Muhammad
Muhsin Ibrahim
@muhsin234
In a concluding
remark of our long phone call, a Nigerian friend studying in Delhi told me about the Kano Grand Mosque
bombs during the Jumu’at prayers. How come? I had recently called the city and, as tradition, asked about Jumu’at prayers. None said a word on the
blast. My mind was instantly boggled. A voice from within tried to calm me; it
said that that was a rumour.
It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be there. Not now; never. After all, the Grand Mosque was the safest niche the good people of Kano would escape to when the Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog) came at the end of the world. I used to think that
way in my childhood, but not without reason. The aura of belonging and the
serenity one feels inside the mosque are beyond description. Many, if not all,
who grew up in the Kano metro some 20 years ago or more know what I am talking
about.
My mind kept denying the news’ truism for a long time. I tried to call home, but nobody
was reachable. My mind pondered again and again. Was the network halted? Maybe.
I quickly went to Facebook, and lo, individual accounts of the dastardly attack
were steadily emerging. My
rumour pacifying pill soon stopped working; the sacred Kano Grand Mosque
was indeed bombed and the fleeing people sprayed with bullets by some
nihilistic miscreants whose bestiality, sadism and impiety traverse all
boundaries of purpose and commonsense. As their coordinated attack is beyond
wording, so also is their nature, for they are nurtured with anti-human,
anti-religion, anti-peace and anti-everything-good ideology. They murder, maim
and do all the unthinkable, making life difficult for so many. I was literally
numbed.
Being among lots
of non-Muslims, I was faced with a considerable challenge. When I still couldn’t reach
anyone from home via phone, I became much more alert and devastated. I waited
for the story on the death of those I know, love and care about; those that
matter much in my life. Every soul is sacrosanct, but some are dearer to you
than others. Hence, I broadcast an open sympathy citing the powerful verse from the noble Quran: “From Allah we are, and to Him is our return” to soothe my afflicted mind. Then my Indian friends realised something was amiss
with me. Some cared enough and asked. I couldn’t explain it, for although not
the first time a mosque was attacked by the so-called Muslim terrorists, this
one was the first of its kind in my city in Nigeria . Therefore, I told them
only a sketchy story about it. I didn’t mention where or how, or to what extent, it must have affected my people and me.
Is terrorism
part of Islam? No. Yes. The religion is wholly against terrorism; Jihad, the
concept always attached to this wanton, aimless war on all, is not altogether
about murdering innocent people, abducting and enslaving children, robbing,
plundering and the like. And yes, hundreds of thousands of Muslims are today engaged in those acts, and they think they will be rewarded by so doing. I know
this is a heavy fact to admit. But so it is. Islam today has largely been
hijacked by terrorists and is thus becoming synonymous with terrorism. This
happens in almost all corners of the world, from Kano
to Kabul , Benghazi
to Baghdad , and London
to Lahore . Whatever the causes, motivation, name it, Muslims often remain an integral part of it.
Indians are well
familiar with such terrorist attacks. Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, was besieged for days, and several people were killed in 2008. However, Indian security has largely contained terrorism despite its
significant threat from within and outside the country. Even Pakistan is fighting and pushing
these elements away from its territories. Had these governments been like our
clueless PDP-led government of President Goodluck Jonathan, their countries
would have been no better than the Syria of Bashar al-Assad.
Boko Haram (BH)
is no longer a new name worldwide. But detailing the Kano attack to them (my
Indian friends) is something different. It would reveal the unfortunate fact that Nigerians, especially in the north, live mainly at the mercy of Boko Haram. I
really didn’t want to believe or even say that, but that’s what’s it. BH
insurgents have ‘successfully’ struck colleges, mosques, churches, bus
stations, banks, etc. They have orphaned countless children, widowed numberless
women, shattered so many dreams and caused all sorts of pain one could think
of.
Islam, the only
pacifist religion on earth whose form of salutation expresses peace: Salam Alaykum, ‘peace be upon you’, is no
longer considered so. Anything Islamic, whether name, physique or dress, is looked at with suspicion in many places, in contrast to what should have been the case. The minuscule minority have changed the cause of the second biggest
religion on the planet. It is now a heavy burden being Muslim and practising
it, wallahi, in many respects. However, this was partially foretold by the
Prophet, upon whom be peace (see Sahih
Muslim; Hadith 2956).
Ya Allah, the
Creator of the Worlds, rest the souls of the more than 120 defenceless people
slaughtered in our dear mosque in Kano
and other places. May You heal the wounded and soothe the smitten minds of the millions of others whose loved ones are affected. May Allah protect us, amin. May
their murderers be judged accordingly, amin. It’s aptly said: DEATH is one path
that everyone MUST take.
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