“In Defense of Islam following the Abduction of over 200 school girls by Boko Haram”
In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful
On the night of April 14, 2014, there were wide reports about the abduction of over 200 school girls in Chibok, in the Northern Nigeria state of Borno with unconfirmed reports attributing the act to the ‘Boko Haram Cult”. Subsequently, on May 5, 2014, Ahmed Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram” in a video circulated by AFP claimed responsibility for this barbaric act and threatened to sell the school girls. There was outrage and mixed reactions from around the globe with some people attributing untruths to Islam.
It is in the light of this that I write to clarify some important issues as far as this unfortunate development is concerned. Notwithstanding the numerous refutations of the deviant actions of the ‘Boko Haram Cult’ by eminent Islamic Scholars, I consider writing to defend Islam and refuting the false notions spread about this our blessed religion a sacred obligation worthy of implementation especially in this era when there are so many fallacies about Islam. I therefore hope and pray Allah accepts this small effort from us for his sake and bless it.
Islam is a religion of peace, tranquility justice and perfect order. This is evident in so many verses of the Holy Quran and the authentic saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W).
“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion, nor drive you out of your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who deal with equity” (Holy Quran 60:8)
“…If anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or to spread mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed the whole mankind. And (likewise) if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole of mankind” (Holy Quran 5:32)
“There is no compulsion in religion. The right path has indeed become distinct from the wrong. So whoever rejects false worship and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing” (Holy Quran 2:256) It is evident from the above few verses out of a lot from the Holy texts that all other types of extremism such as hostage taking, hijacking and planting bombs in public places are clearly forbidden in Islam. In addition, the entire period of the Prophet Hood of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) is replete with evidence of peace and harmony within the Islamic community and with the non-Muslim world that entered into peace pact agreements with Muslims. Adherents to the Islamic creed, are therefore supposed to emulate this exemplary lifestyle of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) and stick to the commandments of Allah as enshrined in the Holy Quran and the authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammed, some of which have been highlighted above. A majority of Muslims, therefore throughout history have exhibited great morals and good relationships wherever they are located. As a result, Islam spread from the east to the west and to the north and south without any history of violence as always wrongly depicted by the Orientalists. A classic example is how Islam spread to Indonesia and the Far East mainly by traders who converted people to Islam by way of their good character and manners and today Indonesia is now the most populous Muslim country. Likewise, Islam also spread to Africa from the north mainly by traders without any history of violence or aggression. This methodology of calling to Islam is highlighted in the Holy Quran where Allah (S.W) states:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching and argue with them in a way that is better” (Holy Quran 16:125)
However, some people have chosen to always judge Islam by way of the actions of a few deviant folks who falsely attribute their despicable actions to Islam. The “Boko Haram Cult” has been classified as a deviant group by Eminent Islamic scholars which is falsely attributed to Islam. So many eminent and erudite Islamic scholars of high repute have refuted their actions and classified them as non-Islamic with evidences from the Holy texts. It is important to note that Muslims have suffered more under the hands of these renegades than non-Muslims. They have murdered more Muslims in Northern Nigeria than anywhere else. Their teachings and actions are alien to Islam and Islam is free from them. Some of the scholars who spoke against them have either been killed or maimed by members of the cult. Of these, the assassination of Sheikh Jafar Mahmud Adam and Sheikh Muhammed Awal Adam Albani (May Allah have mercy upon them both) by members of the ‘Boko Haram Cult’ shows how far their actions are from Islam. The group has also masterminded a series of bomb blasts in both Islamic and mixed religious communities. All these actions prove that they are only fighting for their own selfish deviant ideology but not Islam. Islam does not preach the abduction of innocent people and turning them into slaves but rather the use of wisdom in inviting people to the way of Allah.
By this, we sincerely hope that discerning people would see the actions of this deviant cult as been alien to Islam. It also behoves on Muslim leaders to continue making clear the stance of Islam on matters like this whenever they arise so as to defend the religion of Allah (S.W) whilst remembering that Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“They intend to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will complete His light even though the disbelievers hate (it)” (Holy Quran 61:8) May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammd (S.A.W), his household and companions.
Thank you . Prepared by:
Dr. Issah Imoro ([email protected])