tbaba1234:

Louder?? It is simple, they have bombs. That is what gets on the news.. Who is going to report a muslim helping out his community? That is not news, right?? Muslims from all works of life have condemned the actions of these groups and as far as i know, local imams have discussed these things in their sermons. Unless, you want muslims to take up arms to fight as well. Then, Why do we have a military?

The wrong audience, well, for the most part. As far i know, there has not been any 'religious' conflict within my sphere of Influence. The same applies to most of the Nairaland muslims here. What is a muslim living in the south west, south east or south south going to do with this message? We know the conflict is localised mainly in North East Nigeria.

A problem does exist but like i said, it is not as black and white as you portray. There are muslims from other parts of the country who have been killed or almost killed in conflicts in the North. No discrimination goes on when the conflicts start. So it is not as simple as muslims killing non-muslims. If they do meet a muslim on the way, he is a goner as well.

I did not just list those things. Look at these studies

First from Aljazeera:

Despite attacks on churches, Christians are not the only targets of Boko Haram assaults. Boko Haram adherents privilege a version of Islam that regards as transgressors those who do not abide strictly to the teachings of Allah. The net effect is that faithful Muslims are often targets of its wrath. For instance, it assassinated Sheikh Ibrahim Ahmed, a critic of the sect at Gomari Mosque in Maiduguri. According to Hussein Solomon,Senior Professor in Department of Political Science at the University of the Free State in South Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim’s assassination was a clear message to other Imams that the only credible interpretation of the Qur'an is the Islamist one. Also, on 13 July 2012, a Boko Haram suicide bomber attempted to kill two prominent Muslims -- the Shehu of Borno and the state’s deputy governor -- as they completed their Friday prayer. Both men escaped but ten of Muslims lost their lives.[/b]19 For Boko Haram, Nigeria’s national and state governments are run by non-believers. As such, Muslim political elites stand condemned for their cooperation with their Christian counterparts.


There's more:

Abimbola Adesoji, Lecturer at the Department of History at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, has shown that [b]various underlying factors such as economic disequilibrium, envy, pervasive poverty and rampant unemployment render many youths willing tools in the hands of patrons. This assertion is corroborated by the fact that states most susceptible to religious violence and terrorism are those that are “poorer, unstable, and have a chronic history of violence.” As argued by Jonnie Carson, current U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Boko Haram thrives on “popular frustrations with leaders, poor government service delivery, and the deteriorating living conditions of many northerners. Boko Haram seeks to humiliate and undermine the government and to exploit religious differences in order to create chaos and to make Nigeria ungovernable.”

http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2012/07/20127316859987337.htm

Like the paper said: This assertion is corroborated by the fact that states most susceptible to religious violence and terrorism are those that are “poorer, unstable, and have a chronic history of violence.”

various underlying factors such as economic disequilibrium, envy, pervasive poverty and rampant unemployment render many youths willing tools in the hands of patrons

Boko Haram thrives on “popular frustrations with leaders, poor government service delivery, and the deteriorating living conditions of many northerners.

See, it is not as straight forward as you want to paint it. It is a complex situation. And those factors all contribute to the violence in certain parts of Nigeria.


More Interesting reading for you: This is from New York times Matt mccann in his paper: Looking at the Tangled Roots of Violence in Northern Nigeria

Skeptical of the easy binaries of “north vs. south,” “Islam vs. Christianity,” rich and poor — as the conflict is conventionally presented in many news outlets — Ms. Kurzen, on several trips to Nigeria beginning in April 2011, sought to reveal an intricate underlying set of circumstances. “It’s a convenient divide — it makes things a bit more readable,” said Ms. Kurzen, 32, “but the reality is that it’s way more complex than this. We should keep in mind that it’s more complex than just ‘northern Muslim impoverished uneducated forgotten north’ versus the ‘oil-rich, educated and entrepreneurial south.’ ” “The differences are very striking,” she said, “but from a political, ethnic, and social point of view, things are more intricate and codependent.”

More:

Corruption, abuses of power and efforts by interested parties — the government, the military, Boko Haram — to present different realities mean that nothing could be taken for what it seemed. Regular bombardment against Christians raised the question of whether it was caused by Boko Haram or just thugs; violent reprisals against Muslims further obscured clarity. The local police, and the government, on some levels, sometimes projected ambivalence in dealing with Boko Haram’s influence and destructive ways. Often, it wasn’t even clear who was more afraid of whom.

For those of you with simplistic misconceptions, the paper ends:

“In some instances, I just say, ‘I don’t understand.’ I’m not really upset with people who don’t really know Africa and who haven’t been here to challenge simplistic misconceptions, but that’s what [journalists] are here for. To raise questions can be more important than to find answers.”\

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/murky-circumstances-in-northern-nigeria/

It is certainly not as straightforward as you or the OP has put it. As intelligent people, we should really think deeper than 'muslims killing non-muslims". The Op opening raises good points but it is ultimately a shallow attempt to address a much deeper problem.

Parts of your post are largely incoherent, People are rapidly becoming muslim in the west and they are not been forced. This is in spite of negative publicity... As muslims, we can not change your hearts. What do you mean putting sanctity before humanity?? What muslim scholar have you spoken to, that has given you a bad interpretation of the Quran?? I have been a muslim all my life, read books of scholars and i do not know of the bad part 'depending on what you want to follow'. i have never met an 'extreme' muslim in my life. The mainstream muslims are your average joes, boring lives like everyone.

Let talk a little about humanity

Allah tells us Himself that human life is sacred(roughly translated):

Do not take life, which God has made sacred, except by right: if anyone is killed wrongfully, We have given authority to the defender of his rights, but he should not be excessive in taking life, for he is already aided [by God]. (Surah 17:33)

Here, Allah declares the sanctity of Human life, and only permits it when a crime such as murder is committed even then the option is given to the family on whether to carry out the punishment. This is in the case of murder...

So how sacred is human life? Allah says in the Quran (roughly translated):

On account of [his deed], We decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person– unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land– it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind. Our messengers came to them with clear signs, but many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. (Surah 5:32)

Allah relays to us a decree to the previous muslim nation that applies to us. Anyone who kills a person unjustly is as if he has killed the whole of humanity and anyone who saves a life has saved not only that life but the whole of humanity.

This is the weight of taking a person's life unjustly... And this is not only for muslims:

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever kills a mu‘aahid (a non-Muslim living under Muslim rule) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, although its fragrance may be detected from a distance of forty years.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2995

Anyone who kills non-muslim living in the land of the muslims will not smell the fragrance of pardise...

Whatever, the context of his retweet. A muslim would and should cringe at the thought of misrepresenting his prophet. He made a mistake and apologize so it is over.

Why would government not be blamed for it's failures?

This is from the Aljazeera study:

Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian government has persistently used force to respond to the Boko Haram challenge despite growing evidence that security issues have strong socio-political overlay that continue to compromise the government’s ability to respond effectively. Aside from the reputed support given to the group by prominent northern politicians, the failure to directly address the root causes of the crisis bodes ill for any immediate solution. Reliance on military and police capabilities demonstrates state weakness and largely seems to exacerbate Boko Haram terrorism.

http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2012/07/20127316859987337.htm

It is clear that the government has failed in its duties. I am not a security personnel. We have seen muslims who speak against boko haram murdered in cold blood. It is the responsibility of the government not mine to ensure security. The president is responsible for the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians.

Again, the attempt to lay the blame solely on Islam is incredibly shallow.

musKeeto:
Yet again, you fail to understand that the OP wasn't addressing Islam but Muslims. It says so in his OP. By this, you accept that he was addressing the 'imperfect' muslims. You should learn to tell the difference.


Let's not be vauge. WHAT NOTIONS did the OP perpetuate are you rejecting?


I try as much as possible to, to be honest.


You have to agree that sometimes, religion tends to obscure that, Christianity is also complicit in this regard.


Replace 'muslim' with any other religion, and the above statement would still make sense to its adherents. Every 'good' human should be adverse to these ills irregardless of their beliefs or non-beliefs.


Keep up the good work on NL. I hope every Muslim one day reflects your maturity, composure and intelligence. Let's agree to disagree on the Islam matter.. how una dey talk God bless you for Islam?

snakova:
so why are people given large sentences for anti-semitism?

the fact that the west has 'modified' their teachings of christianity doesnt make it free from all these things you proclaim.

are you not the ones that claim God promised the israelites the holy land, and so therefore you have to kill and drive out all the muslims from that place?

what about all the killings due to heresy and 'the inquisition'? we know that some misguided muslims up-north kill, destroy and loot peoples properties using various guises,

but christians are not exempt from this. as a northern christian you know what i am speaking about.

as for the police escort, it is because the first crisis in jos started when the christians set up ambush for the muslims that had gone to pray on friday.

it also happened on the way to the eid ground in rukuba where eye witnessess experienced volleys of bullets coming their way.
as for preaching about non believers, i went to a christian school, and that was all they fed us with in class and church (they forced us to attend service).

you claim muslims are intolerant, but why is it that there still exist christians in Egypt, Jews stayed for a longtime under ottoman rule, and our noble prophet signed alliances with christian and jewish groups during his lifetime. but as for christians,

history knows that the early church was one of the most intolerant organisations that ever existed (burning at the stake).

maybe i should ask you this question, why is it that northern christians hate muslims so much? we have lived peacefully over the years since my birth till i entered the university. is it inbuilt hatred?

as for calling people infidels, it was started by the christians (actually read the dictionary meaning). and everyone knows boko haram is a terrorist group just like the lord resistance army is.

muslims are sensitive about their religion, so just as anti-semitism is discouraged, muslims also dont encourage blasphemy against islam, though i dont condone any one taking laws into his own hand.

if present day christians dont care what people say or do to their God or religion, thats their problem (though the early christians took it very seriously).

ochukoccna: @ logicboy,
Great thead you started
Non the less its a waste of time&effort because the fundamentals you addressed in Islam been violent have spiritual and not logical nor humanistic underpinnings
Below is what God says in the bible (a Being& a book you do not subscribe to) about Ishmael whom moslems trace their lineage to. That's why its not just Christians versus them but Jews,Hindus,Bhuddists etc they WILL NEVER co-exist peacefully with
As a yoruba proverb says,the venom of snakes reside in their progeny
As the bible says,his (Ishmael) hand will be against EVERYone&EVERYone's hand WILL be against him
Judge for yourself but there can NEVER BE PEACE with Ishmael's offspring upon planet Earth

NKJV
Gen 16:11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.
Gen 16:12 He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him. and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."

NIV version
Gen 16:11 The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.
Gen 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."

brentkruge:
Malians are poorer than Nigeria but didn't have extremist tendencies until the jihadist came calling. The desire for aljana and its pleasures drive these people to do what they do.

brentkruge:
The analyst and Aljazerah can sit in there London offices and make politically correct analysis, we know better

brentkruge:
How about Muslims wanting to be non-Muslims in Muslim countries.... As Muslims you force them to remain?

brentkruge:
Wonderful. Those words and verses mean little to the people who are doing these things. They quote from the same book you are quoting to justify their acts. Who do we believe? Remember action speaks louder than words.

brentkruge:
It is over because you say so? Are you saying so within the context of Jesus being a Muslim prophet or Jesus in a Christian's mind?

brentkruge:
As someone wrote earlier, the Thisday lady writer who was alleged to have blasphemed apologized, her editors apologized and even went to beg the Sultan to intervene, still hundreds lay dead and properties burnt.

brentkruge:
The genesis of the fight, according to Boko Haram themselves, was the destruction and killing of their people started by Yaradua.

brentkruge:
Yes government has not being proactive in dealing with the matter but Islam has provided a theological basis and justification for the violence. That cannot be denied. If you consider their demands; Islamisation of Nigeria, Conversion of the President to Islam, relocation of all non-Muslims from the North, direct threat to non-muslim places of worship.

brentkruge:
If they had poverty issues why not solely target the institutions of state that represent their grievances? Are non-muslims also not as poor as they are? How are non Muslims to react to poverty? How come poverty has never for once surfaced in their statements?

brentkruge:
You guys are scrambling for excuses.

vedaxcool: www.nairaland.com/1185102/disgrace-threatening-el-rufai-nigerian

So the entire thread was a fraud after-all!

jammyng: Thats why christianity is on a diferent level with others and the only true way of life.

muskeeto:
Sharrap!!!!]
una turn go soon reach again..

vedaxcool: Yawns . . . Did the christian issue threats yes or no?

MacDaddy01:



You can like to read the title f this thread

Is it talking about riots?

Logicboy03: Dear muslims,
Salaam,

We are all Nigerians, whether muslim or christian or pagan. We are all one irrespective of tribe or religion. However, I write this letter with anger and disappointment. I am disappointed and angry at the ease at which extremists have found a stronghold within the religion of islam and have used it to cause terror and mayhem to people in the north. This issue of islamic extremism is really dividing Nigeria into different parts faster than tribalism or the greed for oil have ever done to Nigeria. Concurrently, I am going to use the christian response to El Rufai's tweet concerning Jesus to highlight a possible solution to this case of religious extremism. I believe that muslims can learn from our christian brethren's reactions to the tweet...........

"A perfect Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands mankind is safe."

vedaxcool:

You can like to think, is the threat not a precursor to rioting by inciting christians to riots and take the laws into their hands?

Creatrixity:
You,my friend,is a fine example of a fellow with a complex,who said he almost got stabbed by black peeps for being atheist and also implying he will get the same treatment in Nigeria...
Oga,chillax..na discussion ,no be fight..

Logicboy03:

Of course, stabbing is not the MO of Nigerians. They prefer ALUU style beatings, Acid throwing and bombing.

We all know how your fundamentalist brothers behave.First is to accuse the atheist that makes the mistake of speaking out as a demon/witch and the next is to exorcise by ALUU style beatings.

Logicboy03:

Too risky. Not one of my friends on
facebook knows that I am an atheist.
Sorry