| BOKO HARAM AND THE NIGERIAN PROJECT The Nigerian Compass of Sunday 29th January 2012 published a bare-it-all interview with Dr. Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a four-page pull-out of its Westerner magazine on the Boko Haram question and the Nigerian project. Are you worried by the increasing wave of bombings by the Boko Haram sect? Certainly, I am worried, deeply worried. I hate the sight of bloodshed. About five years ago I boasted to a friend that Nigeria can never experience the type of bombings going on in Iraq. Little did I know that this horrible thing is coming here. I am worried because we need peace in this country if we want to develop. Now before we go far in this interview, I sincerely hope that I will not be misquoted, quoted out of context or misunderstood because I am going to make sweeping statements today. I am also going to make some disclosures which some people may not find too comfortable. But whatever I say today will have been informed by my deep love for my compatriots and my passion for this country. Let me state clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally that bombing anywhere or killing innocent people is unacceptable in Islam. Neither are Muslims permitted to attack Christian individuals or their places of worship. Personally, I want to live in peace with any Nigerian regardless of his or her religious background. Muslims and Christians should not be fighting or quarreling. I believe the problem is systemic. The Nigerian system has failed to create a level playing ground for both Christians and Muslims to operate and coexist peacefully and that is what we should be discussing now. That is where the solution to this problem lies. We will see that as this interview progresses. Of much more serious concern to me is this conspiracy theory in the whole bombing higgledy-piggledy. It has been revealed that not all the bombings have been done by Boko Haram. In fact some Christian individuals have been caught attempting to bomb churches in the North and South. Now if those caught were those who failed in their missions, there must have been some Christians who succeeded in bombing churches. Have you read Rev. Fr. Kuka's explosive interview and article on the matter? He revealed how fellow Christians plotted to bomb Christian churches over rivalry. Go get it and get better educated. Shine your eyes my brother. The more you look the less you see. Furthermore on the conspiracy theory, just as we all know that the scripts of Glasnost and Perestroika were written in the White House and not necessarily in the Kremlin, we must turn our searchlight for the casus belli of the topsy-turvy enveloping the Nigerian nation to the United States. The widely speculated American prediction that Nigeria would breakup by 2015 may have needed to be given substance. We may have paid fifth columnists exploiting the Boko Haram phenomenon to ensure that the '2015 break' becomes fait accompli. They claim in various statements that they are fighting the cause of Islam , are they justified? To the extent that they demand the application of Shari'ah to be used by Muslims in Nigeria and not to be used by the Christian section of the population, they are justified. But the method employed is petrifying. Violence should not have been visited on Christian targets. Islam is a religion of peace. Equally disturbing is the fact that the number of Muslims killed in these tragic days outnumber the number of Christians. Their demand for Shari'ah is legitimate because that is an inalienable, constitutional, Allah-Given and fundamental right of Muslims. They could have limited their approach to peaceful demonstrations and legal processes. Unfortunately there is this factor of the extent of exposure. Don't forget also that the press and the Nigerian elites who form a minority of the population conspired against the Muslims when the latter demanded Shari'ah. Instead of an objective assessment of the issue, sentiment beclouded good reason. Muslims were ridiculed in the print and electronic media. Discussions and interviews on the issue were parochially handled. We have records of interviews granted to Nigerians on the Shariah issue and it was mainly Church clerics that were interviewed.
I believe that Muslims are still shortchanged on this issue and it needs to be revisited. Justice is the soul of peace. Nobody can deny one and have the other. If democracy guarantees equal participation, then we should allow a situation whereby the system in the land favours all religions in education, law, etc. Even in the ongoing Boko Haram saga most media houses pay attention to what Christian leaders say while they completely ignore Muslim leaders. Yet they are saying Muslims are silent. They are saying Muslim leaders are not doing enough. Who will make the views of Muslim leaders known? Is it not the press? Who controls the press? Who ensures that the press does not listen to Muslims? It is like the case of a man who ties the hands of his neighbor so the latter will not be able to pick anything from the community table. Then came a wild animal attacking the same man and he started blaming the neighbor whose hands he had tied for not doing anything to stop the attack. Nigerian Muslims have already developed their own dogma about the Nigerian press. Ditto for the whole press in the Western world. It is an asymmetrical press. It is anti-Islam. Dont forget also that the Boko Haram group was not violent ab initio. The extrajudicial killing of their leader Muhammad Yusuf alongside hundreds of his followers as well as the destruction of their headquarters transformed the group overnight. Does Boko haram pose any danger to Islam? Too early to say. We will cross the bridge when we get there. The mistake Muslims have been making all over the world is that different groups held one another with suspicion. This is true in the case of Sunnis and Shiites to the extent that they became enemies. It gave easy victory to America in Iraq. It is dividing the Arab League over the Syrian question. The fear of Iran is galvanizing the Gulf states into an arms race. No. I think we can still sit down and dialogue with all groups before it is too late. Have Muslim leaders in the North done enough to distance themselves from Boko Haram and work for religious harmony in the country? You heard what I said earlier. All Muslims feel concerned and all are expressing this fear. But the press has chosen to turn its beam mainly on Christians. The whole of Africa trembles when Oritsejafor coughs because virtually all newspapers, television stations and radio will report his cough. When Okogie sneezes the Nigerian press catches pneumonia. But Muslim leaders from the North or South-West get no attention if they address press conferences. We should stop asking what the Muslim leaders have been doing. We should start asking who among the press have bothered to report actions and speeches of Muslim leaders. Take a survey of newspaper, television and radio interviews since the Boko Haram imbroglio broke out and you will realize what I am saying. Some television discussions that I have watched featured three guests one of whom was a bishop, one a pastor and the other a church-goer. Of course the anchor man too is a Christian. Where is the balance of the pendulum? Where is professional ethics? How fair can they be to the other side? There are allegations in some quarters that those behind Boko Haram are hiding behind religion to fight a political cause And what is the political cause? It must be for the PDP because President Jonathan has admitted that there are Boko Haramites in his cabinet. Nigerian elites are the ones trivializing the issue. They are the ones deceiving us and they are using the press to achieve this objective. Nigerian Muslims have certain demands and grievances which they have been making and nursing even before independence. Successive governments have chosen to ignore those demands. The colonial master bequeathed a complicated political legacy and it is now proving unworkable. Subsequent constitutions were also imposed on Nigerians, including the 1999 constitution which the military imposed on us. A nation's constitution is its foundation. Our constitution has structural defects. The center is too powerful. The army, the police, customs, primary school teachers, etc, everything is being controlled by the Federal Government. It is too much. This is not true federalism. That is why they are now admitting that the police cannot police Nigeria, the army cannot secure the country, customs cannot control the boarders. Do you know why? It is simply because we have a greedy center which has bitten more than it can chew. The situation has created …permit me to borrow from Chinua Achebe's book, the situation has created a widening gyre…the falcon cannot hear the falconer …things are falling apart and the center cannot hold. Even our democracy is a fraud! We have to face reality. There is an urgent need for a Sovereign National Conference where every ethnic group and every religious body will come forward to tell us what exactly they want. Is it not strange that it is the Muslims who are making demands? That is because the status quo suits Christianity. The colonialists were Christians and they ensured that everything in Nigeria was Christianised before they left. Test my hypothesis: ask Oritsejafor what the Christians want and I assure you that Muslims are ready and willing to give them. Now without being prejudicial, the truth is that Christians don't want anything because they already have everything they need in the system. In an effort to have a sense of belonging thereby strengthening their patriotism, the Muslims started demanding parity. They got nothing up till today. Each time they asked for something they were blackmailed as people seeking to Islamise the country. I think our Christian neighbours know that the colonialists handed over a Christianised nation, therefore. Nigeria has remained a Christian nation to date. The Christians are enjoying it as it is and they don't want a change. The Muslims are saying, "Give us a share. Let us be partners in the Nigerian project. You have the law. Give us our own law. You have the banking system, give us also our banking system. You have English on naira, leave our Arabic on naira". What do they get in response? Labels and stigma: they are called fundamentalists, extremists, terrorists…They are blackmailed as planning to Islamise Nigeria. No, I don't really think they are fighting a political cause. Lets pay serious attention to the demands made by Muslims which government has always ignored both at federal and state levels. It may sound funny but that is the reality. Now if we go back to the beginning of this interview, I said the problem is systemic. So you may not even blame the Christians for some of the things the Muslims are accusing them of. The system needs urgent reform. We must sit down and talk. What do the Muslims want? What do the Christians want? How can we stave off Boko Haram teachings from spreading to other parts of Nigeria and how can the menace be effectively tackled. I don't know what you mean by Boko Haram teachings. I don't think their teachings include the killing of innocent people. I want to believe that is purely happenstance. They started killing after their leader and many of their members were killed extra-judicially. I have no doubt that if you check their books today for their doctrine, you will not find any instruction concerning killing and maiming.
What can the other parts of Nigeria learn from the southwest in terms of religion and harmony People in the South-West have been able to co-exist peacefully in spite of divergence of religious inclinations. Households and clans have Christians, Muslims and animists deeply embedded yet there are no frictions. There is enough lesson in this for other areas. People must respect one another's faith. Educate our readers about Jihad and what could warrant it Jihad has been widely misunderstood to mean and to be restricted to religious war. Far from it. Jihad is, first and foremost, self-discipline. Jihad is any good effort directed at correcting evil or immorality in society. So when the Abia State Government started demolishing illegal structures recently, it was waging jihad. University campuses which enact dressing codes are lauching jihad. EFCC and ICPC are jihad machineries carved out by government to fight corruption. Therefore jihad can be waged even by non-Muslims. Any disciplinarian is a jihadist. In that context, Tai Solarin was a jihadist. May God bless his family and the work of his hand. Gani Fawehinmi (May Allah have mercy on him) was a jihadist. So are our living legends: Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Feastus Keyamo, the amazon Okei Odumakin and many of our activists. Recently you attended a church service. Why did you go to a church and what has been the reaction of your fellow muslims? Yes, I attended the God Bless Nigeria Church in the wake of recent bombing of some churches in Nigeria. Firstly, that was a solidarity visit. I realize that I am a leader, a Muslim leader so to speak. Our country is burning. Must this evil continue? Shouldn't there be respect for human life? Shouldn't there be freedom of religion? What is my contribution? How can I set an example? I know it was risky but it was necessary to build confidence across the faiths. I will not subscribe to a situation where people are compelled top worship in fear or where they are forced to stay away from church out of fear of being bombed. I know that Islam gives life, not death. My religion builds, it does not destroy. There was a force compelling me to correct this erroneous impression. Secondly the church actually invited me to a joint press conference and I felt I should honour the invitation. Thirdly, that was not the first time I would be visiting a church or organizing a programme with Christians. You only need to look at my record even though some love to hate me. Under the auspices of Tele-Da'wah Embassy, an Islamic preaching outfit established and run by me since 1996 to date, I have organized or jointly organized debates and symposia with Christian organizations. Also under the aegis of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) a human rights organization formed by me in 1994, I have held many programmes along the same line. I can name the churches which have invited me to speak in the past. II can name Christian clerics who have invited me and whom I have invited to our programmes in the past. Most prominent among them is Rev. Fr. Gabriel Osu who is well known in the catholic diocese. Dr. Olulana of the Celestial Church of Christ was also a common face at our programmes. Even recently, I think on October 4th 2011, I joined a Christian group in praying for Nigeria at Allen round about, Ikeja, Lagos. I do all these because I understand what religion is all about. Religion is from the Greek word meaning 'to link', 'to tie'. So I ask myself, why are we always fighting when religion is supposed to link us and tie us together in a bond of brotherhood and love? I do it because I want my country to survive, to move on to the next level. I do it because I have a good grasp of the teachings of my religion. I do it because as a leader I must act in loco parentis. According to Islam what should be the relationship between muslims and christians There must be cordial relations between Christians and Muslims. The Qur'an forbids forcing people of other faiths to accept Islam (Qur'an 2:256). It advocates religious tolerance (Qur'an 109:1-6). Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) lived peacefully with Christians and he left instructions that we should do the same. Again the Qur'an compels Muslims to emulate Prophet Muhammed (Qur'an 33:21). None of the four orthodox Khulafah who succeeded him was hostile to the Christians. One of them (Umar bin Khattab) actually entered churches to discuss with Christian leaders. What's your advice to Nigerians at this difficult time The Nigerian government should not rely on the use of force. They should dialogue with Boko Haram. The state governments in the North can initiate this dialogue for the federal government. FGN should also watch its friends and allies. Nigeria should not rely on America and Israel in its fight against Boko Haram. Those countries have hidden agenda. It is also important for government to note that Nigerian Muslims have deep distrust for those two countries in particular and the rest of the West in general. The National Assembly should strengthen Shari'ah clauses in the constitution in order to dampen the fear of Muslims. I am fully aware of the delicate situation even in the South-West. The governments in this region should therefore seek to sustain the peaceful atmosphere by looking at the grievances of the Muslims. Some of these include the refusal to allow Muslim female pupils to use hijab; disallowing female Muslim bankers and nurses from using same; creating an enabling environment for Muslim pupils to learn their religion (IRK) and stopping the current practice of forcing them to study the Bible (BK), a practice Muslims see as Christians using government facilities to wage a crusade on Islam; the refusal of state governments in the South-West to allow Muslims to use civil Shari'ah in matters affecting their personal lives like marriage, divorce and inheritance; Islamic banking, etc. These issues must be resolved so that patriotism and sense of belonging will increase among Nigerian Muslims. At the same time, I will appeal to Muslim leaders not to ostracize the Boko Haram group. We need to know their grudges and inform the Nigerian authorities. Peace-building is a collective exercise. The press must be fair in its dealings with all religions. All sides must be given the right of response. Bias against any side is an invitation to chaos. Prejudice particularly in the press is the reservoir for pent-up anger which, in turn, burst into uncontrollable conflagrations sooner or later. Nigerian journalists must avoid all forms of provocative statements or practices. It is an abuse of the ethics of their noble profession. Provocation is often responsible for religious violence. A good fire-fighter will not direct his hose at the smoke. He directs it at the fire. Terrorism is mere smoke. We must look for the fire and extinguish it. Provocation and social injustice often constitute the fire that causes religious violence or terrorism. In this regard the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and the Nigerian Press Commission (NPC) must enforce fairness or sanction offenders. Our security agencies must treat citizens with decorum. They are there to serve just as other citizens are serving in other areas of need. I read in one of James Bond's novels that anybody with a loaded revolver has the power of life or death over his neighbor. The nature of a policeman's job, for instance, is such that he must be given a gun by the government. But the gun must not be used as a tool of intimidation or extortion. The Inspector General of Police must work hard to change the orientation of policemen, particularly the lower ranks. Maltreatment and general cruelty may push the young ones to a bloody revolution if care is not taken. From now on, Nigerians must be their brothers' keepers. My heart bleeds each time a Southerner is attacked in the North and vice versa. My people suffer for lack of knowledge. I charge every Nigerian to protect non-indigenes in his neighbourhood. I have a dream…the dream of a new generation of Northerners who will mobilize themselves to protect Southerners who are about to be attacked. I have a dream of new brand of Southerners who shun attempts to lynch Northerners. I dream of a Nigeria where Muslims and Christians both in the North and South will pay courtesy visits to each others' places of worship. I charge Northern governors and Muslim leaders in the North to seek and invite Boko Haram leaders for dialogue. The dialogue must be genuine, not one laden with traps by security agencies or any other group. Such dialogue may thereafter be continued at federal level. I sincerely believe that peace is possible if we all work towards it. To members of the Jama'atu Ahl ad-Da'wat wa al-Jihad also called Boko Haram, from me, Is-haq Akintola, a poor servant of Allah and one seeking His mercy and forgiveness, in the Name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful, I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messenger. I urge you to silence your guns and embrace dialogue. Your spokespersons have made your points very clearly. Allow peace to reign from now on. Accept government's invitation to dialogue if and when it is extended to you. Finally, I urge both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to learn to accept each other. We have all offended ourselves. The way forward is mutual forgiveness. I feel the pains of those who lost loved ones in the bombings. I pray that Almighty Allah will strengthen them morally and physically. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just  Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other  Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace  |
Sunday, January 29, 2012
BOKO HARAM AND THE NIGERIAN PROJECT
BOKO HARAM ON JIHAD
| BOKO HARAM AND JIHAD Guardian journalist Chris Irekemba interviewed Dr. Is-haq Akintola. The interview was published on page 41of the Guardian of Sunday 29th January, 2012. Enjoy it... What is jihad? Literally, jihad means 'striving' or 'effort'. Etymologically, the word 'Jihad' was used in the early days of Islam to refer to battles waged by the followers of Prophet Muhammad to protect themselves from invasions from the unbelievers from Makkah who were bent on annihilating the Muslims. The latter were a minority at the time and under constant threat of elimination. As time goes on, the word took on a wider meaning. It was extended to puritanism, charity, social reform and self-appraisal when the prophet began using it in his well documented speeches to refer to the need for self-discipline. For example, the Prophet said in one of his speeches (hadith), "Khayr al-jihad, jihad an-nafs", meaning, "The best form of jihad is self-discipline". Jihad from this perspective means self-control and high level of morality. The Glorious Qur'an also used the word 'jihad' to refer to charitable deeds. Exempli gratia, Qur'an 9:41 exhorts Muslims to engage in jihad with their wealth as well as their persons (wa jahidu fi sabili Llahi bi amwalikum wa anfusikum), i.e. they should spend their money and property in support of Islam while they should also attend religious meetings, seminars, lectures, etc. When you consider these ramifications, you find that the word 'jihad' has social, moral and spiritual contexts. It is not necessarily about war or fighting. When a Muslim scholar goes out to deliver a lecture at an Islamic programme, he is doing jihad. When a Muslim abstains from drinking alcohol while others are reveling in it, he is doing jihad. When a Muslim customs man or policeman rejects bribe and insists that the law must take its due course, he is doing jihad. When a Muslim ignores the temptings of an erotic woman, it is jihad. For your information, it is not Muslims alone who have been engaging in jihad. Anybody who advocates reform is a jihadist. Anyone, no matter his or her religion who fights against corruption is a jihadist. The late Tai Solarin of blessed memory spent his whole life fighting the excesses of Nigerian rulers. He was a jihadist nulli secundus. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was an unrepentant social reformer and human rights activist. He was therefore a jihadist primus inter pareil. So are our living legends: Tunde Bakare, Festus Keyamo, Dr. Okei-Odumakin, Wale Okunniyi, Shettima Yerima, Balarabe Musa, etc. Boko Haram sect claims that they are fighting jihad, as a means to cleanse the system of corruption. I cant fault that claim. I don't think anybody can. There is systemic decay in this country. The rich get richer. The poor get poorer. Our leaders are simply recycled tyrants and oppressors. If they were Allah, they would not allow rain to fall on the roofs of the poor. Look at the criminal neglect in the power sector. Take a look at education. The only primary schools worth the salt are the private ones. Private universities are the only higher institutions where the students hold their heads with pride. WAEC and GCE certificates are no longer creditworthy. Parents pay mercenaries to sit for examinations for their children. Even our policemen are not properly equipped. A whole navy ship disappeared into thin air in Nigerian waters and nothing happened. Our air force has no single jet fighter that can fly. Successive Nigerian governments explored oil in the Niger Delta for decades without paying any attention to environmental factors. For hanging Ken Saro Wiwa extrajudicially, Nigeria should pay a heavy amount of money (like $1 billion) to his family. It is this type of decadence that causes revolution. Minus the bombing of churches and killing of Christians in the North, the Boko Haram phenomenon may therefore be a revolution of sorts… Between the early jihad of the Sokoto Caliphate and now, what is the difference? The difference lies in the Christian factor, otherwise there are similarities. Shaykh Uthman bin Fudi was forced to embark on jihad in self-defence after the authorities began persecuting him and his followers. The Boko Haram was a quiet and law-abiding group until the police took its headquarter by storm and killed its leader in a most criminal manner. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peaceNo one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
Boko Haram and Islam
Boko Haram and Islam
Disu Kamor
Disu Kamor
Since the criminal attacks of the dreaded cultist group (Boko Haram) on the nation started, certain salesmen of hate have been hawking their credo: Islam is violent; religion in general produces extremists; religion is dangerous, and so on, to the public. One of such persons is Leo Igwe, an ardent Islamophobe whose schizophrenic ranting was published in the Guardian newspaper of 29 January, 2012 under the title "Boko Haram and the Threat of Political Islam". Leo Igwe stated in his letter to the editor that "Nigerians must begin to acknowledge the jihadist agenda of Boko Haram and try to find out how the teachings of Islam particularly as contained in the Koran or the Hadith were propagated or twisted to breed this terrible monster." He further states that "Boko Haram is the Nigerian version of al Qaeda. The militants are not bombing police stations, UN building and churches for the sake of it. They are not agitating for sharia law for the fun of it. The Boko Haram militants are fighting a holy war. They are prosecuting a jihad for which they expect to be rewarded abundantly in the hereafter with some virgins. That is why the group has not run out of suicide bombers. That is why they have their operational base in the muslim majority states."
This is obviously a clever ploy to inject the poisonous myth of a blood-thirsty Islam that inspires its adherent to commit indiscriminate acts of violence into the hearts and minds of the reading public. Yet the author failed miserably to provide a single reference from the Quran or the Hadiths to support his absurd position. For clarity sake, God forbids the killing of ANY innocent person in the Qur'an, and to violently damage any building is wrong. That respected places of worship, faith and spirituality were attacked by Boko Haram during a time of religious festivity makes the crime even more heinous. Also Islam commands Muslims to revere Jesus Christ and his mother (AS). We believe in his miraculous birth, his miracles and the stories of and about Jesus Christ (AS) in the Islamic tradition are probably much larger than the entire New Testament. Also, an entire Quranic chapter is named after Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (AS), as God proclaims her to be the best woman amongst all humanity, whom He chose above all other women due to her piety and devotion (Qur'an 3:42-43), and an example to follow (Qur'an 66:12). For the Muslims therefore, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are but three forms of one religion, which, in its original purity, was the religion of Abraham (AS).
It is simply easy to see that the author wrote in a bad taste not to expose our common threat, but to mischaracterize Islam in a way that de-humanizes Muslims. I readily accept that there are bad eggs within the Islamic community. In fact, it is possible to find them in almost all walks of life. Sadly, people who commit evil in the name of Islam, or as Muslims, engage in unethical and immoral actions, may be our neighbours or co-workers; but so are evil, unethical and immoral people present in every religion, nationality, race or ideology. Such people are on every street and all professions. It is therefore a human, rather than a religious thing. Anyone who disputes this has simply failed to take important lessons from history. Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, who collectively killed well over fifty million people, and the movements they led were all atheists like Leo Igwe himself. Similarly, the intellectual foundations of fascist thought have very little to do with traditional religion, while owing much to secular or outright atheist philosophers. Mr Igwe's Panglossian summary of the Boko Haram saga and what he calls political Islam is therefore antithetical to the self-evident facts: that vast majority of Muslims live peacefully with their neighbours; they respect the law and make important contributions to our daily life and national security.
The sickening claim of the lure of an abundant reward of some virgins in the hereafter as the motivating factor, or one of the factors, of terrorist attacks runs in direct opposition to what the author himself states in the opening statement of his second paragraph where he writes "The Spokesperson of Boko Haram, Abdul Qaqa, told journalists that they carried out the attacks on the city because the authorities had refused to release their members arrested and detained by the police." If the group's spokesperson made such an unequivocal declaration of their motive, and unless the author knows more about the group than he admits, he should simply allow the group to speak for itself. When we look at the highest authority in Islam, the Quran, we find nothing in it endorsing rewards for indiscriminate killing or killing of innocent people. Instead we find the strongest condemnation with severe punishments for those who engage in such actions. When we look at Hadith, which after the Quran is second in authority in Islam, we find nothing endorsing terrorism either. Instead we find strong condemnation for it.
About the "72 virgins", searching what Muslims refer to as Gharib Hadith (weak or strange Hadiths) we do find something about 72 wives but not virgins. Sunan al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2562 says: The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: "The smallest reward for the people of Paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sana'a [Yemen]"
According to the opinion of Muslim experts on the science of Hadith, this is a weak Hadith that has no line or sequence of narration. Although listed in an authoritative collection, this particular Hadith has technical weaknesses in its chain of transmitters and is therefore not considered impeccable. There are many Hadiths so declared and by the collective opinion of our jurists, such Hadiths must not be used to formulate binding legal judgments. As a result, Muslims are not required to believe in it. Even if the Hadith was true, there is nothing about it that says if someone commits acts of violence or terrorism "they expect to be rewarded abundantly in the hereafter with some virgins" when clearly the Qur'an and hadiths condemn such sinful actions.
Muslims know that the description of paradise or heaven in Hadiths and Quran is allegorical. If not, then Allah would have allowed us to take our bodies with us when we die. But the vehicle by which we could enjoy the physical things (especially 72 virgins ) mentioned as being in heaven, is left behind here in this world to rot and decay away. So we know for a fact that for heavenly rewards, physical things of this world are used to describe things totally non-physical. The Quran and authentic Hadiths let us know that anyone that makes it to paradise will be given palaces to live in, and clothing fit for royalty, with luxurious couches, thrones for everyone amongst other grandiose things. There will be rivers of the purest water, milk, wine, and honey, all of which are better than any you will find on earth. However, those who get to the highest part of Paradise, Jannah al-Firdaus, will also be able to see Allah with their own eyes. This greatest reward, rather than the promise of a sensual pleasure in the hereafter- to be in the presence of our Lord and to see His Face is the prayer of all Muslims.
Islam is more than 1400 years old and historians, Muslims and others have recorded the great achievements of Muslims over the centuries and the hope that Islam eternally represents for humanity due to the sublime virtues the religion calls to. The murder of an innocent human being anywhere is condemnable and inexcusable, regardless of that individual's race, religion, national origin, gender or social class. This is not a lesson that must be reiterated only by the Imams but also by the Church, the secularists, the atheists, everyone. The start point for this is to accept that the evil activities of the Boko Haram group affect all Nigerians equally and particularly as Muslims, we feel ashamed of their actions. Muslims are horrified at the image of a group from amongst them, organized as the wolf-pack, inflamed by the spirit of anarchy and destruction, killing, maiming the innocent and forcing ordinary Nigerians to live in fear of dear life. This is because Islam being a highly ethical religion rejects such anarchy and mischief. Islam commands Muslims to have a deep respect for all human life and to ensure peaceful-co-existence. This is why Islam was able to co-exist peacefully with Christianity in the Middle East since the time of prophet Muhammad (AS), a fact that becomes evident when one considers the fact that the Middle Eastern Christian community is a historical community, rather than a community of converts. The presence of this community since the time of Jesus Christ (AS) and its thriving under many Islamic rulers bear eloquent testimony to how important Islam considers freedom of worship and peaceful co-existence.
In Nigeria, Muslim and Christians have lived for decades in relative peace and will continue to do so after the current tragedy is ended. Of course there had been tensed times and mutual violence directed against both communities, but the judgmental flaw of the author and people like him who cherry-picks events to promote Islamophobic agenda will only make them a laughing stock before those who have studied divine scriptures and history. This is because adhering to the elementary requirement of objective evaluation of historical facts is what separates honest critics from ordinary rag-heads. Mr Igwe's letter and other caricatures like it only shows that serious discourse on critical national issues must not be left in the hands of mere shenanigans.
Finally it is most important to acknowledge that many Christian and Muslim leaders have spoken and acted courageously during this moment of intense pressure and crisis. Their words and actions are renewed sources of inspiration and encouragement to those of us who believe in harmony, peaceful co-existence and shared destiny. It is worth reiterating that the entire Nigerian Muslim community stands full square with the Nigerian Christians in revulsion and horror at attacks directed against them and their places of worship. We sincerely feel your pains and share the sorrow of the victims of those attacks. We will continue to stand with you to repel the evil of sectarianism and extremism which are blights on divine religions. This is a difficult time for all Nigerians and only divine religions are capable of sustaining our collective strength as we confront and defeat the ills we face together.
The evil actions of the Boko Haram group affect all Nigerians and their false claim to piety and self-righteousness are ordinary veneer for their evil ambitions and actions. Anyone aspiring to establish a "Shariah state" must start by establishing a "Shariah state of mind". Muslims have been victims of their terrorist attacks as anyone else; as terrorist attacks are indiscriminate. In the same edition of the Guardian newspaper, the spokesman of Boko Haram is reported to have threatened His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and the Governor of Sokoto State. All those mentioned in this latest threat are Muslims, and so are majority of those killed in the Kano attacks. Muslims suffer directly from the terrorist group when they attack as well as reprisal attacks due to their evil actions. Yet, in all of these we have risen up in one single voice of total condemnation because our God, as taught to us in the Qur'an and through the examples of prophet Muhammad (AS) commands us to respect the sanctity of ALL human lives (Qur'an 4:29, 6:151, 17:33) and that He, God Almighty, is the "King of mankind, God of mankind" (Qur'an 114: 2-3). The Boko Haram group does not speak or act for Islam or the Muslims. We reject their rhetoric, we oppose their violent methodology, we pray that the wind of time blows them away as quickly as other extremist groups before them, and we remain very proud of the religion which God has blessed us with.
Monday, January 16, 2012
WITHDRAW SOLDIERS FROM THE STREETS
| 16th January, 2012 PRESS RELEASE: MURIC CONDEMNS CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS The epicentres of the anti-subsidy protests were unceremoniously invaded by soldiers today (Monday 12th January, 2012). Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and some other cities where the protest against the fuel price hike are most palpable witnessed heavy presence of soldiers on the streets as well as the protest grounds. In an attempt to frustrate protesters from attending anti-subsidy rallies, fierce-looking and heavily armed police and soldiers mounted roadblocks and disallowed protesters from passing through. Soldiers also reportedly fired live ammunition at protesters in some places although reports of casualties are still unconfirmed. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) denounces this naked show of power. Drafting armed soldiers to confront civilians who are merely expressing their displeasure is, to say the least, symptomatic of a dictatorial regime. Protest is a legitimate weapon freely employed in democratic dispensations. Drafting the army out on the streets exposes the ideological poverty of the Jonathan regime. Resorting to the use of brute force against unarmed and peaceful protesters is a bad omen. It moves the Nigerian president close to the pedestal of erstwhile Russian dictator Joseph Stalin to whom "one death is a tragedy, one million a statistic". Whoever drafts out armed soldiers knowing fully well the past atrocities of the Nigerian military is not different from the Sha of Iran, Augustino Pinochet of Chile, Benito Musolini in Italy and, of course, Adolf Hitler of Germany. MURIC demands the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets. In particular, the military must withdraw from the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos. The occupation of such a monumental place shows how desperate the Jonathan regime has become. This is an assault on the collective freedom of the Nigerian people and wanton display of contempt for the memory of the late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, whom the present president is reaping from the fruits of his struggles. Dr. Is-haq Akintola, 234-803-346-4974 Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peaceNo one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
Sunday, January 15, 2012
MUSLIMS PAY SOLIDARITY VISIT TO LAGOS CHURCH
Salaam All Sequel to an invitation from a Lagos-based church, Members of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) numbering about fourteen, under the leadership of Dr. Is-haq Akintola, paid a solidarity visit to Evangelist Elishama's God Bless Nigeria Church on Plot 3, Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, by Guardian newspaper, yesterday Sunday 15th January, 2011. Evangelist Elishama invited Dr. Akintola to the podium to address the congregation after which they both addressed a press conference. The crux of the speeches was the rejection of the removal of oil subsidy and the need for Christians and Muslims to move closer in the interest of peace in Nigeria. Among the visitors were the Chairman of MURIC Lagos Chapter, Ustadh Shafiu Ayorinde, the Chief Imam of the Ansarud-Deen College of Education, Isolo, Imam Ahmad Akapo and the Imam of the Jamaatu Islamiyyah, Oshodi, Imam Abdul Ghaniy Abbass. MURIC intends to continue the pursuance of this line of action. We believe that religion must promote love. It must give life, not death. It must build, not destroy. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peaceNo one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Re: [muslimrights] Court: Oklahoma can't enforce Sharia law ban
Bro. Taofeek,
Thank you for this information which should make every muslim happy. By this information, you have made me to start the on a positive note. May Allah reward the judges for not being bias.
From: TAOFEEK SALAKO <taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk>
To: "muslimrights.bbtobm@blogger.com" <muslimrights.bbtobm@blogger.com>; Muric Ishaq <muslimrights@yahoogroups.com>; "mpac@yahoogroups.com" <mpac@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "badriaturay@yahoo.com" <badriaturay@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 11 January 2012, 22:24
Subject: [muslimrights] Court: Oklahoma can't enforce Sharia law ban
To: "muslimrights.bbtobm@blogger.com" <muslimrights.bbtobm@blogger.com>; Muric Ishaq <muslimrights@yahoogroups.com>; "mpac@yahoogroups.com" <mpac@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "badriaturay@yahoo.com" <badriaturay@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 11 January 2012, 22:24
Subject: [muslimrights] Court: Oklahoma can't enforce Sharia law ban
Court: Oklahoma can't enforce Sharia law ban
By Robert Boczkiewicz | Reuters – 15 hrs agoDENVER (Reuters) - A federal appeals court upheld an injunction against a voter-approved ban on Islamic law in Oklahoma on Tuesday, saying it likely violated the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against religion.
A three-member panel of the Denver-based U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the rights of plaintiff Muneer Awad, a Muslim man living in Oklahoma City, likely would be violated if the ban on Sharia law takes effect.
The decision upholds the ruling of a lower federal court.
"While the public has an interest in the will of the voters being carried out ... the public has a more profound and long-term interest in upholding an individual's constitutional rights," the appeals court said in a 37-page written decision.
The Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the ruling, calling it "a victory for the Constitution and for the right of all Americans to freely practice their faith."
Oklahoma's "Save Our State Amendment," which was approved by 70 percent of state voters in 2010, bars Oklahoma state courts from considering or using Sharia law.
The lawsuit challenging the measure was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Awad, who is director of the Oklahoma chapter of CAIR.
A federal judge in Oklahoma City issued a court order in November 2010 barring the measure from taking effect while the case is under review, finding a substantial likelihood that Awad would prevail on the merits.
The Council said the Oklahoma amendment is among 20 similar proposed laws introduced in state legislatures nationwide.
Defenders of the amendment say they want to prevent foreign laws in general, and Islamic Sharia law in particular, from overriding state or U.S. laws.
But foes of the Oklahoma measure, also called State Question 755, have argued that it stigmatizes Islam and its adherents and violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment prohibition against the government favoring one religion over another.
State Senator Anthony Sykes, one of the measure's sponsors, called the decision an attempt "to silence the voice of 70 percent of Oklahoma voters. At some point we have to decide whether this is a country of, by and for the judges, or of, by and for the people."
Opponents also say it could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims because they incorporate by reference specific elements of Islamic prophetic traditions.
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