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Identity, Political Ethics And Parochialism: Engagement With Ja’far Adam (1): A Response to Sanusi Lamido By Fatimah Suleman Although I have never written an article to gamji or any medium for that matter, and I am not a writer by all definitions, I felt compelled to respond to Sanusi Lamido’s hate filled response to Sheikh Ja’far’s interview on Weekly Trust. Sanusi thought he may have downgraded the learned Sheikh by tracing his biography, but what Sanusi either doesn’t know or chooses to ignore is the fact that Sheikh Ja’far himself often told his students about his humble background. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I actually noticed an undertone that betrayed jealousy on the part of Sanusi who given his so-called privileged background could not contribute to his society and religion as Sheikh Ja’far does. If one goes to Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Yobe, etc one will see the trail of knowledge and proper religious etiquette the Sheikh has left. Whoever hears Malam Ja’far speak will know that we indeed have very few learned Islamic scholars like him in Nigeria today. Also calling on the Sheikh’s background to discredit him has proven that Sanusi is an illiterate in Islamic history. Great many companions of the messenger of Allah (SAW) and scholars of the deen were from humble backgrounds. Some were non-muslims before reverting to Islam and contributing more than people born into the deen. So what is Sanusi talking about? Is Sanusi saying those people are not true scholars or what? Sanusi must understand that he cannot speak on the deen until he studies the deen. He cannot study controversial philosophical books and claim he has enough knowledge to speak on religious matters. He can tangle with the Karl Max’s of this world but not Qur’an and Sunnah. What Sanusi fails to grasp is “Allah lifts high whom He pleases” irrespective of background. If background is the criteria for success and religious endowment, then Allah would have filled Paradise with the rich. Unfortunately for people like Sanusi, that is not how our creator operates. “Verily the best amongst you in the sight of Allah is the most pious”. Sanusi really disgraced himself and stooped very low by bringing family background into the argument. We are talking intellectual here, and hence he shouldn’t run to a background he has not worked for to save him. Calling the Sheikh an extremist betrays a lot on the part of Sanusi. If Sanusi is promoting liberalism, I am sure he will be welcome in the US where people are promoting gay marriage and its likes. There is of course no way Sanusi will agree with the Sheikh because He says the truth without toning it to suit people like Sanusi. Sanusi however blatantly lied when he said the Maiduguri businessman is a patron of Sheikh Ja’far. I can speak on this because I am from Maiduguri and Sanusi is not. Sheikh Ja’far is not even a member of the mosque committee. In fact we in Borno feel privileged to have him coming to spend the Holy month of Ramadhan with us. A mosque in Islam does not belong to an individual. That mosque has a standing Imam and deputy etc. The mosque simply hosts Him during Ramadhan. Sanusi as always has not done his background work well. Another gross deficiency in analysis on the part of Sanusi became evident when he branded the Sheikh a racist. Anyone that knows Malam Ja’far knows him to be a promoter of unity amongst Muslims irrespective of culture or race. I am sure the secretary general NSICA will testify to that. So, what is wrong in calling for unity in the Ummah? That is what we badly need more than anything else in this age of divide and rule. But people like Sanusi are apparently the promoters of the “melting pot theory” where all religions are the same and hence no one religion should have an identity. And that is why he easily calls others not towing his line racists. I also now fully understand why Sanusi will never understand (unless if Allah wills) the thoughts of scholars like Sheikh Ja’far. While Sanusi got his so called philosophical knowledge from books like The Ethics of Identity or In My Father’s House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture, Fakhry’s Ethical Theories of Islam, Islamic Political Ethics: Civil Society, Pluralism and Conflict, “Yoruba Philosophy: Individuality, Community and the Moral Order”, “Mutumin Kirki”: The Concept of the Good Man in Hausa’ and others as mentioned in his article, Sheikh Ja’far studied Qur’an and Sunnah in its broadest sense and lives his life according to the dictates of such. These 2 people are worlds apart. Sanusi again lied and discredited himself by identifying the Sheikh with a religious sect. Sheikh Ja’far never identified himself with any sect and says so. All he promotes is the adherence to Qur’an and Sunnah. If that is what Sanusi and his cronies identify as wahabism then so be it. In fact they can give it a thousand and one names just to discredit a Scholar, but that does not change the reality. Unfortunately Sanusi relies so much on the mentioned philosophical write ups to the detriment of his upholding the true Islamic doctrines of the Qur’an and the Sahih Hadiths, and that is why when people more knowledgeable than him speak against what he professes, it seriously offends him. He also lacks the humility to go and seek knowledge from people more knowledgeable than him like Sheikh Ja’far. Sanusi thinks he is a philosophical demagogue and is struggling to gain a recognition that will intimidate others. But the average reader of these articles can already sense the frustration emanating from him – that is the lack of true religious knowledge that can make him stand out. Sanusi is amongst a group of people that speak from both sides of their mouth. He thrives on controversy because that is where he gains his popularity. He is gradually becoming an outcast. I fully agree with the Sheikh that here is someone that lacks an identity. An Identity is what you believe and profess but not simply where your bloodline is traced to. We don’t need the likes of Sanusi soiling the pages of our newspapers with their silly write-ups. People like that just think aloud and hence end up coughing out a maze of confusion. People like Sanusi should fear Allah and not slander people of good intention like the humble Sheikh. “lets there arise amongst you people that will enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…….” And People like Sheikh Ja’far are just doing that. I also now await Sanusi’s promised article on the distinguished Journalist - Mohammed Haruna. He just doesn’t like good people…………..
Sanusi, if anything needs engagement at this moment, it is your very own spirituality, which is fast decaying. Better engage it before it takes you down with it. Fatimah Suleman |