Putting the Islamic message of ‘maintaining middle course” in focus is the essence of the establishment and the chief aim of the International Islamic Moderation Centre established by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the State of Kuwait. The Centre, since its inception, has been training Muslim clerics, Imams and preachers all over the world, Nigerians inclusive, on this noble principle of Islam. During my encounter with the Secretary-General of National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations in Nigeria, NACOMYO, Mallam Binyamin Yusuf, who has just returned from the Workshop in Kuwait, shed more light on the activities of this Centre of Excellence and its roles towards combating terrorism, extremism, laxity, enmity, inter and intra- madhabs wars and misunderstanding among Muslims. He reiterated that all these vices are products of ignorance and holding extreme views about the religion of Islam whereas Islam is a religion of mercy and ease. He emphasized that extremism gives birth to mischief making, terrorism which would only results into bloodshed, unwanted killings, lost of lives and properties. He commended the Centre for taking the bull by the horns through the provision of efficient training for Da’wah workers especially in flash spots of the world under which Nigeria has unfortunately fallen because of the recent activities of the Boko Haram elements.
Mallam Binyamin Yusuf further explained, “All praise is due to Almighty Allah who allows moderation in His religion and outlaws both laxity and extremism. What ‘Wasatiyyah’ (maintaining middle course) is all about is that Almighty Allah commands His servants to always maintain middle course in whatever they do. For instance, in worship, the blessed Messenger of Allah (SAW) directed us to be moderate and considerate. Thus he (SAW) told those men who came enquiring about the worship of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and then vowed to keep all night awake in nawaaafil, not to marry to have time for worship, to keep all days in fasting for Almighty Allah etc. as follows ”…Indeed I am the best of you and the most Allah-fearing among you. I wake up in the night (for nawwafil) and I do sleep; I fast during days and eat (shun fasting some days) and I marry women. Behold, marriage is my tradition, he who shun marriage is not of me”. In conviction (aqeedah) one needs to be moderate and not to hold extreme views. Qur’an 2: 143 says: “Thus We have made you (true Muslims real believers of Islamic monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)), awasat (just)(and moderate) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you…”. In calling upon Allah, Qur’an directs that “…and offer your Salat (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between” Isra’il:110. Even in spending, Muslims are enjoined to maintain a middle course, he is expected to be moderate Qur’an declares,”…and those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes)”.Furqan: 7.
A good Muslim therefore respects the views of others when they are not against Allah and His Apostle (SAW). He listens to the submission of others and articulates a better preferable argument with clear evidences. He calls to the way of His Lord with wisdom in beautiful sermons as Qur’an clearly directs “Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. Divine Inspiration and the Our’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.” Nahl: 111. He does not hold extreme views on Islamic jurisprudence and accommodates views of other madhabsrather than his alone. He should not be too rigid on his own school of thought. He should rather draw an example from theBanu Qurayza Incident when the Holy Prophet (SAW) directed his companions (RA) that “Laa asra illa fii banii Qurayza!”(Observe asri not except in the village of Banu Qurayza). Some companions (RA) understood this to mean that they should hasten up but could observe salatul asri on the way while some understood it to mean not to even stop on the way except in the enclave of Banu Quraiza. Each group followed its understanding while the Messenger of Allah (SAW) commended both parties later when he (SAW) was informed of the disparity in the understanding and interpreting his (SAW) directives! From the recent utterances of the leadership of Boko Haram, one will see clearly that they are ignorant, they lack proper understanding of the religion of Islam and the concept of jihad which they claim to be upholding rather, they are propelled with passion to only shed innocent blood and create terror”.
“Almighty Allah has warned us that if one intends to revenge on wrongs done to him, he must be just and should not transgress. But Almighty Allah intends to prevent prevalent bloodshed hence the law of diyyah (blood money or compensation). Nonetheless, if you are careful and refrain from taking another soul it is as if you have allowed the entire mankind to live but if you dare take a soul, which is forbidden, it is as if you have put the entire mankind to sword! Now Almighty Allah has declared in Holy Qur’an that there is no sin for Muslims to maintain a very good cordial relationship with Christians and Jews who are living in our midst in as much they do not harm us or attack us. To crown it all, Almighty Allah says that any Muslim who kills another Muslim has committed the most grievous sin punishable with eternal dwelling in the Hell fire under the severe anger of Almighty Allah. All these sins have been committed by the so called Boko Haram sect.
Islam is a religion based on knowledge. Many Qur’anic injunctions extol virtues of knowledge and scholars. In fact, Almighty Allah says that the most God-fearing among His servants are the scholars! Muslim scholars say that knowledge is of two types: the knowledge of Deen and the knowledge of the worldly things. Islam does not discriminate between the two types. No wonder that Islam contributed immensely to the so called western education! Great Muslim Scholars’ names such as al-Jabir (Algebra), al-Khawarizm (the inventor of Astrolabe), Ibn Sina (Avicenna, the author of The Canon of Medicine whichcontains a systematic classification and summary of medical and pharmaceutical knowledge and still in use in the Western world till date), ar-Razi (an erudite scientist), Ibn Khaldun and so on are cited as authorities in their chosen fields of knowledge in the west. Women are not left behind in this aspect. Nana Aishah (RA), Ummul Mu’mineen, was an authority in the field of Fiqh and Hadith while some great sahabah (companions of the Messenger of Allah (RA) studied under her. Asma’u bint Fudi was a great Islamic scholar in the Sokoto Caliphate. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) declared that seeking for knowledge is compulsory on all Muslims! Therefore, he commanded His companions not to prevent Allah’s servants (their wives and daughters) from the House of Allah (mosque) which was the first school where Muslims acquired knowledge then. So, where is the basis for Boko Haram ideology in Islam?
Finally, Islam holds womenfolk in high esteem and accords them with great respect. Based on this, the Messenger of Allah directed that even in the state of war women should not be killed or touched but, rather should be protected, slaves should not be killed so also Rabbis, Monks and clergymen while the sanctity of both churches and synagogues must be maintained. Fruit trees are not to be destroyed etc. but reverse is the case with regards to Boko Harams sect. Islam views acts of terrorism as mischief making on earth which is punishable by crucifixion, hanging, cutting off of opposite limbs for such mischief makers. I hereby appeal to members of Boko Haram to repent, seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah and turn new leaves per chance Almighty Allah is All-Forgiving and Merciful”.
Mallam Binyamin Yusuf further stated that “This is the message which International Islamic Moderation Centre is trying to put across”. He then thanked the King of the State of Kuwait, Shaykh Sabbah Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir al-Sabbah, the Crown Prince, Shaykh Nawwaf al-Ahmad al—Jabir as-Sabbah, the Prime Minister, Shaykh al-Mubaarak as-Sabbah, the Minister of Awqaaf and Islamic Affairs, Shaykh Naayif al-Hajmiy, and, most especially, the Under Secretary in the Ministry who oversees the Centre, Dr. Aadil Abdallah Fallah, for their efforts towards sustaining this legacy as well as the opportunity given Nigerian Muslim children to study through scholarship in the State of Kuwait. He finally thanked the duo of the Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Senator Bala Garba and Shaykh Abdul Wasi’i Elu, a prominent Nigerian Islamic Cleric based in Kuwait, for their efforts in sustaining the good relationship between the two countries.