The Muslim Ummah in Nigeria is no doubt in Fitnah. We have been given a bad name and repeatedly been hanged.
That Islam still survives here is wonderful. One wonders why some people still embrace the Deen despite the turmoil that has been blamed on it. Just imagine if the stigma has not been there. Well, Allaah is the Custodian of His Deen; He has promised it will reign supreme even when all hope is lost.
For some years now a notorious group, Jama’ah Ahlis-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wal-Jihaad (a.k.a. Boko Haram), has been on rampage killing and maiming in the name of Islam and Jihaad! Just as it kills non-Muslims (unjustifiably) it kills Muslims as collateral damage. How many clerics have fallen to the bullets of its charlatans! How many places of worship, including the houses of Allâh – mosques, have been violated by its urchins! Everybody lives in fear. No day passes except it sends a terror message of rocket or bomb attack, or kidnapping! Thousands of people have lost their lives in the macabre of Boko Haram. It is on record that more Muslims have been killed in the rebellion than other people. Sanctity of lives makes no meaning to the perpetrators of the evil.
The Muslim and non-Muslim girls kidnapped at Chibok, Borno State, is the latest in its campaign of self-styled Jihaad. The leadership first threatened to sell them in the ‘slave market’ and later said they would be swapped for their detained comrades. We wonder which kind of Islamic jurisprudential training they received.
The aim of this piece, please take note, O reader, is to absolve Islam and the North from the evils of Jama’ah Ahlis-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wal-Jihaad a.k.a. Boko Haram, and the people upon their methodology. We are aware of the conspiracy theories but we think some people are not facing the reality. The Boko Haram is real just as Al-Qaeda is. We do not however rule out some political undertones. But we like to judge with what is apparent and well-sourced.
We want to absolve Islam first because it has suffered greatly in the hands of these ill-guided Jihaadis; and the North, secondly, because Islam is the dominant phenomenon there, therefore it is the second target of the critics of the ways of Boko Haram. It is increasingly not safe to bear the traits of the Sunnah in the North again. And gradually in the South, the spoken and unspoken tag upon people with signs of Sunnah is Boko Haram!
Without any iota of doubt, Islam is completely free from the ways of Boko Haram. In the maiden article on this site, we wrote that Jihaad as a concept in Islam can be understood correctly and otherwise. In other words, Jihaad can either be in line with the Sunnah, or the Bid’ah. In the sub-article, we never minced our words by proving in the light of the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and the explanations of the scholars of Islam, that the Jihaad of Jama’ah Ahlis-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wal-Jihaad likewise that of the Al-Qaeda (and its off-shoots such as AQIM, AQAP, ISIS, Al-Shabaab, etc.), is innovated, ill-guided, wanton, evil, and un-Salafee. Islam is free from it the way the wolf was free from the blood of Yûsuf – alayhi salaam.
Alhamdulillaah that the Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently handed down the verdict of Khaarijiyyah upon Boko Haram.
Ash-Shaykh Zayd bn Muhammad bn Haadee Al-Madkhalee – rahimahuLlaah – said generally about the khawaarij:
‘Their acts are crimes and evil doing on the land. The Messenger of Allaah - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam – indeed foretold them. It is a miracle that he gave them a number of appellations such as 'Dogs of the Hell' [Recorded by Aboo Daawud, (3987) mentioned by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Jaami (3668)]. The neo-Khawaarij – as stated – went an edge over the Khawaarij of old. The neo-khawaarij are terrorists... They will bear the sins of the people they kill among the young and old, men and women, even those under the state protection whom the Shareeah respects their blood, dignity and wealth.
‘The Messenger of Allaah - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam – described them as 'dogs of the hell' due to their great crime. Said the Messenger of Allaah - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam, 'Glad tidings to whoever is killed by them ; glad tidings to whoever kills them' [Recorded by Aboo Daawud, (3987) mentioned by Ash-Shaykh Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Jaami (3668)]. He - salaLlaahu alahyi wa sallam – also said, 'If I should meet them, I will kill them as the Aad People were killed.' In another narration, he said, '…as the Thamood People were killed.' He said, 'Wherever you meet them, kill them' [Same as the earlier source]. ’
So we can now conveniently say the people who belong to Jama’ah Ahlis-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wal-Jihaad are Khawaarij – people who stage rebellion (khuruj) against Muslim rulers and cause wanton destruction about. It would be recalled that the Boko Haram rebellion started when a Muslim ruler was at the helms of affair in the country. And in the three states – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – where its impact is mostly felt, Muslims are the main rulers there. [Even though those rulers got to those positions via the democratic means which are Kufr, we do not hold them to be Kuffaar because there are not evidences to that effect. They pray in the Muslim way, go on hajj, fast in Ramadan; in fact, some of those rulers support some ‘Sharî’ah’ mechanisms in their states. Though all these do not justify their being in democracy but we pray Allâh will forgive them (and us) for their (and our) shortcomings. It is the people of Takfeeriyyah that would declare such leaders as Kuffaar. Salafees are not Takfeeris].
So O haters of Islam, Boko Haram is not Islam. Do not be deluded by the scanty Arabic of its leaders or their visible show of Islamic garb. The khawaarij of old were people of worship; they would spend all the nights in prayer and fast all the days yet they were upon misguidance simply because they strayed from the path of Prophet Muhammad and his Companions.
They are not people of Sunnah neither is their fighting Jihâd.
Al-Imaam Ahmad bn Hambal – may Allâh be merciful to him said: ‘From the obligatory precepts of Sunnah which whoever leaves any of it has not embraced and believed in the Sunnah, and is not a person of Sunnah: belief in Qadar...whoever rebels against any of the leaders of the Muslims...such a person has broken the unity of the Muslims and has opposed the reports from the Messenger of Allâh – salaLlâhu alayhi wa sallam – if he should die upon that he dies a death in Jâhiliyyah...’
Lest you fall into another mistake, we do not say Boko Haram are not Muslims. They are, but what they do is not Islam. Please go back to the article again. They are among the bad boys in the Ummah. May Allâh rectify them and bring them back to the Sunnah.
And we want to absolve the North.
This writer had the privilege of staying some years in the North: 1996 – 2002. Between 1996 and 1997 he began the learning of Islam proper in the North, in Kaduna to be specific. That was when he picked the Sunnah by the mercy of Allâh the Mighty. Between 1999 and 2002 he was at Ahmadu Bello University pursuing a degree course in Social Sciences. 2002 upwards, he had relocated to the South, for the completion of his university education, and the Islamic learning whatever how meagre.
It is true that anything in the name of Islam sells in the North. Just ascribe anything you do to Islâm, you will have a good followership. He was in Kaduna when the Yan Bradas (the Shiites) nearly took over Kaduna Poly. Many youths – always youths – were ready to lay their lives for the cause of Ayatollah Khomeini and el-Zakyzaky (he is still there in Zaria misleading the youths). At ABU Zaria, he learnt they caused a lot of havoc on Samaru and Kongo campuses. A good number of them were expelled. How many were the face-offs between the Shiites and soldiers on the streets of Kaduna. Those in Kaduna can recall the slogan of ‘kariah ne’ that arose from that.
Dan Gurugu (which was some corruption of ‘Dan Argungu’) menace was another thing he witnessed in Kaduna. This man, Dan Argungu [‘a native of Argungu’], vigorously believed the Sunnah had no place in Islam. He too, had some good followership. Come and see his followers in his Tafseer classes at his mosque in Dutsima Road, Kaduna, one would wonder if his listeners had brains at all.
And the infamous Dahiru Bauchi, the Qutb of the Sufis in the North. His Tafseer classes were thronged by many such that roads are blocked. What was he teaching? Heresies, from beginning to the end!
Yet Kaduna, nay the north, is a nice place to be. Compared with any other place in the country, food is cheaper in the North. The bulk of what is eaten in the south is from the North – beef, cereals and vegetables. It is only in the North you will find the best of the fruits and fresh plants all year round. Be it in Kaduna, Zaria or Kano. The cities of the north are so beautiful such that when you arrive in Kaduna at night, you think you are in some Western world. The houses there are well planned, unlike this writer’s native city described by a poet in the most filthy way. The markets are large and you will always see some orderliness.
The northerners are generally amiable and accommodating. They are not as belligerent as the south-west press has painted them. One thing, Northerners will never condone any act of indiscipline to Islam. They, just like the Arabs and some other cultures permeated by Islam, have a great jealousy (gheerah) for Islam, something seriously lacking in other Muslims. Though some fanaticism often accompanies such jealousy, if they can use the Sunnah to mitigate the gheerah it will be better.
Islam is the dominant culture in the North. So dominating that the non-Muslims living there, especially the natives, bear all the traits of Islam except the Shahaadah and other precepts. The greeting is usually ‘salamalayku,’ the lingua franca is Hausa (which is linguistically closed to larabchi) even in government offices. Western dress is seldom worn; it is Babariga for men and Abaya for women. Tajia caps are always befitting to the men. In the time of any Salaah, the mosques would be filled to the brim. The touts too would attend! Both the rich and the talakawas would line up side by side to worship the same Creator. How many times did this writer pray side by side the then Vice Chancellor of A.B.U!
In Ramadan, all the populace would know the season had changed. The Taraaweeh Prayers are happily observed with long recitations of the Qur’aan. Nobody would complain the salaah was too long. The mosques are well kept and perfumed. There is always joy at Iftaar – breaking of fast. And on the day of Eid, it was all fanfare.
In the North, scholars of Islam are well respected, and the people of Sunnah. ‘Ustaadh! Ustaadh!’ they would call anybody with the trait of Sunnah. If you are a Ustaadh, there is no where you cannot stay in the North even where the Sufis are many, like Kano! This writer one time arrived in Birnin Kebbi (what a beautiful city) and he alongside his comrades was accorded a memorable hospitality.
Some haters have said the Muslims of the North despise the Muslims of the south; what a lie! This writer and many other brothers from the south were among the well-respected duaat on A.B.U Campus between 1999 and 2002. At ICSA/Ramat Hall Mosque, the affairs of the Da’wah were left in their hands. In fact, it is on record that two southern Muslims had served as the Muslim students leaders consecutively on A.B.U. Campus. The situation has not changed. The western press only wants to cause dichotomy between the Muslims of the North and the South.
Yes the Northerners do not like the mediocre Muslims. Unfortunately there are many of such in southern Nigeria.
Islamically speaking, Kaduna, and the North, is cool. Maasha Allâh! If this writer is given the opportunity of staying in the North again, he would choose Kaduna; to drink from the knowledge of its scholars (may Allâh protect them from the mayhem of the Boko Haram), enjoy its halaqaat of the Qur’aan, read from its Islamic libraries such as the one at Katuru Road (if it has not been bombed), live, drink shay and eat suya with its people.
So in 2009 Muhammad Yusuf (may Allâh forgive him) started the Ishtibakaat in the North. We thought it was just some inferno that would be put out in no time, alas we still live by it in 2014. And nobody knows when it will end except Allaah. Despite the worldwide reaction and ‘support’, Jama’ah Ahlis-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wal-Jihaad is waxing stronger. There are some musings in the conventional military that Boko Haram is stronger in the frontline than the salaried soldiers.
This is Fitnah! There is some emboldening in that. Even though, the methodology of Boko Haram, as we have said, is at variance with Islam, its successful exploits in the battlefield are radicalizing and inviting to the enthusiastic Northern youths.
Our belief, as Salafees, is that Khawaarij would never last long. So Boko Haram would fail, Inshâ Allaah. The Khawaarij of old failed so the case of Boko Haram is not going to be different. Boko Haram is upon the Bid’ah; the rulership of Bid’ah does not stay for long. The Sunnah will flush it out, Insha Allâh.
We however advise the Muslims to learn Islam correctly – upon the way of the Salaf under the tutelage of virtuous scholars, they will see the difference.
As for you O haters of Islam, the menace of Boko Haram will soon come to an end Inshâ Allâh. On what basis will you hate us as Muslims, and the Northern Muslims, after that? We have told you, listen again, Boko Haram is not Islam. Don’t mind the bad boys, we shall not relent to tell them they are on the wrong. We hope one day they would hear.
How we wish there could be a proper Islamic rulership in place so that the Boko Haram can be treated as the Khawaarij are supposed to!
Oh Allâh! You are the Helper of Islam and the Muslims. Help us over our enemies and haters; rectify the fools that have smeared us. Do not make us the laughing stock of our enemies because of the acts of the ignoramuses among us.
