The Chief Missioner of Ansar-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Rahman Ahmad, has said that the Boko Haram insurgency is more of politics and not religion, adding that some sinister politicians were only using religion as a potent force to carry out the dastardly act.
Ahmad, who said this during a one-on-one interactive programme, View From The Top on Channels Television , on Tuesday afternoon, lamented that “unfortunately, government and religious leaders have failed to rise to the occassion.”
He said further that the Boko Haram insurgence is not a war against Christians or Muslims but a war against the conscience of the country.
“I think we all are not doing enough to curb this menace. The government is not doing enough, the faith communities are not doing enough too. Unfortunately, the Muslims and Christian leaders are not rising to the occasion. They are pointing fingers at each other.
“But I can assure everyone that it is not their war. It is not a war against them. It is not about religion or God. It is against the conscience of this country. We are a one united nation and there is nothing that would happen in this country that will not affect both the Christians and the Muslims.
“I do not believe that Nigeria would be better off by splitting. But even if that happens, it would be impossible to have a country where there are only Christians or Muslims,” he said.
Speaking on the role that politics has played regarding the issue of Boko Haram in Nigeria, he said, “it is all about politics if you ask me, but politics employing religion as a potent force. Religion is meant to easily incite emotion and passion.
“If we broaden our minds a little, we will see that certain politicians can go to any lenghth to turn communities against one another. Unfortunately, people who have been living together for years would suddenly turn against each another and become enemies.
“I can give you instances: the Urhobos and the Itsekiris, Ife and Modakeke, Ofa and Erinle. It happened in Jos too. Ordinarily, these people have no difference in their languages and culture. They have been inter-married over time.
“An issue will just come up and they will start fighting. These are all about politics. We never had it this bad in the first republic. Therefore, I see much of politics than religion,” he averred.
Speaking on the role poverty has also played in the insurgence, he said: “there is a lot of poverty in the north. Not an ordinary poverty but a special kind of poverty. I think to an extent, poverty has played a role but I want to tell you that it is not poverty that is responsible for what we are seeing now.
“It is a backfire, backfire to the extent that politicians are cashing in on the low level of education, marginalisation and disenchantment in the area. Poverty has played a role but it was religious sentiment, manipulation and low level of education to my mind that are responsible for all these.”
Speaking on Jihad in Islam, he said: “Jihad is to strive towards a goal, every effort towards improving the lot of a particular community, to improve spiritually, educationally and economically is jihad. It does not necessarily mean attacking innocent people, fighting or killing anyone. Far from it.” Sheik Ahmad, while also speaking on suicide in Islam, said: “Allah said in the Holy Quran that don’t use your hand to bring destruction to yourself or kill oneself. Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) said that whoever killed himself will suffer the pains that he suffered at the point of death till the day of resurrection.
“Islam totally condemns suicide. It says that whoever takes his life is like taking the life of humanity and whoever takes another life unjustly is like taking the life of a whole universe.”
He added that the assertion that 70 virgins await a suicide bomber in heaven is not Quranic and un-Islamic, saying that Islam only preaches peace and harmony and does not provide safe haven for criminals. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
May God bless you sheik for ur thorough explanation of what Islam is. I think this will give many people understanding that Islam abhors killing and destruction of property
ReplyDeleteSheik, you have made the points.Let us all search our minds and do the right thing. Nobody can politicise Islam for selfish interest and be friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a comprehensive message or lecture 4 dose who hav ears 2 act on. May God save us 4m Boko Haram. Pls let's al rise nd fight against injustice nt condemning one religion 4 odas
ReplyDeleteSo what are the aims and objectives for killing innocent souls the BOKO-HARAM fellows?
ReplyDeleteAbegi, Stop disceiving yourselves. Islam is a religion of destruction and blood sucking! All over the world Muslims are destroying innocent lives so pls wake up and receive Jesus Christ and your soul shall be saved from eternal condemnation. Sheik stop misleading your people and turn to God
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 11:41 you sound decieved and confused already,you need prayers!
ReplyDeleteSheik, You have spoken well like a man that loves peace and progress of the country. You also pointed out that BOKO HARAM is a product of bad governance, that is impoverishment of Nigerians by government. I'm a Christian, I don't condemn people based on religion, ethnicity etc. I also believe that the Moslems ( Sincere ones ) are not happy with the menace of BOKO HARAM, our prayer is that with God's help, our Leaders will be able to find a lasting solution to this " Thorn in the flesh "
ReplyDeleteAgain, another Muslim cleric that thinks that our brains are made of cheese! First of all he said this is not a religious issue. Wow, I must have misheard all those times where boko haram members were screaming 'allahu akbar' before blowing up stuff. In all their videos they claim they are fighting in the cause of allah to establish a muslim state and get rid of the christians and other 'khafur'.
ReplyDeleteThe rule that says 'if you kill a man it is as if you have killed all of mankind' was not a rule for muslims according to the quran. In fact, this was a rule for the Jews, but of course the sheikh is making it seem like this is the quran's teaching for all muslims, typical taquiyya.
He then said Jihad means any type of struggle. Now you are just insulting everyone's intelligence. The way the quran and hadith use the word jihad is as a struggle in the way of allah, not just some random person struggling to lose weight or something like that. It is your muslim sources that say 'if anyone comes before allah without a mark on him as a result of fighting, allah will meet him with a deficiency.' Religion of peace indeed.
Then, virgins... The quran expressly states that there will be 'houris' or virgins in 'paradise' that will be rewarded to the faithful muslim. The 72 number comes from a hadith. Quite frankly, i find it really sad that for muslims, not only can they ever know if they will get into paradise, if they get there, they receive exactly the same things they could have gotten on earth. They still do not receive an eternal relationship with their god, only more s*xual activity. So sad.
Foreign gods worshippers are destroying our Country...Christians and Muslims should pack their belongings to Israel and Mecca. I guarante you this nonsense will stop.
ReplyDeleteThe sheik will say one thing to the press and they will do another in their secret places and nocturnal meetings,the north cannot be trusted,they have a sinister agenda
ReplyDeleteIn the Sunan Ibn Majah, one of the six major Hadith collections,[30] it states in a hasan (good)[8] narration that every male admitted into Paradise will be given eternal erections and wed to 72 wives, all with libidinous sex organs.[9] Similarly in another hadith with multiple narrators that has been graded hasan (good), it states that the martyr (shahid) will be married to seventy-two of al-hoor al-‘iyn.[31][32]
ReplyDeleteBut why bombing churches if it is political? how many politicians have they killed? why are they not using other religion to terrorize the country? i think the best thing is for the country to split. i just got to know the literal meaning of "BOKO-HARAM" few weeks ago. This is so sad and i think you could hear in Mr President's voice yesterday he is fed up and will fight gun for gun...there will be great terror in Nigeria in the next few months and only 1 group will win. Lets talk to our religious brothers about violence and its significance....please deceive yourselves we are learned and we would not Negotiate with Terrorists.
ReplyDeleteMr President i feel so sad that all this is happening during this time, I checked the top 10 terrorist countries and Nigeria was in it. I feel so sad to be a Nigerian when i get to see things like bombings on CNN please.....Until they start bombing politician,parties secretariat,Government offices, then i would believe its not a religious sect. till then save your sermons.