Muslims in the northern part of Nigeria have been called upon to learn how to accommodate worshippers of other religions for the achievement of peaceful coexistence and an ideal society that we all desire.
The Chief Imam of Police Central Mosque, Akure, Alhaji Akintola Eyitayo Taofik made this call in an exclusive interview with PRESENT NIGERIA at the Police Secondary School, Itaogbolu, Ondo State.
This call by Alhaji Taofik is coming on the heels of the recent gruesome killing of Miss Deborah Samuel; a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto; who was hacked to death by a rampaging mob over alleged blasphemy.
While affirming that the Islamic injuction about blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed is a redline and is very strict, Alhaji Taofik however condemned in it’s totality the jungle justice action of the mob that killed Deborah Samuel.
“The Islamic injuction about blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed is very strict, but it has to go through the legal way; whether in the Sharia Courts or in our national Common Law Courts. Even if it is a Muslim that blasphemes against Prophet Mohammed, he or she has to be arrested and sued to court, an Islamic court, and the eventual judgement is death. But, it is only the court that can pronounce such judgement, not through personal judgement or jungle justice.”
“But because Nigeria is a multi-religious society, we have to live together and tolerate each other, whether we like it or not. The peaceful coexistence in Southwest Nigeria between Christians and Muslims have to be extended to the northern part of Nigeria. The northern Muslims must learn how to accommodate worshippers of other religions, and must not take laws into their hands in the case of someone crossing the redline in Islam like the case of Deborah Samuel.”
“Though Deborah crossed the redline in Islam by blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed, her action however, did not warrant her gruesome killing. And for those who killed her, they have committed a very grievous offence. The Holy Quran does not support it. The Holy Quran teaches us not to kill. Rather, the Holy Book tells us that to kill is a grave offence, and to burn someone is one of the gravest offences in Islam. The Holy Quran tells us further that the only person who can judge someone with fire is Allah himself. It is only Allah that can forgive the killers of Miss Deborah Samuel.”
“Let us not display ignorance. Those that killed Deborah and burnt her body, if they have the knowledge that they cannot take the soul they cannot create, they wouldn’t try it. If they know that it is islamically wrong of them to burn a living being; even if it is an ant; talk less of a human being, they would not have done it. Only Almighty Allah can forgive them.”
While reiterating that Islam is a religion of peace, the Imam also called on the Nigerian government to ensure adequate dispensation of justice in the land to avoid the cruel and mindless meting out of jungle justice at any given provocation.
“Islam is a religion of peace. It is coined from the word: ‘salam’, meaning ‘peace’. But the fact is there is no justice in the land. Our judicial laws don’t work. Our government has failed us in that aspect. I am therefore not surprised that the people have resorted to meting out jungle justice at any given provocation. The government must intensify it’s efforts at dispensing justice in a prompt manner and bringing wrongdoers to book. If this is done, the people will not easily resort to applying jungle justice at any slight provocation.”
© PRESENT NIGERIA
