I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
“Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity.
It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allaah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zalimoon (wrong-doers those who disobey Allaah)” Qur’an 60:8-9.
The events of the past Months in Nigeria of killings by one group of people against the other is unfortunate and unacceptable. However, the subsequent media outburst and body language as demonstrated on social media and in other platforms characterized by resentment, animosity, hatred and apathy towards Islam and the Muslims is at all time high. The government claims that it is fighting against hate speech but it is rather unfortunate that every day the Northerners, nay, the Muslims are inundated with insults, threats, denigration and defamation of character by a large number of Christians including their leaders.
Islam is the total submission to the Will of Allaah without any compromise whatsoever, and the Muslims are not nurtured to be apologetic about their Islamic identity. Hence, in Rome they say, do as the Romans do, but even in Rome the Muslims do as the Prophet (may peace be upon him) asked them to do. However, it is a peaceful religion with those who are peaceful with it and its adherents and not peaceful with those who are violent and hostile towards it.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Justice (or fairness) is obligatory upon everyone towards everyone in all circumstances, and injustice (or unfairness) is not permissible under any circumstances, to such an extent that Allaah, may He be exalted, has enjoined the believers to treat the disbelievers with justice, as He says: “Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Well-Acquainted with what you do” Qur’an 5:8.
He continues, “The believers treated the disbelievers justly in accordance with the command of Allaah, because Allaah told them: do not let your hatred of the disbelievers make you fail to treat them justly; rather treat them justly, for that is nearer to piety.” Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 30/339
Undoubtedly, the atmosphere of the 21st century Nigeria is laden with hatred, tribalism, ethnicity, animosity, religious bigotry and extreme political affiliation with an overwhelming intellectual and mental poverty. It is amazing to read or to hear an individual whom the world sees as enlightened and exposed championing the cause of ethnic cleansing and antagonism towards Muslims and the North without any moral guilt. Any man with a sane and balanced understanding will attest to the fact that in most cases, it is Islam and the Muslims that are at the receiving end of these vituperative comments and media bias. Even when the Muslims are the oppressed ones, the oppressors portray them otherwise.
There are two types of poverty, the material poverty and the intellectual poverty. A lot of people are only aware of the first type of poverty thus, they lament seriously about it while they undermine the damaging effects of the second type of poverty -intellectual/mental poverty- which is more dangerous and devastating. Even when people claim to be graduates in various fields of human endeavor, they allow their intellects to be shrouded in the garb of ethnic jingoism and religious sentiment.
Those suffering from material poverty are in most cases caught up in the web of violence and unrest. They are easily manipulated by the evil ones among the intellectually impoverished who though might have graduated from Harvard.
Those suffering from the second type of disease are more dangerous than the first because they only see things from material point view and are usually greedy, manipulators and self-centered. All they care about is the immediate and tangible things of this world. Their failure to demonstrate justice and fairness through their pulpits and media-controlled platforms in dealing with people of different religious extract and ethnic background (in this case the northern Muslims), gives birth to violence and civil unrest and the result is not far-fetched. They are perpetual promoters of hostility and organized antagonism against Muslims especially those from the North.
Today, the society that was once peaceful is drowning in the ocean of violence and bloodshed with little concern from its leaders. Innocent souls are being lost on daily basis, the streets are becoming blood baths and neighbors kill neighbors, friends kill each other and communities are fighting against themselves. Where is humanity heading to? Indeed Islam advocates peace. Islam is pro-life, and the Muslims make no excuses about that.
Every individual is tasked with the responsibility, nay the obligation to spread the message of peace but the Muslims are not weaklings and cannot remain silent when they too can speak and act. Every soul is sacred and the carnage and hate speech must stop. Government must act before it is too late, this hostility against the Muslims in Nigeria is gaining momentum in government offices, in companies, in all tiers of life. The Muslims cannot be subjected to oppression and emotional blackmail. The poor illiterates kill each other while the rich lavish in the comfort of their loots.
Mr Abdul can be reached on Twitter: @Penabdull, Instagram: @Penabdul
