Why I call myself an Artist

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Why I call Myselt an Artist BismiLLAH AlhamduliLLAH I am Hamidah Abbas , an Islamic thinker. I completed the Muslim Intellectual Development Program (Sharī'ah Intelligence Training) on 17 June 2026 . The five-day training was held at Bayseone Hall, opposite the NASFAT praying ground, Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State. It was organised by the Da'wah Institute of Nigeria, Islamic Education Trust (IET), Minna, in collaboration with the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN). As a thinker, I have many interests and areas of research. However, my core area of interest is gender and polygamy in Islam . A simple way to summarise everything I do is: Spreading light. Whether it is “music”, salvation, agriculture, gender and polygamy in Islam, or society, my objective has always been to make things a little brighter than they were before. For me, it has always been light over darkness . I am from Ìbàdàn, Oyo State, Nigeria . I hold a Bachelor of Agriculture degree from the Fed...

Day 2, Shari'ah Intelligence Training (Muslim Intellectual Development Program), Ìbàdàn, 2026

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BismiLLAH AlhamduliLLAH

One unexpected aspect of this training is that, so far, being in a room and sitting for multiple hours with people who hold different opinions on so many issues, yet remaining together in harmony, has done something to me that no amount of studying could ever do.

In addition, witnessing the excellence of the Da'wah Institute has been a thing of beauty.

Receiving the 322-page manual and other materials from the institute, the ID card, the commitment to punctuality, the quality of the refreshments, the exercise sessions, and even the depth of thought behind the name game—SubhanaLLAH.

In case you have not noticed, I am a fan of very few people.

First of all, I am a long-term admirer of my late grandfather, Shaykh Mas'ud Ọláńrewájú Adèpọ̀jù, the founder of Universal Muslim Brotherhood (UMB), Agodi Gate, Ìbàdàn.

Secondly, I am also a fan of the Da'wah Institute.

I remember my hostel mate showing me a presentation by Shaykh Nurudeen Lemu during my university days. I returned to my room and watched everything I could find of his lectures on YouTube. Then I sat down and spent days consuming the contents of the Da'wah Institute website. When I emerged from my room, I simply could not stop talking about the institute to my hostel mate.

May Almighty ALLAH preserve her. Through her, I became a fan.

Indeed, the grace with which the trainers balance confidence with kindness, and firmness in a room full of excellent teachers, is an art in and of itself.

Once again, may Almighty ALLAH bless the Da'wah Institute for this training.

Today, during the group discussion, I found myself in a group with the secretary of an Islamic organisation with multitudes of members nationwide.

Also in the group was a doctor who teaches Islamic law. These are people who know these subjects far more deeply, yet they are here hoping to become better teachers by observing researchers in action.

These great minds sit for hours listening, writing, and learning.

People who have guided many individuals to the Shahadah.

People who own and direct phenomenal Islamic schools.

All seated together, seeking means to earn the pleasure of ALLAH.

What a great delight and honour.

These are people actively training themselves to become an even greater benefit to their communities.

May Almighty ALLAH accept it as an act of worship from everyone present.

May Almighty ALLAH bless every knowledge worker, irrespective of the form that their knowledge work takes.

The Shari'ah Intelligence Training is a programme that many applied for, but only a few were selected to attend. Among these few are individuals who hold PhDs in Islamic sciences.

By ALLAH, knowledge is a beautiful source of light.

Anyway, after all is said and done, this training has personally reinforced something I already know about myself: I am a thinker, not a scholar.

I have no aspiration or agenda to become a scholar, so may Almighty ALLAH bless the people of answers. May Almighty ALLAH honour you.

My desired mode of communication remains authorship.

I love and appreciate the scholars.

However, I stand by who I am: a thinker who authors.

On that note, one of my favourite Islamic thoughts today comes from Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullāh), who said:

"Enough honour for you is that you are a slave of ALLAH, and enough pride for you is that ALLAH is your Lord."

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, al-Fawā'id, 1/33.

And, as always:

"And they plan, and ALLAH plans. And ALLAH is the Best of Planners."

— Qur'an 3:54

Sincerely,

Hamidah Sẹ̀gílọlá Abbas (HSA)

https://about.me/hamidahabbas


ADDITIONAL LINKS 

Day 1 of Muslim Intellectual Development Program (Shari'ah Intelligence)

Pictures of Completion: Day 5 of Muslim Intellectual Development Program (Shari'ah Intelligence)

Comprehensive Intro (Why I call myself an artist as a Certified Muslim Intellectual)

Hamidah Abbas

Full-time Thinker @ Hall of Light

Author • Speaker • Reflections on life, gender, and polygamy in Islam

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