Misunderstanding, misconstruing or fusing some traits of the extremists with, or as, the general features of Muslims, often with an unmistakable intent to slur them, not only discriminate the whole Muslims but also provides a cheap cover for the extremists, in addition to falsely enlarging their base and creating an imaginary solid base for them within the Muslims. This has provided a big cover, also, to criminals who understand that all they need to do is to give their operations a Boko Haram look, and all will believe it is “them.”
I was shocked when a commentator, among the “intellectuals,” subtly seem to opine that whenever issues like the Gaza Genocide arises, as heated debate ensued, the likes of Shekau comes to his mind. He seemed to be equating any anti-west or pro-Islam activity as extremism informed by lack of “good understanding” of Islam. This is an amazing display of complete ignorance about our extremists and the greatest unfairness meted to the Muslims. The extremists have a completely different understanding of Islam with the Nigerian Muslims. They have different fiqh, different worldview, almost completely different understanding of the scriptures with the Nigerian Muslims. The obvious confusion going on in the minds of many “intellectuals”, which made it difficult for them to spot the stark difference, is unfortunate.
The “intellectuals” seem to be much in a hurry to find a derogatory name for people they ought to be actually enlightening. There is a disparity in definition of the term “extremism” between the Islamic perspective and the western perspective.
Not that some of them are not very much aware of what they are doing, but one can understand if non Muslims in Nigeria, especially those from the south, are confused about extremism or even mix up things, given the daily misinformation churned out from some newspapers that can go to any level of unprofessionalism to attract buyers or gain readership. They could also be excused for ignorance of the reality given the dishonourable conduct of our politicians, who are all out to exploit the nation’s woes to get votes, to the extent that a monster that seeks to finish all is falsely painted as a political gimmick from opponents, citing incoherent and laughable evidences. This is compounded by the manipulation of some international media that churn cleverly crafted misinformation about Muslims which are gulped hook line and sinker as absolute truths by some. But it is inconceivable that a Muslim “intellectual”, who put it upon himself to publicly discuss issues affecting Muslims, whom he must have been living with for the better part of his existence, will indulge in unsubstantiated branding of people as extremists, and even attempt to connect them to the Shekaus of this world, unless he is on a mission.
Many wonder, as one honest man inquired, why do so many groups around the world at present have a tendency to misinterpret the message of Islam. Why do Boko Haram, al-shabab, ISIS, the al-Nusrah Front, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb etc all understand and interpret the message of Islam differently? What makes a multiple groups in different parts of the world to all fail to understand the true message of Islam despite the fact that their leaders claim to some form of religious scholarship? Why do the members of all these groups fail to understand that Islam does not permit them to kill innocent people even if they are defending themselves against western hegemony?
As I pointed earlier, we must understand that the extremism embraced by different organizations like Boko Haram, that claim to be Islamic, is based on a specific ideology, imbibed by them, which is different from that of the rest of Muslims. It is developed from a completely different jurisprudence, different understanding, and different evidences from which these groups get their stimulations. Anybody who takes a good look at these extremist groups will find out that they have specific philosophy, perspective and jurisprudence on which they base their activities. They heavily rely on verses that are not entirely clear (mutashabihaat) and ignore verses of commandments (Al-Ahkam), they incline towards the branches (Juz’iyyaat) and overlook the whole (Kulliyaat), they hold on to literal meanings and abandon the purpose or intent, just as they shun verses and ahadith that contradicts their stands. Most of the time, they put the verses and hadiths where they do not belong (quoting out of context) and, in the process, they badly disfigure the meaning and/or sequence.
They also, comfortably rely on commentaries or explanations of some Islamic scholars, who wrote, bearing in mind their times (not ours), and the prevailing situation and circumstances they found themselves in. They simply read those books or are told their contents and/or the Fatwas of those times, given by high profile scholar(s) who are/is respected and of unquestionable integrity and educational background. Some of these are backed with verses of the Qur’an and the sayings or actions of the prophet (SAW), which are subject to interpretations, thus even if those Fatwas were well-suited with that time (they are mostly at war), they are not meant for all times and applicable everywhere. It is a known rule that Fatwas are given with special consideration to time, place and the people.
As pointed out earlier, they quote verses and ahadith out of contexts and when confronted with verses that contradict their stand they say it was abrogated. The issue of abrogation is problematic and they also use that from a very flawed and contradictory perspective.
They do not respect the Jihad guidelines, the treaty processes, the processes and stages of enjoining good and prohibiting bad (Amr bil Ma’aruf wan nahy anil Munkar), the rights of non combatants, the sanctity of human lives, and loads of other issues fully discussed and clearly stated in Islamic books of jurisprudence.
They kill innocent people because they believe that the current governments, across the Muslim world, are unislamic and anti-Islam that need to be replaced, forcefully, with Islamic ones. Therefore, as they are illegitimate, all Muslims must, as a religious duty, reject them. Failure to do that and even participate in the processes of elections or working for them makes the people equally guilty and legitimate targets. They based this on a rule that he who does not renounce an unbeliever (the government in this case) is also an unbeliever.
Understanding this will provide answers to many questions about the extremists. It will also give an insight to why they do what and actually believe they are doing Allah’s work.
Notwithstanding the fact that all the verses, hadiths and other scholarly works they rely on to perpetrate their atrocities are all in and within Islam, it is absolutely insufficient and roundly illogical to insist, either by them or any other person, that that is Islam. The simple fact that there are capacious evidences in the teachings of Islam that contradicts their stand is enough to make this cogent.
Long before this time, the Khawarij, Az-Zanj, the Qaramidah, and many more deviant sects have made far worse devastating atrocities across the Muslims world, ironically in the name of Islam and against Muslims. But the truth prevailed, and the real and true message of Islam is still intact.
The question, usually, on the lips of many is how we confront this. It is my belief that you can never win an ideological battle with a gun or bomb. The best way to tackle this is for the ulama to engage the ideologies that stimulate this and shred it with superior argument. The best way to soften a hard heart is to talk to it with the language it understands and with a caring and brotherly approach. This has been done in recent times by some scholars and organizations like jama’atul Jihad, which was among the most violent of such extremist organizations, came to realise that it was actually wrong on many of its stands. The organizations revised itself and even wrote 12 books retracting many of its erroneous stands from the Islamic viewpoint. It is, therefore, doable in this country, if the ulama will take the baton, or continue with their enlightenment activity as they have been doing. This is just one among the many ways to confront this situation, in my humble opinion.

Muhammad Mahmud
meinagge@gmailcom
08065880423

[su_heading size=”12″ margin=”40″](The Views expressed in this and other opinion articles are strictly personal and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Greenbarge Reporters)[/su_heading]

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