Tamale Chronicles: The Danger of Partisan Clerical Leadership in Tamale's Muslim Community

In every democratic society, citizens have the right to associate with political parties, express opinions, and participate in governance. Muslims are not excluded from this civic responsibility. An Islamic scholar, imam, or cleric remains a citizen with rights and obligations. However, when a person occupies the sacred position of religious leadership, a higher responsibility emerges. The question is no longer only about personal political preference; it becomes a question of public trust, unity, and the protection of the spiritual institution from unnecessary division.

This debate is becoming increasingly important in the Tamale metropolis, where some Islamic clerics are openly associating themselves with political parties and, more concerningly, suggesting that their followers belong to particular political traditions. Such developments risk introducing another layer of division into a Muslim community already grappling with challenges of chieftaincy differences, sectarian disagreements, and other social fractures. The mosque has historically been a place where Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder, regardless of social status, political persuasion, or ethnic background. Turning religious spaces into extensions of partisan politics threatens that unity.

The Qur'an Does Not Ban Politics, but It Commands Justice

There is no verse in the Qur'an or authentic Hadith that explicitly prohibits an Islamic scholar from having political views or participating in public affairs. In fact, Islamic history demonstrates that Muslims have always engaged with governance. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was not only a spiritual teacher but also a leader who managed the affairs of Madinah. He negotiated treaties, appointed administrators, and addressed matters of society and governance. The Qur'an states: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.” (Qur'an 4:58).

The issue, therefore, is not whether a Muslim can participate in politics. The issue is whether religious authority should be used to advance partisan interests. The Qur'an further warns: “O you who believe, stand firmly for justice, as witnesses for Allah, even if it is against yourselves or your parents and relatives.” (Qur'an 4:135). A cleric who openly aligns with a political party must constantly ask whether he can criticize that party when it acts wrongly and acknowledge good deeds by opponents when they deserve recognition.

The Prophet's Final Sermon: A Call for Unity and Equality

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, during his Farewell Sermon, emphasized principles that remain relevant today. Unity, equality, and respect among Muslims. Among the well-known messages attributed to the sermon is: “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have superiority over an Arab; a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor does a black person have superiority over a white person, except by righteousness.” The central message was that Muslims should not allow artificial divisions to destroy their brotherhood.

Today, political parties have become another possible source of division. When religious leaders openly identify themselves with particular parties and present political choices as if they are religious obligations, they risk weakening the unity Islam seeks to protect.

The Tamale Experience: A Community Must Avoid Additional Fault Lines

Tamale has a proud Islamic heritage. It has produced respected scholars, teachers, and community leaders who have contributed immensely to religious education and social development. However, the Muslim community has also experienced divisions arising from chieftaincy matters, differences among Islamic groups, and competing social interests. Adding aggressive partisan politics into religious leadership risks deepening these divisions.

A Muslim attending Friday prayers should not have to wonder whether the sermon is going to strengthen faith or promote a political agenda. The mosque should remain a place where a supporter of any political party feels equally welcome. The mosque should continue to be the place of solace for Muslims, whether NDC or NPP.

Religious Leaders Must Rise Above Party Politics

An imam is not merely another community member. He leads prayers, teaches the Qur'an, guides families, and influences the moral direction of society. Because of this influence, many societies expect religious leaders to maintain a level of neutrality. This does not mean they have no personal opinions. It means they understand that their public role requires restraint.

A judge may personally have political views but must not allow those views to affect his judgments. Similarly, a cleric may have political preferences but must be careful not to allow those preferences to affect his religious responsibilities. The danger is not a cleric voting for a political party. The danger is creating the impression that Allah's guidance belongs to one political tradition.

Political Loyalty Must Not Replace Religious Brotherhood

Ghana's democracy has benefited from political competition, but political parties are temporary institutions. Islam and the Muslim brotherhood are enduring. Political victories come and go. Governments change. Leaders rise and fall. But communities must continue living together. A cleric who tells his followers that they belong to a particular political camp risks placing party identity above religious identity. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned against division and emphasized maintaining the bonds of brotherhood among Muslims.

My Thoughts: A Call for Reflection among Tamale's Islamic Leadership

The purpose of this discussion is not to deny clerics their citizenship rights. They are Ghanaians and Muslims with the same freedoms as everyone else. Rather, it is a call for wisdom. Islamic leaders must ask themselves whether openly partisan positions strengthen or weaken the Ummah. They must consider whether their political expressions unite or divide their followers. Political participation is a right. But spiritual leadership is a trust.

The minbar, where Muslims receive guidance, should remain a symbol of unity, justice, and moral courage, not another battlefield for political competition. Tamale's Muslim community has enough challenges to overcome. It does not need political rivalry added to religious spaces. The greatest service Islamic leaders can offer is to remind Muslims that before they are members of political parties, they are brothers and sisters bound by faith, compassion, and mutual responsibility. Islam does not demand that Muslims abandon politics. It demands that politics does not destroy Islam's message of unity and justice.

Let all Muslims be reminded of that inevitable day. The day we are laid in the belly of the earth, left entirely alone in total darkness. On that day, the questioning will begin. Woe betide the soul that cannot answer a question as fundamental as: "Who were your kin?" Your answer will not flow automatically from a mere daily recital of the Qur’an, but from how you genuinely lived your life. You will not escape accountability for the hatred you harbored toward your Muslim brothers and sisters, whether fueled by political factions, chieftaincy disputes, religious sects, or tribal divides. True kinship belongs to the entire Ummah. Live accordingly, so that your answer may secure your salvation.

FUSEINI ABDULAI BRAIMAH
+233208282575 / +233550558008
afusb55@gmail.com

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