Nigeria is in the 54th year’s celebration; though many see no reason it should be celebrated but I believe there is always the need to thank God at every situations. The recent happening in our nation particularly the insurgency and the level of religion accusation and counter accusations of the involvement of religious leaders as a tool in the hands of politicians should be a source of worry and concern to all Nigeria and the religious faithful. Most especially, the Muslims and the Islamic religion are majorly at the center of all accusations. It is the Muslims that are referred to as terrorist, extremist, Boko Haram and other names within these circumstances as we all could testify to it. Despite the facts that the entire constitution of Islam and that of the Islamic organizations are available to all without any hindering. All the Mosques where the Muslims were praying nationwide are freely accessed by anybody without restrictions. Yet we are still been accused, killed, detained without court trial, molested and rubbish are easily attached to the Muslims without the protection of anybody.
I was not in the picture most time when some of my friends mentions the level at which people accused the Muslims baselessly, but not until I took a Taxi to the Abuja National Mosque Complex, I was enjoying the friendly conversation of the Taxi driver, until we approached the gate of the Mosque and I asked him to drive in. The driver all of a sudden became uncomfortable and refused to take me into the complex. I tried to find out from him, at the end of the day, I discovered that he had already been brain watched and as result of so many wrong accusations about Muslims and Islam. He said to me “I am just being careful, I may not know who may stab me for being a non-Muslim”. I persuaded him he followed me in, he discovered all lies that had been told about Islam and apologized for what he earlier insinuated. He at the end took pictures around the mosque and asked some question, which I gladly answered him before he left.
One of the amazing things that made me to share this story was the fact that he said thousands of Nigerians like him are still out there accusing the Muslims wrongly likewise the Muslims accusing the Non-Muslims wrongly, he advised we must as a matter of urgency do some things on it. No one wants to hear the story of the Muslims.
Ever since then, I have been working hard to see how we can make people to hear the story of the Muslim. Until recently, when the Muslim Congress organized annual independence lecture under the distinguish chairman Rtd Justice Umar Abdullahi CON, guest speaker at the occasion was Imam Nuraen Dindi (Ph.D) Chief Imam/ Mssioner Nawair-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, and the second speaker was Abdul Hakeem Mobolaji (Ph.D) from National Institute of legal Studies. Dept. of Economics University of Ilorin amongst other respected dignitaries
Wali of TMC Abuja Mallam Abdul Hakeem Raji, in his speech said, this year theme is not unconnected with recent events in our nation and the propaganda by some unscrupulous elements who try to label Islam and Muslims as responsible for the ills of our nation. They twist facts, falsify history and arrive at spurious conclusions on the role of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria; hence there is the need to set the records straight
My brothers and sisters, this year’s occasion is coming in the middle of strange events and happenings which have serious consequences for us as a nation. The event of the cash-laden private jet intercepted in South Africa meant for illegal purchase of arms shows the depth of the insurgency problem rocking our nation. It also demonstrates the promise of Allah to protect His religion: ‘It is He (Allah) who Has sent His messenger (Muhammad- SAW) with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion, though the polytheists are averse’ [Saff Qur’an:61: 9]. Allah chose the events of the last three weeks to vindicate His religion and expose the treachery and plotting of the enemies. In less than three weeks, the lies, innuendoes and vilification by the enemies which had gone on for too long was halted and exposed in a faraway land. Those who expend their might and main in labeling Islam and Muslims with violence and terrorism using the Boko Haram saga, were found complicit in acts that suggest a continuing plot to fester the insurgency. In faraway South Africa, Allah sent His ‘police’ after them. They were ‘caught’ while trying to procure arms from the black market, with smuggled funds, without official knowledge of the Nigerian military, without legitimate appropriation and in the private jet of an arrow head of Islamophobia in Nigeria
the aftermath of this scandalous crime, Allah threw them into a state of confusion, such that they started blaming, accusing, even disowning and withdrawing from one another. Such is the might of Allah when He decides to turn the plotting of the evil doer against him, Allah says: ‘On account of their arrogance in the land and the plotting of evil. But the plotting of evil will hem in only the authors thereof….’ [Faatir; Qur’an 35: 43]. In desperate efforts to sweep this crime under the carpet, some among our legislators were pressured not to table the matter for discussion. This led to a walk out by the more patriotic elements among them.
The situation in our country today is so pathetic. Virtually all known ‘diseases’ afflicting societies are here with us in immense proportion. Corruption, ineptitude, greed, impiety, self-conceit and diminishing value for human lives have all been taken to new and unprecedented height! Permit me at this juncture to commiserate with the government and people of South Africa who have been at the receiving end of our own ills as a nation. As if the cash-laden jet scandal was not enough, dozens of lives (mostly South Africans) were lost to the collapsed church building at the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) in what is almost appearing as a case of criminal negligence and circumvention of statutory procedures. This is where we find ourselves as a nation; my sympathy goes out to the bereaved.
Let me bare my mind on other issues affecting the Muslims Ummah across the world. On the crisis in Iraq where the extremist ISIS militants have declared a caliphate: This is laughable and does not in any way represent Islam. I encourage people to go through our history and see the parallel between what this group calls to and what Islam preaches. Having said this however, it is our belief that subjecting Iraq to another round of bombing is not the solution. The ISIS phenomenon is a fallout of Western intervention which destroyed that country; going through another round of bombing only shows that the so called leaders of the world have learnt nothing from interventionism.
Dindi in his lecture proved beyond doubt the real Islamic teachings and how politics and enemies of the truth turned against the real teaching of Islam and I quote; “If this characteristic of Islam is adhered to in Nigeria, especially by the political class, Nigeria could have rank among the first three leading Nations of the world; but its corruption from head to toe. What a very big national challenge that is almost consuming the most blessed country in the committee of nations. This is the truth, nothing but the whole truth.
Idealism in English language is a noun that is simply defined as ‘living by high ideals’ or better still, it also means ‘’aspiring to or living in accordance with high standards or principles.’’ If this is the literal meaning of idealism, then it is practically a prominent feature of Islam. Islam is definitely characterised by living a worthy life of high principles that guaranty spiritual joy, perfect peace and great success in this life and in the hereafter. This particular characteristic of Islam is solidly founded on genuine obedience to Allah (SWTA) and His Apostle (SAW). It is stated in the glorious Qur’an that: ’And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful’’
Impliedly, no individual or nation succeeds when there is no genuine obedience to Allah (SWTA) and His messenger (SAW). Therefore, one can conveniently say that any nation that is devoid of idealism cannot know peace talk-less of achieving success. He called on Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to speak out at this moment of these issues that is generally affecting the Muslims in Nigeria. He acknowledged all the effort of NSCIA so far, but he said if these situations were in the other way round, these people would have stamped the entire Muslims as terrorist and evil religion.
The occasion was well attended as many other sisters’ organizations were dully present. Sudan embassy representative, Nawair-ud Deen Society of Nigeria led by their National President Alh Rasaki oladejo, Model for Islamic Dawah Foundation, Abuja Muslim Forum and member organizations of AMSF were dully represented. The occasion was one the best of it kind.
I wish all the Muslims a happy idul Hadha celebrations and the entire Nigeria Happy Independence Day.
