On Islam and Isese Matter in Ilorin By Taslim Anibaba
POLITICS DIGEST- Unfortunately most people who claim to be Muslims today and who will swear that they are ready to die for Islam lack basic understanding of what Islam preaches.
By Islam I mean the guidance in the Quran and the Hadeeth.
They blindly follow their own misunderstandings and whatever their leaders tell them.
Islam is not war. Islam is not thuggery. Political Islam is the creation of ambitious men filled with bile and unbridled ambitions.
One lesson I learnt from Late Zik is that you don’t fight a small man. If you do, you will give him prominence.
This ISESE matter in ILORIN would not have attracted world attention if the Muslims have followed the instructions handed over to them several centuries ago as recorded in the Quran.
I lived in ILORIN for about two years and I can say with authority that it is a town sitting on a keg of gun powder. Even within the various Islamic groups are fierce and lethal competitions. In recent times one of the extreme sects has taken over leadership and goading ignorant converts into battling with the establishment/the rest of the population there.
That notorious group is the law in ILORIN.
ILORIN Alfas and Muslims in general are quick to refer to other Muslims as “elebo”. They have taken their dirty , senseless and unedifying fights to the internet with each group having considerable number of zombies as followers.
Ramadan is a month for adherents to move closer to Allah and seek forgiveness of sins. Their own Tajjud is spent producing odious and toxic videos in which they insult and threaten each other.
They even employ the services of minors to Insult everyone and every revered institution. Yahaya Gambari’s reign of terror on my mind. Some adults hypnotized the boy and used him to descerate almost all those institutions and eminent personalities that are respected in Yoruba land.
What exactly is the problem of ILORIN Alfas. You are not even the Head of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
Shameless people!!! They believe in their warped minds that they hold the keys to aljannah and hell fire.
Back to the Isese matter.
The recent intervention by Professor Wole Soyinka on the matter is a wake up call for us to learn and understand our religion. Especially as it relates to living peacefully with others who are non-muslims but who have fundamental rights of free worship
Religion of Islam is peaceful and should not in any way forcefully convert others. No ! To attempt to forcefully convert others or prevent them from practising their religion is anti Islam.
Unfortunately most Muslims and Christians behave as if the world was made solely for them.
It is hypocrisy fuelled by ignorance. The world has not been created exclusively for Christians and Muslims.
Allah is AR-RAHMAN to all His creations whether they believe in Him or not.
There are various verses in the Quran which admonish us NEVER to impose Islam by force or prevent others from practising their religion
*La iqra fii Deen* so declared the Quran in suratul Bakarah. Meaning : *There should be no compulsion in religion*
In suratul kafirun the Quran has given us a clear , unambiguous declaration:
Al-Kafirun 109:6
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ
*For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”*
I particularly love the verses directed to our Prophet Muhammad saws in Suratul An’am .
Al-An’am 6:25
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًاۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِي
And among them are those who listen to you,[1] but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, “This is not but legends of the former peoples.”
Nigeria is being referred to as a secular state. So we can only preach Islam to non-muslims. We cannot trample on their rights and freedoms.
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Again. Suratul An’am:
Al-An’am 6:33
قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَحْزُنُكَ ٱلَّذِى يَقُولُونَۖ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
We know that you, [O Muḥammad], are saddened by what they say. And indeed, they do not call you untruthful, but it is the verses of Allāh that the wrongdoers reject.
Al-An’am 6:35
وَإِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكَ إِعْرَاضُهُمْ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتَ أَن تَبْتَغِىَ نَفَقًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ سُلَّمًا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتَأْتِيَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰۚ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ
And if their evasion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, [then do so]. But if Allāh had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant.
The Quran preaches tolerance and absolute faith in Almighty Allah.
Allah’s attributes are described in the Quran in several places. One of such is in Suratul Bakarah.
“Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.
His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not.
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Finally, another guidance on issues like this can be found in Suratul Ghashiya.
These are simple, unambiguous and easy to understand verses of the Quran.
The Hadeeths also contain several teachings on how Muslims should relate with non-believers.
But political Islam has taken over pristine Islamic teachings.
And by that we create fasad (corruption, rottenness) on earth. We create unnecessary bloodshed and wars .
Allah is sufficient for us. And He is All Powerful and Most Compassionate.
Islam is not thuggery
Allah instructed Prophet Muhammad saws very clearly in Suratul Ghashiya:
Al-Ghashiyah 88:21
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ
So remind, [O Muḥammad]; you are only a reminder
Al-Ghashiyah 88:22
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
You are not over them a controller.
Al-Ghashiyah 88:23
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
However, he who turns away and disbelieves –
Al-Ghashiyah 88:24
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ
Then Allāh will punish him with the greatest punishment.
Al-Ghashiyah 88:25
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ
Indeed, to Us is their return.
Al-Ghashiyah 88:26
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم
Then indeed, upon Us is their account.
Conclusion:
Islam is a religion of peace that teaches faith, patience, perseverance and peaceful coexistence with others whether they are Muslims or not
And the proliferation of sects should be studied by the security agencies so as to curb the progression towards religious violence in our country.
We want peace.
The treaty of Hudaibiyah and the matters surrounding it are classical reference points and great lessons for all Muslims in matters concerning faith, perseverance and patience. Suratul Fathi tells us about the unalloyed faith of our Prophet Muhammad saws in the words of Allah. He didn’t fight or force his way into Makkah to perform the holy pilgrimage. He retreated and Allah granted him and his followers the greatest victory without firing a shot! Allahu Akbar.
ILORIN has erupted a few times in the past two years. It is a matter of time before everything blows beyond control if necessary steps are not taken now.
Thanks for reading this short contribution of mine to the distasteful and worrisome fuelling of religious conflicts in our country.
Ma salam
I remain yours,
Taslim Anibaba FCA.
8th July, 2023
