Amnesty and the Qur'an

By Ishola Balogun

Many are coming to terms with the fact that the activities of the Boko Haram is un-Islamic. With the way the terrorist group go about their heinous crime, except for the stalwarts of jahiliyah (ignorance) and those whose vested interest in the society is to fan the embers of discord, religious and sectional acrimony, and those who want to make people believe their religion is superior and who are blinded to the development that these insurgents kill without regard to the faith you belong; they know the fact.

Reports indicated that more Muslims died in the Kano park blast. We gathered from reliably source that many of the health workers who were killed for administering polio vaccines were Muslims, the Emir of Kano Ado Bayero narrowly escaped death? but his driver and three of his guards who were Muslims also died.

The northerners who are predominantly Muslims are? constantly living in fear as bombs do no discriminate. Every reasonable Nigerian who has blood running through his vein will also empathize with hundreds of other non-Muslims who have been killed gruesomely by Boko Haram.

Their decoy was to make it as though it is a religious battle much more when some of the perpetrators will go on YouTube even speaking Arabic denoting they are Muslim.? Yes! there are bad elements in every religion, but they do have the mandate of every Muslim? Does the Qur?an and Hadiths support this carnage? Obviously not. Muslim scholars here and abroad have continued to condemn all these acts of terrorism.

I must say that all those who do mischief in the name of Allah will be punished.? Qur?an Chapter 5, verses 33-34 says: ?The punishment of those who run around and spread mischief about Allah and His Messenger is this: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.?? The Quaran does not condone these acts of killing and maiming in the name of Allah. In fact no religion does.

The rejection of modern education is not a creed in Islam as the Prophet (s.a.w) ordered that seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.? The imposition of Sharia law in a multi-religious society is also not acceptable.? It is a contradiction of the verse: La ikraa-fi-deen; which means: No compulsion in religion; with other verses clearly stated.? The killing of people is a great sin before Allah (SWT).

The Quran teaches that whoever kills a soul has killed a nation and whoever saves a soul has saved a nation. Again, the destruction of state property is antithetical to the teachings of Islam as the Qur?an teaches obedience to constituted authorities. So, why should anyone who is informed link Islam to it? It is nothing but grand ignorance of grandeur.

Today, we thank God government is taking positive steps in dealing with the situation.? In fact, information less than 24hour ago indicated that government has decided to offer amnesty to the group and engage in discussion with the group in order to bring lasting peace.

Recall that it was first the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa?ad Abubakar who advised the government to offer the group amnesty.? Although there were divergent views on the issue of amnesty but suffice to say it cut across religious feelings.? In fact, some Muslims were even opposed to the call for amnesty for the group.

Sheikh Gumi said ?the call for amnesty is hypocritical adding that the sect has disrespect for the Qur?an or Hadith or even Scholarly fatwa. They have their own interpretation,? he stated. Again, Roman Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, joined the list of those calling for amnesty to members of Boko Haram. The cleric, in his Easter message, said though the offer would not solve all the nation?s problems, ?it will bring us closer to a new dawn?.

Since Allah is the Most Forgiving and Merciful, those who call for clemence for the group are in order and that is the way to go.? The Qur?an further states: ?Except for those who repent (referring to those who cause mischief in the land in the name of Allah as stated in the above verse) before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

The perpetrators should come forward and seek forgiveness. Over politicisation of the matter will not help the situation. There should be a sincere approach to end this carnage from both sides. Allah is the Most Forgiving.

Saudi-Arabia cuts 2013 hajj allocation to Nigeria

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Saudi Arabian authorities have cut down the number of slots allocation to Nigeria for the 2013 pilgrimage to the holy land by Muslim faithful.

Meanwhile, in preparation towards the commencement of Unified Pilgrims Electronic Registration System APERS, Lagos state government has opened five registration centres across the state as part of measures to ease this year hajj operations.

It would be recalled that in 2012,? over 1000 Nigerian female pilgrims without their mahramwere detained in Saudi Arabia but the authorities later deported 510 pilgrims.

The issue sparked off a slight diplomatic row between the two countries. About 95,000 Nigerians that performed 2012 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

According to Lagos state Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole, through the Principal Information Officer, of the Ministry, Ganiu Lawal, the state pilgrims Board had been directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to inform all intending pilgrims that all females pilgrims must be accompanied by a Maharam (Male relation) to forestall the repatriation of pilgrims experienced during the year 2012 hajj airlift.

He stated: ?Due to the on-going expansion of the holy mosque in Makkah the slot allocated to nations including Nigeria has been affected with subsequent impact on allocations to states.

?Consequently all intending pilgrims above 65 years of age must be accompanied by a younger relation while anyone with health challenges will not be allowed to perform this year?s hajj.?

The commissioner was however, silent on the total number allocated for Nigeria for this year pilgrimage.

On the new electronic registration process, introduced by the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, the commissioner said is a pre-condition for the issuance of hajj visa to intending Year 2013 hajj pilgrims and would be conducted in centres spread within the five divisions of the state.

?NAHCON also directed that 80 percent of state allocation should be reserved for first time intending pilgrims. This will be implemented in Lagos state to ensure the spread of opportunity to those who are visiting the holy land for the first time, ? he stated.

According to Danmole, the centres and the council areas of coverage are: Ojo Local Government Secretariat, Kosofe Local Government Secretariat Muslim Pilgrims Board Office, Ikeja, Surulere Local Government Secretariat and Eti-Osa Local Government Secretariat?All intending pilgrims who were screened and adjudged fit for the Year 2013 hajj are required to visit the centres assigned to their Local Government areas for the Unified Pilgrims Electronic Registration capturing.?Danmole stated.

Our leaders lack political will to fight crime ? Onibon

Dr Nosiru Onibon? of the department of Language Studies, Lagos state University said lack of political will on the part of the leadership of this country in tackling corruption was the major reason for the endemic corruption in the system.

He made this assertion at the 97th annual conference of Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria held recently in Lagos.

Dr. Onibon who delivered lecture on the topic: ?Challenges of violence, Crime, Corruption and Insecurity in Nigeria ? Issues and solution from Islamic perspective? said leaders should practice what they preach and show enough sacrifices to be able to fight crime in the society. ?Our leaders should lead by example and forgo certain privileges so that they can have the morality and the will to fight crime in our society.? If they see that you are making enough sacrifice, the followers will do the same.?

?Crime is a vicious circle of causes and consequences.? It is multidimensional and prohibited in Islam because if affects the fabric of the society.?? He added that the prevailing institutional inefficiency, bureaucratic bottleneck, bad leadership, and weak legislative and judicial systems are some of the things that could trigger crime in the society.

The Vice President of the Movement, Barrister M. Ojelade said the topic was chosen because it constituted the major problem of the country.? While speaking with newsmen during the event, Alhaji Ojelade stated that people should be severely punished for their misdemeanour as a way of deterring others from committing offences.

On the call for amnesty for the Boko Haram group, he stated that if that will bring peace and unity to the country, the president should go ahead and declare amnesty to them.

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Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/amnesty-and-the-quran/

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