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by Abdullahi A. Mohammed
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I’m writing this article on my reflection of a brief discussion between my daughter (Hawa) and me.
She is 7- years old and about to finish her 1st grade of Primary School.
One morning while I was listening to and watching a news clip on a BBC Channel on TV, Hawa drew my attention and surprised me with dose of thought provoking questions that had even the capacity of jamming any possible answers, if I had any at all.
These questions are so relevant, so insightful and a food for thought that I believe I have to put them forward to all Somalis to find convincing answers for this child. Below is the dialogue that ensued between Hawa and me:
Hawa: Father, what are you watching?
Father: A piece of news.
Hawa: Is it about Somalia, and it’s wars?
Father: I hesitated to answer the question.
Hawa: Father is that war among the Somalis, or..?
Father: (Shying away from these embarrassing questions I said) dear, let’s catch the bus.
Hawa: (She will not stop asking) Why should the Somalis be killing each other?
Aren’t Somalis Muslims? People should be nice to each other… that are what our teachers say. Don’t they [Somalis] go to Schools?”
At this juncture I assured my daughter that it was not the question about the faith of Somalis. I explained that Somalis are predominantly Muslim whose belief in Almighty Allah, and seal of prophets, Mohammed (PBUH) is not a questionable.
What I cannot convincingly tell her borders on whether Somalis love and care for each other. Not to disappoint the little child, I said to her that “you know there are many bad guys out there, but there are good ones too! For example, you know your uncle Awale is nice to you and loves you”.
Perhaps this explanation did not convince her one bit. So she said I should not worry she will ask her teacher at school today.
After I dropped her at school and on the way to work, I start to ponder the concerns of the little child! Tossing her concerns in my mind I asked myself the following question: Are these guys back home conscious of their actions? Do they care about the wellbeing of their fellow human beings who are but their brothers and sisters, daughters and sons, uncles and aunts, fathers and mothers? Does it matter what Hawa worries about at all?
Ironically, Hawa is born in a non-Muslim Country and goes to a public school. Her mother and I are always cautious not to talk about Somalia’s nightmare while the children are around and listening. Astonishment about Hawa’s questions we ask ourselves how much this little girl knew that informed these conscientious questions. How did she come across the information regarding Somalia’s seemingly endless civil war? How come those Somali Sheiks and Doctors of letters have never felt the way this little child has felt?
A child’s curiosity can indeed be an adult’s agony. These questions have not only dump founded me but have also agonized. I really cannot provide reasonable answers to my daughter. Simply put, I’m ashamed to find an excuse for these meaningless and inhuman fratricidal wars. Can any rational man and woman find a justification for this madness that has engulfed Somalia our beloved country?
When shall we stop shedding of the blood of innocent people, our own kith and kin?
When will Somali children go to School? When will their teachers say “people should be nice to each other”?
Somalia was once one of the beacons of African beauty, culture of music, generosity, arts and commerce. When shall men and women, the young and the old, stroll the beautiful beaches of Mogadishu, Kismayo, MerkaCadeey and Brawe peacefully?
When will the “Sheikhs” acknowledge, confess, their sins and stop politicizing our holy religion- Islam?
Has Almighty Allah not made sacred the life of Muslims and non-Muslims? Has He not made unjustified killing of plant, animal and human life forbidden?
Where did Al-shabab and its cohorts acquire this rubbish interpretation of Islam?
Islam is [and were] a path of peace, harmony and prosperity. It is a faith for over billion people around the world. In the dark ages of time Islam provided the light- and still does. It is the source of self-liberation and freedom of thinking. In other words it is the epicenter of modern thinking and civilization. Freedom of belief, tolerance, rational thinking, love and development of man and his environment are some of the essential landmarks of Islamic teaching.
Freedom of belief and association is one of the cardinal principles of Islamic teaching that is well elucidated in the Qur’an and the teaching of the Prophet. Factually, Islam is not what the neo-jihadist preaches - non-Muslim should be converted by force and by the sword. THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION according to Islam.
Islam is a religion of peace, guidance, compassion, inclusion and mercy. It safeguards the rights of Muslims as well as non-Muslims. What on earth gives a neo-jihadist a right to determine another fellow Muslims’ faith? Where do they acquire such knowledge of discovering other peoples’ degree of believe, by condemning others and honoring themselves? Killing an innocent person in front of a mosque would not bring a perpetrator more close to Allah? Contrary, the doer would surely dwell in a hell fire and devoid of the mercy of God forever.
Islam is built on five pillars and six pillars of faith. To be a true Muslim one has to pronounce and live these noble pillars. True judgment is the preserve of Allah because only He knows what is hidden and manifest in one’s heart. Al-shabab therefore has no right whatsoever to judge another.
So, Al-Shabab’s pursuit of the worldly political power by crushing differences of opinions are disastrous condemnable. Did the Prophet not tell us that “honest differences of opinion are a blessing to my Ummah”?
Intolerance exacerbates the sufferings of our people. It erodes the chances of full and honest reconciliation among the Somalis. It kills the materialization of a new functioning Somali State. Much of these horrors, that are committed against the weak and able alike, squarely rest on the shoulders of so the called neo-jihadist in Somalia. The consequences of distorted interpretation of the word “Jihad” are overwhelmingly horrendous.
If these neo-jihadists and their distorted interpretation of Islam are not stopped, then the future of a Somalia of yesteryears will remain an illusion.
The defeat of this group, militarily, politically and spiritually, should remain the ultimate goal of every peace loving Somali!
Abdullahi A. Mohammed
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