Here's a report from the Guardian about the murder of a so-called faith healer from the Gambia in Luton, England. The police have named the victim as "Alfusaine Jabbi, also known as Abdula and Mohammed Ali, 22, from Gambia", who made his living as a "faith healer" named Mr Wahib:
The dead man's business card promised that "Nobody can beat Mr Wahib!!!" It went on to assure potential clients that "all your problems will be solved forever and all your wishes will be fulfilled in seven days guaranteed". Among the problems, Mr Wahib promised to solve were sexual impotence, exams, anything concerning business or finance, depression and "domestic problems regarding husband and wife". He described himself on his card as "guru, psychic, holyman or spiritual healer" and guaranteed to break "magic and evil spirits" in 48 hours. He claimed that "if... you are fully disheartened with everyone else, then ring Mr Wahib immediately". He also promised to help those who were "separated from your loved one".
I personally have read a number of West African magazines (such as Tell and The Source) which are available on various newsstands in London, particularly south-east London where there are a lot of west Africans. They are full of these adverts for crank "faith" healers, some of them with Muslim names such as one female styling herself "the woman who sees tomorrow", able to cure such problems as marital discord and "unable to get your passport". They are not confined to the Muslim community; there is one individual under investigation for furnishing infertile couples with "miracle babies" who are actually other people's children, sourced from the slums of Nairobi.
While this does not appear to have been a vigilante killing but merely the work of a disgruntled client, the best way to deal with the problem these liars and conmen present is education. The believer's weapon is his du'a and even if the biggest wali around offers one for you, he will not charge you a penny for it.
this is very common in west Africa and people often wear neckalces with pictures of their sheikhs who they see as healers.
May God give him peace.
I've often been handed a card by someone on the street about such Miracle Men? Am I the only one?
I usually think to myself: Gosh do I look that bad?!
Sadly such Miracle Men are using the troubled lives of people to make money. We seem to have become a society of helpless victims of lifes' many problems. In our desperation to find an answer for our failing circumstances we turn anywhere where there is a remote chance of finding the 'Magic Wand' - We forget to look towards Prayer - for there lies the ultimate gateway to healing.
Salaam 'Alaikum
It's funny how different words mean different things on either side of the pond. I used a word a few weeks ago that just means "little creature" here (in a cute way) but means something sexual where you are.
Here, "crank" is crystal meth, a highly addictive drug that's spreading like a plague across the country and ravaging hundreds of thousands of lives. We can't even buy cold medicines without showing ID anymore (and you can't buy more than one package). "Crank" also means grouchy and whacko, but I hear so much about the meth problem now that everytime I read your headline, my mind sees it as "Crank dealer..."
Anyway, it's interesting...