THE NATIONAL CHIEF IMAM ON A RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE TEST?
By Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese
(0244198031).
I bring to you the usual Islamic greetings “Salam Alaikum”. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon us all. May Allah forgive us for our inadequacies. May we be guided by the word of God and not by man’s dictates.
Just a quick reminder; I am writing this not as an Islamic scholar, but just an ordinary-moderate-practicing Muslim. Religion they say and believe is complex, but complex not because of its spiritual underpinnings but out of the creation of man due to greed and the quest to exploit the ignorance of another man. This is a personal observation and not a widely held opinion based on research. So take note!
Before the advent of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula, there were several faiths including, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Polytheists and even those who believed in nothing. And when Islam began to spread especially after the migration of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) from Mecca to Yathrib (Madina), these faiths were never denounced but rather accommodated and recognized as a whole part of religious life in Madina where Islam became a formal state. So according to Islamic Scholars and Historians, when the first constitution “Saheeha”was promulgated guided by the precepts of Islam to regulate life and property in Madina, all the existing faiths were duly recognized and protected. In fact, the first article in this constitution captured it clearly-“....one nation to the exclusion of all others...” The extended portions of this constitution sets a clear path as to how the Jews and other faiths were to be protected-“....To the Jews who follow us belong, we should help and treat them with equity. He(Jew) shall not be harmed nor his enemies be protected.” To this, any attack on other religions or tribe was considered an attack on Islam and by extension the state. That was why the Jews were allowed to have their own school called Bait-ul-Midras where they recited the “Torah”, worshipped and taught themselves. So when did Islam/Muslims start to discriminate against “the people of the book” as they were referred to by the early scholars?
Allah Almighty in His wisdom admonished Mankind not to force belief systems on one another. That is why he said in the Holy Quran 2:256...”there is no compulsion in religion.” The “tafsir” (further and better particulars) of this verse give meaning to religious plurality on the surface of this earth and thereby give the rights to individuals to choose the path which they believe to be true. Religion is not to be, and was never, forced upon against individuals against their will. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) therefore left his life as both a religious and political leader to uphold these tenets in order to give effect to the above verse.
By the above narratives, I dare ask these simple questions, has the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu committed “shrik” (an unpardonable sin) when he attended upon a church to interact with them? Could he ever be wrong for praying with his fellow Christians? Before I attempt some answers to these questions, let me quote this Hadith to give some background and effect to my answers...”The Prophet (PBUH) said: Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be an extremist, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that will be rewarded”. Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, Book 2, No. 38.
The above Hadith simply teaches us the simplicity in Islam and condemns religious extremists who go extra beyond the very dictates of the religion to harm others and pass judgment on colleague Muslims without any justification. I read on social media the unwarranted attacks on the Chief Imam and the straight forward judgement from colleague Muslims for worshipping with Christians. What is his crime? Don’t Christians sit with us in our mosques anytime we have our weddings (Nikka)? Don’t they sit and listen to our sermons which sometimes speak against their beliefs? What is the difference?
To the extent that the Old Man never made any “intention
