“Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected Faith…; They did not prevent one another from committing sins nor would they themselves stay away from them. Evil was what they had done (Quran 5: 78-79)
Dear brethren, long before now, the idea of showbiz has always taken societal values into consideration. Long before now, we were a society where modesty, decorum, and the dignity of womanhood occupy the core of our value system. Long before now, a woman would shudder to expose her bosom to the other in the open; long before now, fornicators, male and female, dare not commit the infraction in the open. We all know that even the hen would always take flight into the hidden space even as the cock runs after her in search of sexual pleasure! In the BBN show, our youths are doing what even chickens would not do!
In other words, BBA has emerged to put the last nail on the coffin of our social degeneration. With the show, our society has joined the cartel of the infamy. Today big sum of money is now being given not to the young man or woman who distinguishes himself or herself in the humanities or the sciences. Rather, our society has joined nations which adulate immorality. Fame and money now await the girl who could jump into bed with the man next door without any inhibition; he could become the new hero in town he who shows the least modesty while relating to the opposite gender. That is BBN for you; that is the “reality”.
Brethren, it was only last week that I got to know that a new season of the show had started. I had gone to that city for a meeting and a hotel reservation was made me. While waiting at the reception to be attended to, I cast a look at the TV screen only to see young boys and girls in what look like a house. I then asked the receptionist what it was all about. She looked me in the eyes as if I was from another world. Calmly, she responded: ‘that is BBN Sir!”. I knew I could not prevent her from watching the soap opera. But I knew I could avoid watching the scenes once I got to my room. And this is the essence of my message to you today.
In other words, brethren, would you stop hosting BBN in your house, on the screen of your television set? If we cannot stop the Cable Network from streaming the show, are we not in a position to forbid those who are ours from watching it in line with the injunction of our Creator? If I succeed in shielding my children and in protecting them from the evil aftermaths of watching BBN, such an effort would not be productive unless and until your children are equally aware that the BBN show is not only corrosive of our cultural values but is equally an infraction of the divine will. Are we not under obligation as Muslims to inform our children that whenever women commoditize their femininity in the open, which is what happens on the BBN anyway, and a section of the society applauds and eulogizes them for doing so, for being daring, for being ‘sexy’ for being ‘creative’, then such a society is due for divine ruination and damnation.
My brother, keep in mind that you shall be held responsible for the extremely atrocious cues your children would take from watching programmes with high sexual contents such as the BBN. You shall be held accountable for hosting in your living room, albeit indirectly, a show in which vulgarity and obscenities now pass for art and excellence. Remember the following tradition of the Prophet: “By Him in whose hands is my soul, you shall be under obligation to enjoin that which is right and forbid that which is wrong otherwise it is possible that the Almighty would send a punishment on you from Himself and for which you would call on Him but you would not be answered”.
(for responses 08122465111)
Afis Ayinde Oladosu Ph.D
Professor of Middle Eastern, North African and Cultural Studies,
Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies,
University of Ibadan,Ibadan, Nigeria
