More to come…

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A company-wide email seen by AFP says Twitter employees will receive word via email at the start of business Friday, California time, as to what their fate is.

It does not give a number but the Washington Post and New York Times reported that about half of Twitter’s 7,500 employees will be let go.

“In an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path, we will go through the difficult process of reducing our global workforce,” the email said.

Twitter employees have been bracing for this kind of bad news since Musk completed his mammoth $44 billion acquisition late last week and quickly set about dissolving its board and firing its chief executive and top managers.

A workplace and employee review and other projects ordered by Musk were reportedly so exhaustive and grueling that some engineers slept at Twitter headquarters over the weekend.

The email sent Thursday told workers to go home and not report for work on Friday.

“Our offices will be temporarily closed and all badge access will be suspended,” the email said. Those on the way to the office should turn around and return home.”

The email acknowledged that Twitter is going through “an incredibly challenging experience.”

“We recognize that this will impact a number of individuals who have made valuable contributions to Twitter, but this action is, unfortunately, necessary to ensure the company’s success moving forward,” it added.

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Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reported that the Prophet (S.A.W) said “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created; on it he was made to enter Paradise; on it he was expelled from it; and the [last] hour (the Day of Resurrection) will take place on no day other than Friday.” (Muslim)

In order to adequately utilize and benefit from the special day, Friday, the Prophet (S.A.W) encouraged Muslims to do the following: 

1. TAKE A BATH (GHUSL)

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudr reports: I testify that Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) said, ‘The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and also cleaning of teeth with Siwak and using perfume, if available’. [Sahih Bukhari]

2. USE SIWAK TO CLEAN YOUR TEETH

Siwaak means cleaning the mouth and teeth with a siwaak, which is the name given to the tool used. The siwaak is a stick or twig used for this purpose.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “This day [Friday] is a day of Eid, Allah Ta’ala has made it such for the Muslims. So have a bath, whoever has fragrance should apply it, and use the miswak.”

3. WEAR CLEAN, PRESENTABLE AND PREFERABLY NEW CLOTHES BEFORE THE FRIDAY PRAYER

“Put on your adornment on every occasion of prayer” (Surat al-A’raf (7): 31)

4. APPLY PERFUME/ OUD (MAKE SURE IT’S NON-ALCOHOLIC)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “This day [Friday] is a day of Eid, Allah Ta’ala has made it such for the Muslims. So have a bath, whoever has fragrance should apply it, and use the miswak.”

5. CUT YOUR NAILS

Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) reported that ‘Five are the demonstrations of fitra (nature/ instinct): 1) circumcision, 2) evacuating the hair underneath the navel, 3) trimming the mustache, 4) trimming the nails, and 5) culling the hair under the arms.’

6. READ SURAH AL-KAHF

The Prophet (S.A.W) said: “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two Fridays.” (Narrated by al-Haakim; Grade Saheeh by al-Albaani)

7. SEND DUROOD AND BLESSINGS UPON THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) ABUNDANTLY

It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (S.A.W) said: “The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (A.S.) was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown, and on that day all of the creation will swoon. So send a lot of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?” He said, “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets, peace be upon them.”

[Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed as Saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim]

8. MAKE LOTS OF DUAS BETWEEN ASR AND MAGHREB

“There is a special hour on Friday, during which all prayers are accepted and answered by Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him. This is part of the blessings that Allah has blessed this day with, over all the other days of the week. “On this day there is a time when no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allah for something, but Allah will grant him it” – and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short that time is. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahim Ullah) said that this golden hour is to be found in the time after the Asr prayer until the Maghreb Adhaan (end of day): “Friday has twelve hours (or part of it). There is one hour during which if a Muslim asks Allah anything, Allah will give it to him, so find it during the last hour after Asr.” [Abu Dawud & An-Nasai]

9. GO TO THE MASJID AS EARLY AS YOU CAN

Allah says in the Quran (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah (prayer) on Friday (Jumuah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumuah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!” [al-Jumu’ah 62:9]

Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) said,’ When it is Jumuah, the Angels stand at the gate of the masjid and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the masjid in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the masjid in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice); the one coming next is like one offering a cow, and then a ram; and then a chicken; and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumu’ah sermon) they (i.e. Angels) fold their papers and listen to the sermon.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

10. WALK TO THE MASJID INSTEAD OF TAKING THE CAR

If the masjid is a trekkable distance, get more reward by leaving your car.

Abu Hurairah (R.A) reported that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:

He who purifies (performs Wudhu) himself in his house and then walks to one of the houses of Allah (masjid) for performing an obligatory Salah, one step of his will wipe out his sins and another step will elevate his rank (in Jannah).” (Muslim)

11. DON’T SEPARATE TWO PEOPLE TO MAKE A SPACE FOR YOURSELF. SIT IN AN EMPTY SPACE.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: Stepping over people is haraam during the khutbah and at other times, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to a man whom he saw stepping over people: “Sit down, for you are causing annoyance.” That is even more forbidden if it happens during the khutbah, because it is causing annoyance to people and distracting them from listening to the khutbah, even if he is moving towards a gap. End quote.

Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 16/147.

12. LISTEN TO THE KHUTBAH OF JUMMAH (FRIDAY SERMON) ATTENTIVELY

Prophet (S.A.W) said “if a man takes a bath on Friday, cleans himself as much as he can, oils his hair, applies perfume available in his house, sets forth for the mosque, does not separate two people (to make a seat for himself). Performs as many prayers as written (by Allah) for him, remains silent when the Imam speaks, for his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven” [Al-Bukhari].

This hadith clearly talks about the importance of listening to the Friday sermon:

“Whoever says to his friend while Imam is delivering Khutbah on Friday “keep quiet” has also commit an absurdity.” (Muslim and Bukhari)

The post Jumu’ah: 12 Important Sunnahs You Should Do Every Friday appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

The declaration of Friday, October 1st as a public holiday is to mark the 61st Independence anniversary celebration, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement.

Aregbesola congratulated all Nigerians on the 61st independence and assured of the government’s commitment to tackle and eradicate all forms of challenges and all diverse problems.

The statement read in part, “Our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land, makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black nation in the world and Africa’s pride and beacon of hope, if we can rally ourselves together to harness our potentials.

“A country of about 200 million and above people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious DIAMOND that we are, he said in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore.

“Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in Academia, Business, Innovation, Music, Movie, Entertainment, Fashion and culture.

“We are indeed the leading black nation in the entire world and no doubt Africa’s pride and beacon of hope.”

The post FG Declares Friday, 1st of October As Public Holiday appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

British-Nigerian actor John Boyega on Friday voiced his support for the campaign, as did popular Nigerian musicians Davido and DJ Cuppy.

“This situation is tied to many other issues. Please lend your attention to this pressing problem!” Boyega posted on Twitter.

“@gidifeedtv: Mothers protest against SARS and police brutality in Nigeria. #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality cc @Gidi_Traffic pic.twitter.com/QUeORwHIOe

— GIDITRAFFIC (@Gidi_Traffic) October 9, 2020

On Thursday, Nigerian entertainers, Folarin “Falz” Falana and Douglas “Runtown” Agu led a protest to call for the scrapping of the Nigerian Police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos.

The protest that started from Lekki in Lagos had protesters bearing placards with inscriptions like “Enough is Enough”, “Protect us and not Kill us”, “We are all victims”, etc.

Falz, an actor, singer, and son of Nigerian lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, took to his twitter page to announce the beginning of the peaceful protest on Thursday morning.

The post End SARS: John Boyega, Davido, DJ Cuppy Others Back Protest (Video) appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

-Surah Al-Jumu’ah, Ayah 9

O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Alhamdulilah. We’ve reached another blessed day of Jum’ah. Do not forget to read Suratul Kahf, send lots of salawaat upon the blessed soul of our beloved Prophet, and observe other Sunan acts of Jum’ah.

Barakalahu feena, wa feekum!

_PIOUS MUSLIM FOUNDATION_

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