To give advice to your brother in private is to beatify him. To advise him in public is to humiliate him
Ustaz Nura Khalid alias Digital Imam, the Chief of Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters and also founder of Islamic Research and Da’awa Foundation (IRDF) has a reputation for bland criticism and his diatribe against the current administration leaves a lot to be desired of a cleric of his standing.
His sermons and religious callings have earned him popularity amongst those opposed to the system. He is often carried away by the thunderous applauses and commentaries by those who follow the pattern of his teachings. His sermons on the current state of the nation are laced with vituperations unbecoming of a religious leader much less an Imam, who must exhibit exemplary character in both words and deeds.
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His open attacks on the office of the President is, to say the least, unfortunate for a leader of his import and calling. He is often carried away by the rumbling of the congregation thereby throwing caution to the wind.
A Mosque is not a political arena for demagogic appeals but a sacred place for religious worship and the Minbar (Pulpit) is an exalted seat of honour which resides in one of the most sacred places of the mosque.
In one of his recent sermons that went viral on the social media, he lashed out at the presidency to the point of calling Mr. President ineffectual, whose taciturn posture and crocodile tears smack of hypocrisy.
He went further to pass a damning verdict on the regime which he believed has turned the Muslim into a modern day slave and by implication a second class citizen who could be bought and sold and could only pay to secure his freedom.
Also, in another sermon, he drew conclusions from his comparison of the current with immediate past on the violence rocking the country, calling on the president to return the country to the state he found her when he took over the mantle of leadership.
We are not unmindful of the current socio-economic challenges facing our country and the new wave of violence in form of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, herders/farmers clash. To some lesser extent, the upsurge in urban crimes caused largely by economic mismanagement and corruption. These cannot be disputed.
However, as Muslims, Allah SWT has admonished us to be fair in our judgment, even if it is against our enemy. We should not be quick to forget the terror that nearly swept the nation under the immediate past regime. In our collective amnesia, we tend to forget the shadow that the past regime casts on the present and often ignore the giant strides this administration has achieved in the fight against terrorism.
We were all witnesses to the bombings and suicide attacks that rocked the nation during the past administration. To liken the attack on a military institution to the loss of power by the state is to feign ignorance of the multiple bombings that rocked far greater institutions than the NDA in the last regime.
The UN headquarters bombing, the suicide bombing of the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the bombings of the Jaji military base, the bomb attack at Nyanya motor-park, the bomb attacks on the Kano and Maiduguri Juma’at mosques and several other bombing and suicide attacks targeted at both hard and soft targets too numerous to list may suffice to lay to rest any form of ranting.
We must not also forget how Boko Haram Jihadists nearly overwhelmed our defence and security apparatus when they laid siege and exerted control over about 50 local government areas across three states of the North-East, hoisting their flags while subjecting the conquered communities to their form of rule.
Nigerians were also terrified and psychologically traumatized in the last regime. It got to a point that we became wary of one other. A slight misplacement of a polythene bag could send panic and pandemonium across our communities.
Apart from terrorism and other crimes, we also fell victims to state sponsored terror where roadblocks were mounted across the north and people made to suffer a great deal of humiliation and punishments by koboko-wielding and stern looking soldiers who spared no one their anger.
Elderly people were forced to climb down, searched and made to trek long distances while on journey and in extreme cases were beaten and forced to pass through corporal punishments without regards to their status. Others were forced to climb down from their motorcycles at respectful distances and made to push them until they are away – far away – from every roadblock.
Even pregnant women in labour or sick people were not spared. There were incidences where women in labour were forced to climb down from their vehicles and made to walk long distances in pain without mercy. What form of terror is worse than what we experienced? Yet those who are blind to reason would come out to condemn, in its entirety, a regime that inherited a wounded lion on the loose.
To all pundits and followers alike, who listen to his sermons, no one could fail to notice the propaganda that laced the diatribe against the President. It was a clear departure from the norm and tradition of the Prophet (SAW), where the sacred nature of the pulpit desired decorum, sagacity and utmost humility in delivering the message of Allah (SWT) to the Ummah.
Unbeknownst to the scholar, he has played to the gallery by completely surrendering himself to political manipulations. The pulpit is a place to deliver sermon and not a podium for political campaigns or propaganda. His distortions of facts and figures to massage ego or appeal to the sentiments of his followers and politicians is most unfortunate, considering the circumstances upon which he rained his diatribe.
Allah (SWT) admonished the Ummah to be mindful of the use of language and words not only in their daily dealings but in calling others to the right path. A kind word is charity and an act of Ibadat even if uttered in private. The use of foul and offensive language and deliberate attacks on those who presumably err would not cause them to be sober but could only add salt to injury.
Abu Huraira reported that Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. said “the words of wisdom is the lost possession of a believer, whosoever finds them have more rights over them.” Tirmidhi
Ulamas (scholars) are the representatives of the Prophets and Messengers of God here on earth. Abu Darda reported that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said “The scholars are the successors of the prophets. The prophets, verily do not pass on gold and silver coins, but rather they only impart knowledge.”
This is therefore the desired teachings of Ulamas to reflect the path laid for them by the Prophets. From Prophet Adam A.S. down to the last Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. their message to the Ummah has been delivered through wisdom, painstaking patience, perseverance, love and affection even in extreme or challenging circumstances. They have suffered isolation, humiliation, bodily harm, mental torture, yet they persevered.
Lukman the wise in counseling his son always used the placating term of Oh! My Son” even though, as a father, he exerts authority over his son and has the power to command him to do his wishes.
In the 950 years he spent calling on his people to the path of Truth, Prophet Noah A.S. was a classic example of persuasion and perseverance in delivering the words of God.
In Suratul Nuh Chapter 71, he sought refuge in the Lord and said my Lord “I invited my people to truth night and day. I certainly called them openly. Then I invited them publicly, then I surely preached to them publicly and privately then I announced to them and also confided with them secretly” and in all these years, he never despaired.
Allah SWT says in Surah An-Nahl, Verse 16 ‘Invite all to the way of thy lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious. For thy lord knoweth best who have strayed from His path and who receive guidance.”
When Allah SWT sent back Prophet Moses AS to Paraoh to preach His message and invite him to the truth, he admonished him to be respectful. Pharaoh was the most tyrannical ruler mentioned in the Noble Qur’an and his atrocities were mentioned in many verses.
Nevertheless, in Suratul Taha, Verses 43-44 Allah SWT commanded “Go both of you, to Pharaoh for indeed he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle words perhaps he may be reminded or fear of Allah”
Prophet Muhammad PBUH described his mission to Ta’if as the most difficult journey he has undertaken in his lifetime. He was confronted by a mob at the village’s gate who jeered, booed and even attacked his company causing him bodily injuries.
Allah SWT sent down Angel Jeebril alongside the Angel of mountains to cause the prophet to direct them to destroy the village and all that was in it.
Prophet Muhammad PBUH, rather than submit to their demands, knelt before God and prayed that Allah be merciful to his tormentors. The prophet, still bleeding says rather I pray that Allah SWT blesses their children to be Muslims and worship Him alone. Even if they have rejected Islam, I pray that Allah SWT blesses their progeny to be Muslims.
“To you, my lord I complained of my weakness, lack of support and the humiliation I am made to receive. Most compassionate and most merciful, You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom do You leave me…. I seek refuge in the light of Your face by which all darkness is dispelled and both this life and the life to come are put in their right course against incurring Your wrath or being the subject of Your anger. To You I submit until I earn Your pleasure. Everything is powerless without Your support.
Ustaz Nurad Khalid should respect the exalted seat of the President and spare Mr President the flurry of false accusations and distortion of facts. His title of Sheikh is equivalent to a professor in the Western sense of it and, far more importantly, not only for its knowledge content but for its spiritual height and moral values.
A sheikh is not only a reservoir of knowledge but an exemplary character in words and deeds whose actions must be worthy of emulation.
Ustaz Nuradeen Khamis can be reached at [email protected]
