. Every graduating student will wear a white T-shirt and other students will be writing their names on the T-shirt for future remembrance has now turned into another direction of romancing with ladies, holding their body and writing names, some even hold their breasts in order to write their names; attached is a picture of one of them in state college of Education Gumel, Jigawa State.

I can recall vividly when my lecturer in person of Usman Suleiman Sarki (PhD) condemning the act in 2018. He further said, this indecent act will turn into another unwanted act in the future. This is exactly what he said, and it has happened.

It is a sin in all our religions both Islam and Christianity. This is a culture of the western world. Below are exactly what both Christianity and Islam says about it:

Bible Question:
The Bible says “it’s not good for a man to touch a woman”, but it does not actually say it is wrong. Is it wrong (a sin) to touch a woman before marriage, like holding hands, hugging, an occasional peck on the lips, but nothing serious, like fondling or groping (foreplay)?

Bible Answer:
The Corinthians had written to Paul asking a question about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:1. The New King James Version captures the actual meaning of the Greek better than the NASB or the NIV. Concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)

Islamic Question
If a man hugs a non-mahram modest woman or holds her hand, what Islamic law would apply to them? Has the girl committed an act similar to adultery? Will she be punished? What is her punishment? If no one knows about their physical relations, is it necessary for them to introduce themselves to a qualified Islamic ruler so that that he may subject them to punishment?

Islamic Answer
It is haram (forbidden) for a non-mahram man and a non-mahram woman to seek any kind of pleasures from each other (it is even forbidden for them to cast lustful look at each other). It is for the same reason that, according to Islam, it is not permissible for a man to be alone with a non-mahram woman so that they may not fall into a sin. Therefore, it is haram for a man to hug or to touch a non-mahram woman with lust and with the intention of deriving sexual pleasure because there is a punishment for that. However, an Islamic ruler can punish those who have committed such a haram act (by putting them into a jail). Also, if a woman has been teased or physically abused by a non-mahram man, she can complain against him. In case a man and a woman have committed a sin due to ignorance and temptations and no one other than God has witnessed them commit the sin, they should not turn themselves in to the Islamic ruler; it is not permissible for them to reveal their secrets to anyone and to damage their reputation. In fact, to regret over their past and repent to God sincerely would be sufficient. Man should always be hopeful of God’s mercy and forgiveness because God accepts repentance and He loves those who repent. Al-Masail (with annotation by Imam Khomeini, vol.1, pg. 497, Issue No.889).

Another concrete saying from the prophet Muhammad S.A.W, said “It is better for a man to put his hand in a burning firewood than to touch any where in non-mahram woman”.
The words of ‘Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “The Prophet’s hands never touched those of a woman” [Muslim and Bukhari).
Mu’qal Ibn Yasar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] said: “It is better that you be struck on your head with an iron needle than to touch a woman you are not allowed to” (Reported by al-Ruyani in his Musnad and by al-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabir).

They maintain that the prohibition of shaking hands with a non-mahram woman is even greater than looking at her. Since the prohibition of looking at a non-mahram woman is known, the prohibition of shaking hands with her takes precedence over the former.

Looking at a non – mahram is a sin talkless of touching her body. Listening to her voice for pleasure is also haram (Reported by Akhdari).
In order to avoid this, Allah says in Surah Al-Ahzab, Verse 59:

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful.

LOWERING THE GAZE
Surah An-Noor, Verse 30:
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.

Surah An-Noor, Verse 31: And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.

Therefore, I appeal to the minister of education, Professor Adamu Adamu, all Nigerian Vice Chancellors to ban the sign-out ceremony for the fear of unknown in the future. As you can see, we are carried away by western culture. We should at least try as much as possible to preserve our religion.

May Almighty Allah protect us from this evil acts and bless us health, wealth, attaqwa and Aljanatul Fidausi Ameen

By: Ahmad Muktar Saleh (Zuwa Daya) Accidental Investigation Journalist
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Edited: ABU MUS’AB

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