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Amnesty and the Qur’an 0
April 5, 2013 | 12:10 am
Facing The Ka'aba
By Ishola Balogun

Many are coming to terms with the fact that the activities of the Boko Haram is un-Islamic. With the way the terrorist group go about their heinous crime, except for the stalwarts of jahiliyah (ignorance) and those whose vested interest in the society is to fan the embersof discord, religious and sectional acrimony, and those who want to make people believe their religion is superior and who are blinded to the development that these insurgents kill without regard to the faith you belong; they know the fact.


Reports indicated that more Muslims diedin the Kano park blast. We gathered from reliably source that many of the health workers who were killed for administering polio vaccines were Muslims, the Emir of Kano Ado Bayero narrowly escaped death but his driver and three of his guards who were Muslims also died.


The northerners who are predominantly Muslims are constantly living in fear as bombs do no discriminate. Every reasonable Nigerian who has blood running through his vein will also empathize with hundreds of other non-Muslims who have been killed gruesomely by Boko Haram.



Their decoy was to make it as though it isa religious battle much more when some of the perpetrators will go on YouTube even speaking Arabic denoting they are Muslim. Yes! there are bad elements in every religion, but they do have the mandate of every Muslim? Does the Qur’an and Hadiths support this carnage?Obviously not. Muslim scholars here and abroad have continued to condemn all these acts of terrorism.


I must say that all those who do mischiefin the name of Allah will be punished. Qur’an Chapter 5, verses 33-34 says: ‘Thepunishment of those who run around and spread mischief about Allah and His Messenger is this: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in thisworld, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.” The Quaran does not condone these acts of killing and maiming in the name of Allah. In factno religion does.



The rejection of modern education is nota creed in Islam as the Prophet (s.a.w) ordered that seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim. The imposition of Sharia law in a multi-religious society is also not acceptable. Itis a contradiction of the verse: La ikraa-fi-deen; which means: No compulsion in religion; with other verses clearly stated.



The killing of people is a great sin beforeAllah (SWT).
The Quran teaches that whoever kills a soul has killed a nation and whoever saves a soul has saved a nation. Again, the destruction of state property is antithetical to the teachings of Islam as the Qur’an teaches obedience to constituted authorities. So, why should anyone who is informed link Islam to it? It is nothing but grand ignorance of grandeur.
Today, we thank God government is taking positive steps in dealing with the situation. In fact, information less than 24hour ago indicated that government has decided to offer amnesty to the group and engage in discussion with the group in order to bring lasting peace.


Recall that it was first the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar who advised the government to offer the group amnesty. Although there were divergent views on the issue of amnesty but suffice to say it cut across religious feelings. In fact, some Muslims were even opposed to the call for amnesty for the group.

Sheikh Gumi said “the call for amnesty is hypocritical adding that the sect has disrespect for the Qur’an or Hadith or even Scholarly fatwa. They have their owninterpretation,” he stated. Again, Roman Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, joined the list of those calling for amnesty to members of Boko Haram. The cleric, in his Easter message, said though the offer would not solve all the nation’s problems, “it will bring us closer to a new dawn”.


Since Allah is the Most Forgiving and Merciful, those who call for clemence for the group are in order and that is the way to go. The Qur’an further states: “Except for those who repent (referring to those who cause mischief in the land in the name of Allah as stated in the above verse) before you apprehend them.And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

The perpetrators should come forward and seek forgiveness.


Over politicisation of the matter will not help the situation. There should be a sincere approach to end this carnage from both sides.

Allah isthe Most Forgiving.

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While amnesty might be a preferred solution, it would not have been perfect even by the laws of the Qur'an. Isn't killing to be met by death under the Islamic law? The right thing would be to have them killed for having killed others.

But like I have always said, whatever would bring PEACE is a wise move. If amnesty would, we should embrace it.