The story is told of a young man who applied for a job in a company. The Human Resource Officer (HRO) of the company invited him for an interview and the following ensued:
HRO : What is your name?
Mike : MP sir
HRO : In full please
Mike : Michael Peprah
HRO : Your father’s name?
Mike : MP sir
HRO : What does that mean?
Mike : Mensah Peprah
HRO: Your home town?
Mike : MP sir
HRO : What’s that?
Mike : Mampong Pataasi
HRO: What is your qualification?
Mike : MP
HRO : (Angry) what is that?
Mike : Mathematics Professor
HRO : So why do you need a job?
Mike : It is because of MP sir
HRO: Meaning?
Mike : Money Problems
HRO: Would you explain yourself and stop wasting my time? What’s your personality like?
Mike : MP sir
HRO : And what is that?
Mike : Marvelous Personality
HRO : I see, I will get back to you
Mike : Sir, how was my MP sir?
HRO : And what’s that again?
Mike : My Performance
HRO : I think you have an MP
Mike : Meaning?
HRO : Mental Problem!
Folks, on a more serious note I’m very much worried about the way some prominent citizens of this land lie, especially those that claim to be religious. Truthfulness is one of the pillars on which the moral survival of the world depends; and lying is one of the most evil characteristics, of which all religions and systems of ethics warn against and which man’s innate common sense agrees that it is wrong.
The Quran and Sunnah see lying as haram, and it is believed that the liar will have bad consequences in this world and in the next. “And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know what it is.” (YA, al-Baqarah 2:42). According to the Quran it is only those who believe not in the Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars.
Someone who professes to be a staunch Muslim has gone against this belief and I think the Chief Imam must know about it.
Phone ringing:
Alhaji: Hello
Me: Hello, please am I speaking to Alhaji?
Alhaji: Speaking
Me: Alhaji, the Ashanti Youth Association (AYA) says that your statement that a new ultramodern theatre is being constructed in Kumasi is false. What do you have to say about this, and also your Adenta Astro Turf claim, sir?
Alhaji: Those were MP
Me: Sir, please what do you mean by MP? Hello, hello, oops, I’ve lost him.
Hehehehehe, whatever the case may be, all-lie-be-lie, and it is against the Islamic faith; so, I think the Chief Imam must hear it.
Anthony Obeng Afrane