2009 and unislamic issues
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- Category: Comments
- Written by Saheed Aweda
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Two occurrences in the last days of the just ended 2009 have made this review of some issues bordering on Islam and Muslims rather compelling. First was the saddening incident of attempted bombing of the American airliner carrying more than 200 passengers by a young Nigerian. The other was the resurgence of sectarian violence in Bauchi, barely four months after a similar occurrence swept through some northern states and left its tales of woes. In what light should these ugly incidents be viewed and what does it portend for Islam and Muslims in Nigeria and indeed the world? What should be the stance of the adherents of Islam in Nigeria on these issues, first as Muslims, then as Nigerians?
With regard to the Bauchi crisis, the organisational opinion of the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) had been amply stated in an article widely published by the print media in the aftermath of the Boko Haram mayhem. The issue is simply that of security and unless and until the concerned security agencies are roused from their hibernation and lethargic spells, such crimes as again witnessed in Bauchi will continue to be perpetrated by those bands of recidivists in our midst. The death toll has been put at above 70 even though statistics are hardly ever correct or reliable in Nigeria. Fomenters of sectarian violence do not come out of the blues to do so. They live amongst the populace. What the various intelligence units of the nation’s security agencies do with their time and resources, therefore, calls for a lot of questions.
Crises that could be nipped at their early stages continue to stretch our social fabric beyond comfort. It is noteworthy that a large percentage of our country’s security personnel lives amongst the populace and more often than not, are aware of the happenings in their environment. From the Jimeta riot to Boko Haram, and this fresh crisis in Bauchi, the police and indeed other security agencies sustained with the taxpayers’ money have a lot to explain to the people of this country.
Now to the utterly confounding action of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. Ever since the days of June 12 political imbroglio when some young Nigerians attempted to hijack a plane all in the name of the struggle, no one has heard anything of such among the people of this country. It is remarkable to know that the father of this young man had complained to the right quarters when he recently found his son’s ways and views disturbing. But who cared to act?
Does Islam in any way approve of the actions of suicide bombers either as a means of settling scores or expressing discontent, however deep? The answer is an emphatic no. That suicide bombing has become a norm in the lives of the overtly oppressed people of the Middle East is a sorry turn in the affairs of man. The unfortunate opinion subscribed to by those who support and encourage this act (including some supposedly learned scholars) is that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and his followers at the early period of Islam faced their powerful enemies in war - barely armed and with few steeds of war – and that they say, was suicidal. What perverted sense of judgement!
It is true that Islam abhors oppression and Allah (S.W.T) says in the Holy Qur’an that persecution is greater or worse than slaughter (Q2:191, 217). But Islam does not allow its followers to seek to obliterate one wrong with another wrong. The religion bids Muslims to make every preparation in prosecuting a war by every conventional means against any act of transgression until such is reversed. Suicide bombing cannot in any way fit into this commandment. It is more an act of cowardice and disregard for the explicit instructions regarding defence and warfare in the Qur’an (Q8:60-66) and the promise of Allah that he will make “a hundred of them who are steadfast to overcome one thousand”.
From the battles fought during the time of the Prophet (S.A.W) to those fought by the rightly-guided caliphs and those who followed them; from defence of the faith by Salahudeen Al-Ayyubi against the Crusaders to the defeat of the Mongols at Ain Jalut by the Mamluks led by Qutuz bn Jalaludeen, Allah has repeatedly fulfilled His promise to believers. As the best of peoples evolved for mankind (Q3:110), it is incumbent upon every Muslim to prevent the spread of mischief on earth, if anyone has the belief of meeting with the Creator on the Last Day.
True Muslims are unanimous in the condemnation of terrorism and as an organisation which understands the negative impact of such acts on the Islamic world, IMA joins in condemning all acts that would further exacerbate conflagrations and hatred in the world.
It should be asserted here, with a strong sense of conviction, that Muslims are not apologetic on matters of their faith and would not be blackmailed into accepting responsibility for the actions of deviants. Islam preaches peace, love, tolerance and mutual co-existence among all peoples.
As Nigerians, another intimidating challenge has arisen. But we must not be intimidated. In the midst of kidnappers, fraudsters, proponents of Boko Haram, jaundiced militancy and this new twist of attempted suicide bombing, we know that we are by and large a good people and a great nation. If we sustain the will to continually correct our attitude and flush out the contaminating elements in our midst, we shall find the will to stand up fair and square against blackmail, intimidation, uncivil treatment and all shades of unfair criticisms. There is no better time to defend our collective integrity than now. God help Nigeria.
Aweda writes from Masjid Al-Jabbar, IMA Research Centre, Abeokuta
Articles
2009 and unislamic issues
Category: Comments Written by Saheed Aweda Hits: 808
Two occurrences in the last days of the just ended 2009 have made this review of some issues bordering on Islam and Muslims rather compelling. First was the saddening incident of attempted bombing of the American airliner carrying more than 200 passengers by a young Nigerian. The other was the resurgence of sectarian violence in Bauchi, barely four months after a similar occurrence swept through some northern states and left its tales of woes. In what light should these ugly incidents be viewed and what does it portend for Islam and Muslims in Nigeria and indeed the world? What should be the stance of the adherents of Islam in Nigeria on these issues, first as Muslims, then as Nigerians?
With regard to the Bauchi crisis, the organisational opinion of the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) had been amply stated in an article widely published by the print media in the aftermath of the Boko Haram mayhem. The issue is simply that of security and unless and until the concerned security agencies are roused from their hibernation and lethargic spells, such crimes as again witnessed in Bauchi will continue to be perpetrated by those bands of recidivists in our midst. The death toll has been put at above 70 even though statistics are hardly ever correct or reliable in Nigeria. Fomenters of sectarian violence do not come out of the blues to do so. They live amongst the populace. What the various intelligence units of the nation’s security agencies do with their time and resources, therefore, calls for a lot of questions.
Crises that could be nipped at their early stages continue to stretch our social fabric beyond comfort. It is noteworthy that a large percentage of our country’s security personnel lives amongst the populace and more often than not, are aware of the happenings in their environment. From the Jimeta riot to Boko Haram, and this fresh crisis in Bauchi, the police and indeed other security agencies sustained with the taxpayers’ money have a lot to explain to the people of this country.
Now to the utterly confounding action of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. Ever since the days of June 12 political imbroglio when some young Nigerians attempted to hijack a plane all in the name of the struggle, no one has heard anything of such among the people of this country. It is remarkable to know that the father of this young man had complained to the right quarters when he recently found his son’s ways and views disturbing. But who cared to act?
Does Islam in any way approve of the actions of suicide bombers either as a means of settling scores or expressing discontent, however deep? The answer is an emphatic no. That suicide bombing has become a norm in the lives of the overtly oppressed people of the Middle East is a sorry turn in the affairs of man. The unfortunate opinion subscribed to by those who support and encourage this act (including some supposedly learned scholars) is that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and his followers at the early period of Islam faced their powerful enemies in war - barely armed and with few steeds of war – and that they say, was suicidal. What perverted sense of judgement!
It is true that Islam abhors oppression and Allah (S.W.T) says in the Holy Qur’an that persecution is greater or worse than slaughter (Q2:191, 217). But Islam does not allow its followers to seek to obliterate one wrong with another wrong. The religion bids Muslims to make every preparation in prosecuting a war by every conventional means against any act of transgression until such is reversed. Suicide bombing cannot in any way fit into this commandment. It is more an act of cowardice and disregard for the explicit instructions regarding defence and warfare in the Qur’an (Q8:60-66) and the promise of Allah that he will make “a hundred of them who are steadfast to overcome one thousand”.
From the battles fought during the time of the Prophet (S.A.W) to those fought by the rightly-guided caliphs and those who followed them; from defence of the faith by Salahudeen Al-Ayyubi against the Crusaders to the defeat of the Mongols at Ain Jalut by the Mamluks led by Qutuz bn Jalaludeen, Allah has repeatedly fulfilled His promise to believers. As the best of peoples evolved for mankind (Q3:110), it is incumbent upon every Muslim to prevent the spread of mischief on earth, if anyone has the belief of meeting with the Creator on the Last Day.
True Muslims are unanimous in the condemnation of terrorism and as an organisation which understands the negative impact of such acts on the Islamic world, IMA joins in condemning all acts that would further exacerbate conflagrations and hatred in the world.
It should be asserted here, with a strong sense of conviction, that Muslims are not apologetic on matters of their faith and would not be blackmailed into accepting responsibility for the actions of deviants. Islam preaches peace, love, tolerance and mutual co-existence among all peoples.
As Nigerians, another intimidating challenge has arisen. But we must not be intimidated. In the midst of kidnappers, fraudsters, proponents of Boko Haram, jaundiced militancy and this new twist of attempted suicide bombing, we know that we are by and large a good people and a great nation. If we sustain the will to continually correct our attitude and flush out the contaminating elements in our midst, we shall find the will to stand up fair and square against blackmail, intimidation, uncivil treatment and all shades of unfair criticisms. There is no better time to defend our collective integrity than now. God help Nigeria.
Aweda writes from Masjid Al-Jabbar, IMA Research Centre, Abeokuta