By Nasir Hashim
The incident of Zaria claimed over one thousand lives and property worth billions of naira. I suppose it was not an issue of sectarianism; it was an issue of humanity and had to be treated as such. Even if Muhammad Gaddama does not believe Shiites to be Muslims like him, he cannot deny the fact that he is a human being.
I actually expect him to register his condolence and sympathy as a Muslim first for the human lives lost before going to any length he intended in articulating his purported ‘External Dynamics of Zaria Incident’. One good thing about Nigerian constitution is that it allows for freedom of expression and press, so one can say anything one likes. Mr. Gaddama may wish to say Iranian Army is already at the border waiting for command from Tehran to launch war on Nigeria. In fact he may wish to say Hisbullah are right behind Aso Rock and very soon they will start shooting. But he has to be careful not to get disconnected to divine reality.
As far as I know Islam is a religion of peace, mercy, justice, sympathy, truth, compassion etc., and these are some of the values every Muslim should possess. I am certain even salafists and wahabbists cannot refuse these golden values. Any way it is one thing to preach Islam in the mosque and another to practice it out side. The singular fact is that justice and sympathy deserve everyone as far the religion of the holy prophet (SAW) is concerned. I refer you to the incident of “the conquest of Mecca” for excellent example of how human being should live on earth.
Most Wahabbists and Salafists behaved the same way as Muhammad Gaddama. They became the happiest people in Nigeria because catastrophe befell Shiites. Their thought was that military fought Jihad at their behest. And since Shia was wounded, they have to incite military the more for further blood shade until it is defeated and finally eradicated from the land mass of Nigeria. This is mere a dream or imagination which will never become true. Qur’an says ‘they wish to tarnish the light of Allah but Allah will fulfill his light….’. God willing,Shia will flourish and spread throughout Nigeria and the globe despite conspiracies.
Mr. Gaddama has a serious problem; hatred and enmity make him take to falsehood. He said, “Shiite communities in various countries feel spiritually bound to imbibe and maintain allegiance and loyalty primarily to Iran instead of their respective countries”. This is a grave mistake. Again, Mr. Gaddama said, ‘ … whoever happens to be the wilayatul faqeeh, i.e. the spiritual leader of Iran is automatically considered the actual leader of all Shiites all over the world and their allegiance and loyalty must therefore principally to him’. Wow! This is scandalous.
Anyway, first of all the doctrine of wilayatul Fateeh (Guardianship of Jurist) is not a political ideology as Mr, Gaddama put it; it is a religious principle advanced by many scholars based on their understanding of some Hadith and Qur’anic injunctions. Among such scholars there were sheikhul Mufeed (948- 1022), Monteza Ansari (1781- 1864). They relied on chapter 5 verse 55, chapter 17 verse 33 and the Hadith of the holy prophet: “ Ulama are the inheritors of the prophet”. Shia jurists were concerned with the fate of Muslim ummah in the absence of Islamic state under the leadership of the prophet or his legatees. Remember, Muslims are considered one community regardless of international boundaries. Muslims at any time need to be focused andto achieve that there should be unity of religious command. Thus, rather than relying on different Muslim jurists, one trusted jurist should assume the roleguardian in. This guardianship is divided into limited and absolute. Limited guardianship – is limited to non-litigious matters while absolute guardianship includes all issues for which the prophet and the imams had responsibility.
However some scholars reject the principle of wilayatul Faqeeh. For example Ayatullah Abul-Qassim Khoei had this to say, “In the time of ghyba there is absolutely no evidence of wilayatul faqeeh. Wilayatul faqeeh is the prerogative of the prophets and imams. The fuqahah not only don’t they have wilayah in general affairs but also they don’t have any legal wilayah in non-litigious affairs. Mr. Gaddama need to know that Ayatollah Khoei was more influential than Imam Khomeini, had more followers than Imam Khomeini, and they were contemporaries of each other. Why then did he say that all Shiite communities were loyal to supreme leader of Iran? Besides wilatul faqeeh doesn’t mean supreme leader; it means guardianship of jurist.
Concerning the relationship between Iran and Shiites of Nigeria – this relationship is similar to that of Saudi Arabia and Wahabbists of Nigeria. The only difference is that Shiites of Nigeria do not rely on Iran for funding. There is neither a single mosque, nor school and nor hospital built by Iran in Nigeria. Shiites contributed their little earnings to build Hussainiyya, Fodia Islamic center, Daru-Rahma and all the Fodia Islamic schools across northern Nigeria.
Finally, where Muhammad Gaddama spoke down upon diplomatic capability of Nigeria, methinks he needs attention. The authority concerned should employ him for seminar or tutorial classes or both. Again, i think he can be a good NIA or CIA (period)
Peace, blessing and protection of Allah be upon the rightly guided.