Separation of Religion from Corruption
[2:269] He [Allah] grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is
granted indeed receives a benefit overflowing. But none will grasp the Message
except men of understanding.
“…Say: ‘Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who
are endowed with understanding that receive admonition.’” Qur’an 39:9
I am grateful to Idris Ahmed Osman. His article (Religion and Rule) has given me the
opportunity to examine in depth some of the issues lingering from my last article
(Separation of Religion and State). What we are engaged in is a national debate and
the aim should always be to educate and help build awareness so that our nation may
move forward.
Seldom is there the need to explain the obvious. Those who lead a Muslim society
will naturally base their decisions on their religious beliefs and values. Those
values are based on righteousness, compassion and peaceful coexistence with all
mankind and with peoples of other faiths. There is no need to point out that
religion is one of our Qiyam (values). When we write we should not lose sight that
the reader is knowledgeable.
It is true Islam guides us (Muslims) on all aspects of life such as legal, social,
political, financial (banking) etc. However, separation of religion from modern
politics is not distancing from the path of Allah. It is to safeguard the position
of
religion as the moral guardian of society. It is also to spare both religion and
politics from damaging one another. Modern politics attracts evils such as greed,
envy, corruption, selfishness and many more. Mixing religion and politics will
benefit neither religion nor politics.
Let us not bring Umar Ibn Al-Khattab into this. The reverence of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab
did not come by accident. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was not egoistic, tribalist,
money-minded and a lover of the limelight. He was not after power per se. He was an
exemplary man: a Khadim: servant of the people — as every politician should be. Umar
Ibn Al-Khattab was a righteous man and an able leader. He was never after worldly
possessions. He was anointed by the Prophet to carry forward his legacy.
The world today is a different place from the days of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. In those
days the people were pure hearted. The followers in those days were receptive to
their leaders. It is true, even then there were mischief-makers such as the Khawarij
who went against Ali Ibn Abi Talib (the Caliph and inheritor of the Prophet’s
legacy) and called him an apostate (Mushrik). [1]
There were also the mischief-makers who murdered the Prophet’s grandsons Hassan and
Hussain. Didn’t they also murder Othman Ibn Afan, the Caliph? The world today is
even more awash with troublemakers. Worse mischief-makers are today on the march in
multitudes with no Caliph to stop them. They are everywhere packaging
themselves as true Muslims. What are they? They are conniving murderers who lust
after power and affluence.
The Prophet himself foresaw the tribulations and trials of this modern era. He
warned Muslims that charlatans will emerge from within. The examples are all around
us. Today, the biggest challenge in the Muslim World is the threat coming from the
enemy within. These individuals are driven by conflict. Their agenda is to dominate
and oppress. It is the nature of extremists to disrespect civil liberties and
deprive others of their freedom. In pursuit of power at any cost, the extremists
have forgotten the one cardinal message of the Qur’an that Islam requires a Muslim
to be a good person! They take things out of context and misuse the message of Allah
to indulge in crimes against humanity.
We have seen how back home hundreds have been murdered in cold-blood in the name of
religion. Ironically, many were gunned down as they exited from mosques. What type
of Muslims are those who murder when the faithful finish their prayers. Where does
the Qur’an permit the killing of the innocent? One of the latest examples of such
senseless and incomprehensible crime is the brutal murder of Osman Ali Ahmed, the
head of the UNDP on 6 July 2008 in Mogadishu. Osman Ali Ahmed has remained in the
capital amid the 18 years of violence and destruction to distribute relief and aid
to the needy. His life was snuffed out as he emerged out of a mosque.
It is a fact of
life that humans interpret or misinterpret things to their liking, dislike or
understanding. People can distort or take things out of context. The Prophet was
aware of this human deficiency. Didn’t he say: What I fear most for my nation is a
man who mis-explains the Qur'an and takes it out of context."[2] It is true that
people have different capacities of understanding for similar things. The more
knowledgeable an individual, the better one’s understanding. Many things require
intellectual understanding. This enables the person to see things from different
perspectives.
Judgment is for judgment day. Let Allah judge the deeds of His creation. In reaction
to my last article, I received many correspondence covering myriad issues. There
were many wise and positive suggestions. One person has suggested stoning those who
commit adultery. First and foremost, the Qur’an says no one should be convicted
without a complete proof. No less than four persons are required to have witnessed
the act of adultery. Otherwise, one will be guilty of slander. How is one going to
prove this? Who can place cameras in every building?
Another person has suggested anyone who did not fast during Ramadan should be
severely punished. I pointed out: “What if the fast was broken because of illness?”
So what are the obligations of a Muslim state in a modern world? A balance should be
struck between the wellbeing of society and civil liberties. During Ramadan no one
should be allowed to eat in publi
c. Those caught once should be cautioned. Those caught again should be re-educated.
It is possible that such individuals did not have a family life or good upbringing.
The state should rely more on educating than using the stick. It should never resort
to draconian ways. What about the needy masses who have little to go by? The state
has moral duty to provide for the needy.
There is a difference between what we see and what the extremists see in the Qur’an.
What we see is beauty, His Grace and Infinite Wisdom, Guidance, Compassion and
Mercy. Another important aspect is repentance. It is repeated in the Qur’an that
those who repent after wrongdoing are forgiven: “Do they not know that Allah accepts
repentance from His servants and takes the alms and that Allah is the Oft-returning
(to mercy), the Merciful?” Sura 9. [3]
The state has the obligation to look after its citizens. It has no time chasing
after petty matters. The state is required to guide, regulate, facilitate and care
for its society. The sick need caring. The homeless and the displaced need looking
after. The hungry need feeding. It is immoral to allow people to go hungry under
their flag. The state has also the duty to fight public immorality. Public
immorality is obscenities committed in the open. For that matter no government
should tolerate kerb-crawling or the practice of selling one’s dignity or body.
When it comes to human correction, I am from a household where my late father has=2
0never flogged anyone — but taught and guided by example. Abuse can harm children
and turn them into damaged adults. A government should never flog its citizens as
though they were cattle. It should never depend on punishment alone to keep its
citizens in line. In this modern age, flogging is not acceptable. Those who have
committed crimes should be sent to correctional facilities for re-education. Let us
not forget that people do not grow on trees. Let us also keep in mind that humans
are the most precious assets on this Kingdom of His Majesty.
Running a nation in a modern and complex world will require special qualities,
knowledge and talent. Everything depends on knowledge. Even simple horse-riding
requires training. That is why there are trainers who make a living out of their
professions. It is a dangerous belief if our people think that it takes nothing to
run a nation. While we should uphold our Islamic religion, values and heritage,
separation of religion and politics will make the state function effectively and
accountably.
Somali politics is unclean and tainted. Let us not bring opprobrium to our religion
by throwing it together with politics. If we put religion and politics together —
religion will be used as a loophole to remain in public office and escape from
public eviction. In all functioning democracies public confidence is withdrawn
without delay from those who abuse power. One of the reasons why the system of
democracy has become the success it is, is because of its c
hecks and balances. This would not have been possible without separation of religion
and politics. In the UK, the Westminster Parliament (the oldest functioning
institution) is 700 years old. It has never been stronger. Mechanisms are in place
to reform and correct the system. The independent media is at the forefront of
accountability in public life. When you mix religion and politics, how can anyone go
after those who breach trust?
Politics is my field but I know my religion from my good upbringing. Our dedication
is to our nation. What we have learned, we have learned to contribute to the
wellbeing of our nation. One of the crimes committed against the Somali nation by
individuals, is the wasting away of our human resources. In our prime, when we
should have been looking after the nation and its interests, half of the nation has
been exiled.
We know politics has not delivered yet for the Somali nation. This does not mean
politics is the wrong application. The main reason why politics has failed to
deliver for the nation is because Somali politics has not been about honesty and
integrity as it should be. Power has become a much sought after commodity. It is
seen as the quickest route to wealth and privilege. The solution is to establish
accountability and the mechanism to safeguard the practice of clean government.
We are not examining issues from a shallow point. Without politics there can be no
functioning society. Unfortunately, the profession of politics has Achilles heels.
It attract
s crooks, the same way a drop of honey attracts insects. We are also aware that
anyone can hide behind the cloak of respectability of religion. We have seen how
anyone can abuse the honourable position of Imams. It is only the Almighty who has
the power to know the inner being and feelings of His creations. In progressive
politics accountability is a must. What we need is to hold those who go into our
political system (public domain) — accountable.
Leaders are the product of their time. We cannot compare past leaders with today’s
leaders. While technology has enhanced the quality of life, the fast pace of life is
fuelling greed, selfishness and decadence. That is why Somali politics is tainted
and unclean. It is only separation which can make it possible for religion to retain
its position as the moral guardian of society. It is imperative that the judiciary
of the nation is independent and free from state manipulation. That way it will
ensure our society to be governed by laws and not by men.
In this age, Fatwa is one of the most abused words in the Muslim world. Our purpose
in life is not to instigate conflict, disharmony and division. These are the work of
Shaydan (the devil). Somalia may be in a terrible state, but at least what has been
damaged is not our religion. For the past 18 years what we have been robbed of is
not our religion but our homeland, nationhood, security etc.
Fanaticism has no place in Islam. Islam is the religion of moderation
. Islam commands us to desist from transgression. This is not a monolithic world.
This is a diverse and interdependent world where there are multi-nations and faiths
with which we share common humanity. A common religion on its own does not guarantee
peace and harmony either. The best example is Somalia where Muslim Somalis fight one
another on the lines of clan and sub-clan. Let us not delude ourselves. Your true
brother is anyone who wants your wellbeing and progress.
Our politics has become like a muddied pond in which anyone can have a go. Stateless
Somalia has become like the Somali proverb: Nin jirran boqol u talisay. (A sick man
gets advice from a hundred). No-one in their right mind is suggesting the formation
of a government which denies Muslim Somalis to live in accordance with our religion.
What we want is a forward-moving nation which upholds our religion. A nation that is
at peace with itself and with the rest of mankind: a government that will meet the
needs of its people.
We know what works! In a modern world Somalia shall require modern governance. We
have the knowledge of our divine obligations. Islam has laws which regulate
followers — individually as well as collectively. What we also know is that power
can corrupt the individual. Humans have also the capacity to abuse. Without
mechanisms to ensure sound governing, the trust of public office will be abused.
Mixing religion and politics will bring neither sound politics nor spare religion
from the stain of modern
politics. Somali politics is a mess. It has been so for a long time. What we are
endeavouring for is to find a way, to one day establish the mechanisms to clean our
politics. If we throw religion together with politics the outcome will make both
religion and politics worse of. These are the realities of modern statecraft!
Notes:
1. Ali Ibn Talib was the son-in-law of the Prophet .He was the first intellectual
Muslim thinker.
2. Bukhari narrated by the route of Ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam, described the Khawarij as those who took the verses revealed about the
blasphemers and attributed them to the believers!
3. Sura 9, verses 102-106 more on repentance.
Abdullahi Dool
Hornheritage@aol.com
VOA 13pm GMT
IslamOnline
