Between Innocent Muslims And Their Governments

By

Isa Ali Ibrahim-Pantami

isapantami@yahoo.com

The humiliation by Nigerian government and its security agencies of some Nigerian Muslims requires an urgent attention of all and sundry, particularly with the series of events that now follow the “Boko Haram”(worldly knowledge is forbidden) crises. I wish to use this platform to admonish and advise the authorities concerned, and at the same time enlighten the populace on the way out of such crises, whenever they occur.

The recent ugly, waggish and docile approach of security personnel and some executives in Nigeria over the now defunct “Darul-Islam” is a clear spiritual genocide and moral holocaust on the People. Although a Muslim, I have some fundamental and critical differences with the people of Darul-Islam over their mode of worship and on some of their verdicts, but I believe they never contradict the Nigerian constitution, culture and tradition of the country.

This community, “Darul-Islam of Niger State” was brought to limelight after the eruption of “Boko Haram” crisis in Northern part of the Country, a crisis that claimed hundreds of lives and engulfed property worth of millions of dollars. Subsequently, the Niger state government wrote to the Federal Government, requesting an order to sack the community despite the community’s dissociation from Boko Haram and other violent groups and doctrines. The sacking then started on 15th August, 2009 (24/Sha’aban, 1430) which is a confirmation of the presidency’s approval to the Niger State government. Even the Police commissioner disclosed that no weapon was found on the sect members when a house-to-house search was conducted by security agents. Though, my Islamic belief is different from theirs, Islam as a just, balanced and universal religion and advocates for justice, even against your enemy or even non-Muslim. Allah says: O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety; and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is well-acquainted with what you do. (Ma’idah: 8).

That is why Qur’an defends and bails out innocent non-Muslims from alleged crimes, like in suratun-Nisa. Today, because of the justice of Islam, we can write in defence of innocent non-Muslims when the need arises.

The aftermath of the Boko Haram crises takes a new dimension of attacking, interrogating, arresting, insulting, castigating and humiliating innocent Muslims in their market places, along high ways in various collection centres of security agencies and in even their homes. In Maiduguri, and some parts of northern Nigeria, particularly north-eastern zone, Muslims are being admonished to shave their beards unceremoniously, in order to avoid execution under the pretext of eliminating Boko Haram followers. Many innocent Muslims have been killed. Followers of peace-loving Jama’atu Izalatil bidi’ah wa iqamatis-sunnah sect were over taken, road-blocked and detained for a long time in Wudil, Kano State on their way back from national preaching in Adamawa State. Now in Niger State, where next? Allah knows best.

History repeats itself, this is what is being seen and heard with fellow innocent Muslims in so many countries like America, UK, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan and many more,  after the terrible 11th September havoc in USA. 

At this juncture, we need to ask ourselves, what are the limitations of our governments? And what does the Muslim world needs to do collectively and individually in order to eliminate/reduce these damages and confusion?

Government and security agencies in Nigeria and  the world over, where such kind of humiliation happen, should know that it is a clear injustice to punish an innocent and peace-loving person because of the crime of another waggish and docile human being. Allah says: That no burdened person (with sins) shall bear the burden (sins) of another. And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad). (An-Najm: 38-39).

The consequences of punishing innocent persons are many on that country in this world and in the hereafter, it makes the Muslims to retaliate, that country faces the wrath of Allah, love and respect between people easily vanish, peace and tranquility will be nowhere to be found, anarchy controls the society, respect for leaders diminish, extra-judicial killings and injustice make even criminals to get the sympathy of many others, freedom of peaceful religion shuts down and the leaders of that country will hardly see the mercy and compassion of Allah. Government should know that by subjecting sincere Muslims to injustice because of an identity, like beards, trouser-length and turban, even the criminals will avoid such an identity anywhere in the world, then the problem will be compounded and no solution will be found. Beards and the rest are teachings of Islam; even the Muslim scholars that governments agree with, and invite them for meetings, and seek their opinions have the same identity anywhere in the world. Nigerian government should fear Allah and avoid double standards in handling crises, all Nigerians are equal, though, it now appears, others are more equal than others.

Security agencies carry a great portion of this injustice, they hardly give fair and authentic security report and advice, their personal motive usually reflects, they restricted the use of the terms terrorists, fundamentalists, fanatics and extremists to the followers of one religion, forgetting all the genocide of Plateau State and Niger-Delta in Nigeria, and Palestine, Kosovo and Bosnia in the world at large. People hardly respect them, because of the wanton corruption that destroys their cadre. If the motive of security agencies is to eliminate and vanquish Islam, then we can categorically say is impossible. Allah says: He it is, Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), that He may make it (Islam) superior to all religions. And All-sufficient is Allah as a witness. (Fath: 28).

Nigerian Muslims have a great portion of their mistakes; we have a great problem of incapable leadership in some places, and dogmatic and insincere followership. Leaders hardly attain our minimum passing mark, and most of our followers hardly obey their leaders and pray for them, because of evil desire, envy and satanic suspicion.

Let our leaders know, injustice and humiliation to innocent and sincere Muslims will never ever be a solution. The only way out is Justice and trust, which accommodates retributive and distributive justice. Retributive justice teaches fair-hearing and equality before the law. Sending your children abroad, and boycotting Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) negotiating team is indirectly advocating for “Boko Haram” (worldly knowledge is forbidden), you make the Boko Haram for the masses, while your children as big men is “Boko Halal” (worldly knowledge is lawful), this is contrary to distributive justice, remember no bigmanism in the hereafter.

With respect to the trust, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: Whoever steals a needle will never enter Paradise. But now our country becomes the engine of corruption and fraud.

Let the authorities know that Islam as a universal religion teaches mercy and peaceful co-existence among human beings. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully. Allah speaks to sincere Muslims by saying: As for such (non-Muslims) who do not fight you on account of faith, or drive you forth from your homelands, Allah does not forbid you to show them kindness and to deal with them with equity and justice, for Allah loves those who act equitably.

In a nut shell, we sincerely and humbly advise the authorities of Niger State and Nigeria at large to allow those innocent people to return back to their village, in order to save their houses, farms and shops from perishing, this will actually bring peace and tranquility. Attacking and incarcerating innocent person teaches him extremism and fanaticism, which is not our supplication.

Let our fellow Muslims fear Allah and follow the genuine and authentic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah according to the interpretation of our pious predecessors. Both Muslim leaders and the led should be just, sincere and pious in dealing with their fellow human beings.

May Allah rehabilitate our leaders, security forces and the world spiritually and morally.

Contributed by

 

Isa Ali Ibrahim-Pantami

Lecturer, Department of Information Technology, ATBU.

Chief Imam Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University Central Masjid

isapantami@yahoo.com