One of the great mysteries of the Quranic reading traditions are their many phonetic irregularities, that seem to have no purpose except to show off some grammatical oddity. One of these is the ʾimālah of al-kēfīrīna. Ibn Ḫālawayh in his Ḥuǧǧah has an interesting discussion. 🧵

The plural of 'disbelievers', besides the now popular kuffār, is also kāfirūna in the Quran. In the genitive and accusative this becomes kāfirīna. Some readers read this (and ONLY this) as kēfirīna.
This is the reading of: ʾAbū ʿAmr, al-Dūrī ← al-Kisāʾī and Ruways ← Yaʿqūb.

In his al-Ḥuǧǧah fī l-Qirāʾāt al-Sabʿ, Ibn Ḫālawayh sets out to rationalize and explain the practices of the seven readers canonized by his teacher, Ibn Mujāhid. He also discusses al-Kēfirīna. Let's translate and give commentary along the way.

"As for the saying of the almighty 'wa-ḷḷāhu muḥīṭun bi-l-kāfirīna'", al-kāfirīna is read with ʾimālah or without ʾimālah whenever it is in the accusative or genitive.

So the explanation is that it is because of the meeting of four kasras within a single word"

"It is the kasrah of the fāʾ, rāʾ and yāʾ -- and the rāʾ can carry two kasras, so they pull the ʾalif, because it is quiscentent, by their strength, so they cause ʾimālah to apply to it".

So lots to unpack here. Where on earth is he getting four kasrahs from?!

I have watched with concern the recent development in Oyo and Ondo States in which quit notices were given to Fulani herders, with the subsequent burning of the property of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of Oyo State.

These happenings have increased the tension and unduly raised the temperature in the country.

The ugly development in these two states are symptomatic of the continued threat to the unity of our country that we have witnessed on a higher scale in recent times and in different parts of the country — including the South-East and South-South zones.

I strongly appeal to all of us to work for peace and take initiatives that can douse the tension. All Nigerians have a responsibility to begin to take measures that will reassure people across board that a united Nigeria will benefit everybody better than a disintegrated country.

The deafening silence by key stakeholders, leaders and others who we think should speak out is worrisome. This silence is a dangerous tell-tale sign that things are wrong. This is not good for our country.

.@N12News assessment of Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi's tenure as IDF Chief of Staff at 2 yrs:

2-@n12news:IDF finishing 2 good yrs since Kochavi's appointment: few Israelis harmed by terror, terror attacks stopped at border, including sea and land penetrations from Gaza , bombs on Syrian border, rocket attacks, Cyber attacks

3-@n12news: On the offensive, IDF engaged in, intensifying "war between wars" -- most activity carried out by air or sea, small part through cross-border special forces ops. Not just in Syria, but also Iraq, Lebanon, Sinai, in addition to reported cyber attacks in Iran

4-@N12News: Significantly damaged weapons, bases, armament factories. "Iranians evacuated 50% of forces in Syria, moved bases east," mistakenly thinking this would complicate IAF missions. Damage also to Syrian Army, its missile factors and defense systems

5-@n12news: War Between Wars will expand in coming yr, but this brings Israel closer to point where opponents can no longer restrain themselves

Vladimir Putin extended his greetings on Christmas and the New Year 2021 to heads of foreign states and governments, as well as executives of international organisations, except Ukraine and Georgia.

Today, an emotional Sunday thread on signs & wonders in Lagos, and why my trip to Ajah is on hold.

TL:DR - God safe Lagos drivers

It all started after I decided I needed to hear God's voice directly this Sunday, and so I would go to physical mass, no more online.

I decided I would go to Divine Mercy in Lekki, as opposed to St. Charles Borromeo in VI.

My first decision.

As I parked my car, I noticed the car on my left side was not parked properly - one of those criminal offences people commit when they take up space for two cars, instead of parking properly inside the designated lines.

As a law abiding citizen, I hinted at this to the attendant

Fast forward to the end of Mass, filled with the spirit, I stepped out of church and walked towards my car.

As I did, a man said to me - 'this your corolla is fine o, very smooth and clean, you should borrow me'

Now, people who know me know that I like my car to be clean - inside and outside. I don't like scratches or bashes. I'm too good a driver to have such.

So after hearing this, I was very proud. I entered my car and drove to pick up something from the office (still Lekki)

BREAKING

The guy who planned to kill Farmer Leaders accepted he was trained to kill.
He was told the protesters are Congressi & they are enemies.

SHO from Rai (Sonipat) police station used to come to meet him.

He conducted the same operation during Jaat Aandolan

The culprit is part of 10 members group/gang, which includes 2 women.

He planned to shoot during the tractor parade

Broad, philosophical thread about how a hybrid authoritarian regime like Russia uses repression when citizens protest.

On this day of protests for #Navalny across Russia.

#RussiaProtests (1/21)

First of all, the defining ethical feature of the modern world is that each human life has equal moral worth.

Only the most extreme regimes can disregard - without consequences - that their citizens are cognisant of this.

#RussiaProtests

(2/21)

In Belarus, escalating violence against protestors caused the regime more damage than it had hoped.

Unlike Belarus, where the special police numbers a couple of thousand, the Russian special police can handle vast numbers of protestors.

#RussiaProtests

(3/21)

So could the Putin regime order the special police, the broader national guard, and regular police to round up 10,000 protestors, and adopt Gestapo-like tactics on them?

At this stage, no- the regime would consider that an act of existential self harm.

#RussiaProtests

(4/21)

The regime can take extreme steps with individuals, e.g. Navalny. But it's not ready to universalise this to all citizens.

Moreover, it can't. The bodies of state responsible for organised violence in Russia compete with one another, & aren't part of a vertical system.

(5/21)

HOW CHINA CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS

On twitter, I have seen many people say China is evil because it’s an Autocratic Government and Why don't Chinese support western style democracy? Why do Chinese people support President Xi, who has no votes?
Now, let’s enlighten ourselves.

1/n

Unlike the so-called "democratic countries," the Chinese people value experience more than votes or other abilities for government officials.
From the Sui Dynasty on (1400 years ago), officials were selected and promoted by examination, not by blood or birth.

2/n

In today's China, if you want to enter politics, you have to take a hard and competitive road. Whether you come from a grassroots family or a political family, you have to go through every step. Only in this way, you can reach the top of power, like President Xi.

3/n

To get started, you have to own a college degree, at least for most Chinese govt officials. You have to take the national civil service examination and be admitted. In 2019, 92000 people took the exam and 14537 were admitted, with the admission rate of 1.58%.

4/n

The ruling party in China is the CPC. In addition, there are 8 other parties. You have to join one of them. If your idea is to become the supreme leader of China, I suggest you join the CPC. You will be one of the 90 million CPC members. They are all your competitors.（5/N）

A reading for the winter solstice: a look at the relationships between women and news in Kenya. South Africa, Mexico, Brazil. Hong Kong, Japan, UK, Finland, Germany, US, and South Korea
My report with @simgandi for @risj_oxford
https://t.co/UnpeR4BBwg. Some thoughts below.

Men are more likely than women to say they are extremely interested or very interested in news. This is a tiny part of a bigger story.

Women talk about news with their friends, face to face.

Women are much more likely to get their news from TV

And just look at what is happening inside each of the countries. In Mexico, as @julianafregoso and Dr. María Elena Gutiérrez Rentería orgs like @Cimacnoticias are fighting to highlight the shocking levels of femicide other news orgs are

The revelation that a former officer in Israeli military intelligence’s notorious Unit 8200 has been employed to work in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition is of deep

Unit 8200 is a unit of the Israeli Intelligence Corps, part of the Israeli military. Part of its role includes surveilling Palestinians living under Israel’s belligerent and illegal occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The activities of the unit, which involve blackmail and harassment of Palestinian civilians in violation of international law, have been revealed in large part because of the testimony of brave whistleblowers,

including many who have become refuseniks and now resist the Israeli states’ oppression of the Palestinian people.

Their testimonies have been widely published in The Guardian and New York Times.

Shockingly, whistleblowers within the unit have confirmed that LGBT Palestinian’s sexuality is used to blackmail the unit’s intelligence targets into becoming informants.

FLASH: LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE LAGOS SAFETY COMMISSION (@safety_lasg) SEALS 12 FACILITIES, TO COMMENCE LEGAL ACTION FOR FLOUTING COVID19 REGULATIONS

#ForAGreaterLagos
#Covid19Lagos

@jidesanwoolu

The Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Safety Commission have been carrying out routine enforcement and monitoring activities throughout the holiday season to monitor compliance with the Governments directive on the COVID-19 pandemic ...

.. especially as it concerns social and recreational centers.
The operations led by the Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola and his team have sealed over 12 facilities including; DNA Night Club, ...

... Buzz Bar, Silverfox, Cocoon, Westend Nightclub, Rumours, Lekki Waterside, Landmark Event Centre, The Wave Beach club amongst others.
He however mentioned that recalcitrant establishments who broke the goverment seal and continued partying will be charged to court ...

.... once documentation has been properly processed. He affirmed that the State Government is committed to curbing the spread of the virus and would leave no stone unturned to achieve this mandate.

Revelations of Former FO Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam regarding the role of INGOs endorse James Peck's claims about convergence of US Foreign Policy & Human Rights.

[1]
How INGOs suspiciously operate in Pakistan | A discussion with ex-civil ... https://t.co/zxQWuCEZVy via @YouTube

James Peck in his book, “Ideal Illusions: How the U.S. Government Co-opted Human Rights” argues that US Foreign Policy and human rights industry is interconnected and is being used as an ideological weapon.

[2]

From the moment when Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been signed in 1948 in response to Nazi atrocities, human rights are being used to extend American global reach.

By condemning Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups

[3]

with legal outfits for downplaying economic and social discriminations, Peck reveals that humanitarian interventions in US military adventures in Vietnam, Iraq and other places serve as pretexts for invasions to ‘legalize’ US prerogative of intervention while ignoring

[4]

the illegitimacy of intervention and the violence it causes.

In words of Peck, “The widely heralded rise of human rights is not free of such complications. For the history of human rights in the United States—as a movement, as an impassioned language of good intentions,

[5]

#NigerianPolitics: The inter-tribal hostilities presently brewing in the south-west of Nigeria 🇳🇬 between Yoruba & Fulani people need not happen if all parties are ready to shun dishonesty & allegiance to primordial tribal sentiments. We must not allow an escalation.

That there is a problem of criminals hiding in SW forests is beyond a doubt.These criminals are known to disguise as Fulani people carrying out legitimate cattle herding business in the region. Some of the criminals have also been found to be fulani in times past & recently.

Previous engagements between governments of the region and leadership of the Fulani cattle herders association has not yielded the expected result of reduction in kidnapping along the highways of the region while survivors have always said the kidnappers look 'fulani.'

I have not been kidnapped before but I have had former co-workers who have been kidnapped along the Akure-Owo expressway. They gave similar reports about the ethnicity of their kidnappers.

We must not discount the harrowing experiences of these Nigerians in the name of politics.

Now the simple solution to this not too complex problem has been made surprisingly complicated by the peculiar nature of our politics in Nigeria:

1. We want all solutions to states' problem to come only from Abuja even though we run a federal system.