By Sheikh Gumi
I am not a keen political
commentator probably because my brain also filters information through the
prism of religion, but I definitely now believe that Mr. Jonathan is neither a
politician nor does he mean well for other Nigerians.
His ‘tourism’ to Israel is a big
political blunder, I said tourism because it’s never in the annals of true
Christianity to partake pilgrimage as it’s a cardinal tenets of Islam to go on
such pilgrimage to three most Ancient mosques in the World. In a hadith
narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Huraira, the prophet – peace be upon
him was quoted as saying: “No religious journey is allowed except to three
mosques”. They are the Makkah mosque, the Medina mosque and the Jerusalem
mosque.
Nigeria along with many other
African and world countries has sided with the plight of the Palestinians that
were forced out of their homeland, killed and scattered. There are still
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and all over the world. They are
prevented from entering their mother land just because it was confiscated by the western powers with Israel used as
a ‘front’. It’s a share case of colonization with expulsion of the rightful
occupants. For this reason no Nigerian president in the past, Muslim or
Christian has visited Israel in order not to honor such injustice.
Today Nigeria riddled with
insurmountable political, economic and social problems, our least priority is a
state visit to a controversial state where human suffering is the norm of the
day. What do we stand to gain from Israel? For one, the Jews -I am saying this
without any prejudice- are traditionally known to be misers while we African
are seldom not beggars. Charity is not in there lexicon. Jesus – alaihis Salam-
has condemned them in the most explicable terms no other human has done. ‘Ye
serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of
hell?’M’t:23:33.
In the Quran, Jews were also cursed
with misery and lowliness; they can only parasite on other nations to survive
and on Allah’s mercy on occasions. Allah said: “ Shame is pitched over them
(Like a tent) wherever they are found, except when under a covenant (of
protection) from Allah and from men; they draw on themselves wrath from Allah,
and pitched over them is (the tent of) destitution. This because they rejected
the Signs of Allah, and slew the prophets in defiance of right; this because
they rebelled and transgressed beyond bounds”. Q3/112
Notherless the Quran in fairness
said “Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that
stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of Allah all night long, and
they prostrate themselves in adoration. “ Q3/113.
What concern us now, is that
Jonathan has succumbed to the pressure to support the Jews at the detriment of
the oppressed Palestinians and the teaming millions of Nigerians living under
the most appalling conditions, our children out of schools, and the
ostentatious life style of his ministers, cronies and oil thieves.
If Jonathan wants religious peace in
Nigeria, his visit to a religiously controversial state is a mistake. The message
is that he is insensitive to Muslim’s sensibility. There is share recklessness
in such an adventure. Truly Islam has enjoined Muslims to interact, mutually
benefit with the Jews in business and marriage. Muslims are allowed to eat
their food, therefore it should be understood that the Muslim’s apathy towards
them is because of Zionism and the plight of their fellow Muslims. The Jewish
experience is Spain under the Muslim rule is well documented. They prefer
Muslim’s treatment to the Christians. Even in recent history what the German
Nazi did to the Jews cannot be effaced.
My advice to Israel is that they
should not interfere with Nigerian problems, treat Mr. Jonathan as a simple
tourist. As I also beseech them to facilitate Muslims going on pilgrimage to
Jerusalem as instructed by the prophet of Mercy.
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