A message to Muslims of Nigeria, by Muhammad Ajah

“I personally dedicate myself to work untiringly for the progress and happiness of the new Nigeria.
I swear in the name of Allah, that if I die today, I would leave nothing but legacy of struggle for the liberation, welfare and dignity of the masses of this country” – Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna.
This is a follow-up on my earlier message to my Nigerian Christian compatriots.
I call on Muslims of Nigeria to value and enhance the coexistence between them and their Christian counterpart-citizens.
If believing in Jesus as a messenger of God implies believing in Christianity, then all believers in Islam are also Christians.
Everyman knows the existence of a Supreme Being.
But how to reach the Supreme Being is the problem.
As for Muslims and Christians, the status of Jesus is basically the difference.
No Muslim can claim true belief without believing in Jesus Christ who was one of the five “exalted” prophets of God.
There is also the belief of Muslims in destiny which implies that the creation of Muslims and Christians to coexist in Nigeria by God is not a mistake.
The amalgamation of Nigeria is not also a mistake because God allowed it.
I want to refer my Nigerian Muslim compatriots to some verses of the Holy Qur’an which can solve most, if not all, of the misunderstandings between them and their Christian counterparts in Nigeria.
A Muslim must distinguish himself/herself wherever.
Islam is a religion of peace, knowledge and social equity.
It is a wellknown fact that despite the accusations against Islam, it spread in the past because of the exemplary lives of the early Muslims.
It was said in the past that when a Muslim in Nigeria swore by saying “Wal-Laahi”, that was the last truth.
But now some Muslims do worse things: they lie, they cheat and they commit different kinds of crimes yet swear many times to cover up.
It is even believed now that the swearing of some Muslims is the beginning of their lie.
It is unbelievable that some Muslims take oath of office with the Holy Qur’an and act contrary to their allegiance, thus they disobey Allah’s commandment.
Muslims in Nigeria should be guided by the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
That is the solid solution to their problems.
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allah often.
(Q33:21).
They should do what they say.
They should not take the gravity of saying what they do not do with levity.
They must stop calling people of other religions with filthy names like “arne”, “yamiri”; they must stop abusing others or even their gods.
This is the teaching of Islam.
Let us search the Holy Qur’an and hear Allahu (SWT) speaking to the believers: “O you who believe! If an evil-doer comes to you with important news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance [out of haste in belief and making decision], and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” (Q49:6).
It is true that the 19 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria have seen Christians dominated the era.
What were the demands by Muslims during those periods? Surely, they were peaceful and engaged government in a peaceful manner.
I cannot remember any violent protests carried out by Muslims against the leadership under Christians.
That is the teaching of Islam – to respect and obey any constituted authority.
In fact, obedience to a constituted authority is the third right after obedience to Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
But unfortunately, the northern majority was, as ever, complacent that a few of their people were engaged by the Christian leaderships.
They felt they were, and have been, in the comfort zone.
The majority, as ever, did not bother about the socio-political status of their minority in the country.
Out of the 19 years, Muslims have led the country for only five years.
14:5 equation! The same trend of the majority being complacent of their political status continues.
During the military era, Muslims ruled longer.
But what did Muslims achieve during the military regimes they predominated.
Why are there still, till today, high level of poverty, illiteracy and villainy in the north? Why has the minority Muslims remained a forgotten species of citizens in Nigeria? The facts, being as they are, require a rethink by the Muslims of Nigeria.
If the thoughts that Islam stands for equity, fairness and justice, Muslims should work harder to rescue the country.
They must practically display the tenets of Islam for other religions to understand. Justice demands that any citizen who does not obey the constituted authority of Nigeria should be exposed and punished according to the laws of the land. The way the perpetrators of crimes in Nigeria are treated with kid-gloves can hardly subdue them. The judiciary has to work harder in favour of Nigerians and the constitution.
There is no other country for real patriotic Nigerians than Nigeria.
Disunity in Islam is never a solution to any problem. There is no justification for Muslims of Nigeria to be divided.
Violence and inhumanity are not part of Islam. Preaching and standing against Buhari is not good.
Muslims must support a just leader. Buhari is trying his best. The herdsmen imbroglio is not his making but a stagemanaged plan to destabilize his administration.
Patriotism must be upheld by Muslims who must live with their Christian compatriots as it was practically done by the noble Prophet.
How should Muslims treat Christians? In a time when tension between Islam and Christianity is high, Muslims must stand out, remain firm in reminding Christian compatriots that a true Muslim cannot hurt a Christian in any way, neither by his hand, nor by his tongue.
The letter Prophet Muhammad (SAW) wrote to all Christians requires no explanation; it is an order that must not be contradicted or disobeyed till the end of the world.
Ajah writes from Abuja