By Ishola Haroon Balogun
Why Saudi Arabia for peace talk?  •Jihad and Paradise (1)
Much as I had wanted to sermonise on the issues of bombing before the overtures of Boko Haram for peace talk, the current Hajj and events in Saudi Arabia left no space for other issues.

However, this week, within the ample opportunity the space offers, we shall take a look at the issue of Jihad and suicide bombing and killings which are antithetical to Islam.

I intend to dwell more on the fundamentals of Jihad vis-à-vis the wanton killings and suicide attacks by the Boko Haram bringing out the Islamic position on it as much as I know. Although this is not the first time we will be discussing Jihad, we will continue to do that to correct the misconception and misrepresentation a lot of non-Muslims have about Jihad and Paradise.

But first, the peace talk proposal and the choice of Saudi Arabia by Boko Haram to many including some Muslims, will not work. This is because the basis for talks, which must show sincerity, mutual respect including genuine and realistic terms and conditions must manifest from both parties.

That is why all peace moves in the past have failed. Now, the choice of Saudi Arabia has worsen the case making the whole issue ludicrous just like the initial request that Jonathan should become a Muslim.

Many among the Muslims also believe that even the Saudi Authority may not be disposed to holding such talks or wouldn’t want to be seen as being supportive of the group’s activities. I remember the Osama Bin Laden’s case ever before the September 11 attack, the family who are like the Rockefellers of Arabia, popular and known philanthropic Muslims disowned Osama for his atrocities.

They issued a strong denunciation and condemnation of Osama activities. “Abdullah Mohammed Bin Laden, Osama’s younger brother and Awad, bin Laden (his uncle) said: “All life is sacred; we condemned the killings and attacks against liberty and human values. Our family has no connection with his works and activities.”

Besides, the Saudi government through Prince Naif Ibn Abdul-Azeez, brother of the King Fahd and then Minister of interior was quoted as saying: “the government or family should not be blamed for the deviation in the behaviour of one of them. We will not accept that.”

Therefore, having noted the activities of Boko Haram, the Saudi government will not only be ambivalent but will also refuse to be linked with the activities of the sect. By extension, it is very wrong for anybody to link the situation with Islam. But which ever way it turns, all that we desire is peace. The danger presented by Boko Haram and their sponsors is enormous.

The anger and frustration at the death of over 3000 innocent men, women and children and over 1000 of those critically injured are regretted and I say without equivocation that this grieve is shared by all peace loving people. But as we grieve, cry over these senseless attacks, government should be more proactive in its bid to stop the cycle of bombings and callous killings in the country.

The lethargy of government in the past certainly have not only given more impetus to the spate of bombings, but have also incensed the tempo of the rampage, even radicalising other hitherto peaceful and toothless bull-dogs in the country; dragging us to this present unfortunate situation.

In fact, these deviants have never seen government security agencies as a threat of any kind against their dastardly activities. It is our fervent prayers that these culprits are apprehended and brought to book.

About Jihad and Paradise

The Quran and the Hadiths which guide the actions and activities of any Muslims says: Suicide is forbidden. “O ye who believe!… [Do not] kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been to you Most Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire…” (Qur’an 4:29-30).

Then the Prophet says “Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever”, [Bukhari (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)].

What the perpetrators stand for is completely against all the principles that Muslims believe in. Their actions therefore, should not be accepted as representing Islam in any way.

Allah has forbidden all acts of wickedness involving terrorism and violence, condemned those who engage in such acts and said “Allah does not uphold the works of those who cause mischief.” in one of His verses.

The Quran also describes as hypocrites those who emerge in the name of Allah and religion, but actually organise themselves to commit acts of wickedness in the land. One verse talks about a gang of nine men who planned to murder the Prophet (s.a.w) by swearing in the name of Allah:

There was a gang of nine men in the city causing corruption in the land and not putting things right. They said, “Let us make an oath to one another by Allah that we will fall on him and his family in the night and then say to his protector, we did not witness the destruction of his family and we are telling the truth.”

They hatched a plot and We hatched a plot while they were not aware. (Surat an-Naml, 48-50). So, the fact that people do things “in the name of Allah” or even swear by His name does not mean that what they do is in conformity with the religion. On the contrary, what they do are against the will of Allah and the morality of religion.

As it is in Islam on this matter, so it is in other religion. Therefore, the actions of these terrorists should not be accepted as representing Islam in any way. It contradicts the teachings of all religions; human and moral values.