body-container-line-1
14.05.2014 Feature Article

Re: A Palaver Of Unlike Minds

Re: A Palaver Of Unlike Minds
14.05.2014 LISTEN

Sydney Casely Hayford's article on the above subject makes interesting reading. As expected, he made some references to the Boko Haram comments he made and the furore it generated. I deeply respect his views but in an attempt to shed some light on his stance, he raises and courts more controversy.

Going straight to the point, he entrenches on his stand that clerics in Ghana are loud in their silence over the Boko Haram saga. Fact is Islamic clerics don't control the airwaves and in truth it is not in their style to always go on the charm offensive.

One thing for sure is that, Sheik Umar, the Head of Ahlul Sunah wal Jamah hs been extremely loquacious in his condemnation of the heinous activities of Boko Haram long before their latest wave of atrocities epitomized by the cowardly and if not dastardly kidnapping of the innocent girls in Nigeria. Indeed, for every forum Sheik Umar is given to discuss Islam, he will punch holes onto Boko Haram

Sydney embarks on a weird path when he makes a case for a fatwa against Boko Haram. A fatwa that borders on war against Boko Haram or a public rejection of their warped ways? Believe me; going either way will not satisfy “unlike minds” akin to the one possessed by Sydney. Attacking Boko Haram with nuclear armaments will not exterminate them because they a bunch of faceless people who court sympathy once they come under armed attack. As for a public rejection, it has been long done by all peace loving people, Muslims and non Muslims alike. Sydney conveniently ignores this because he is far removed from issues on Islam and his current write up sums his pitiful position.

Sydney's conviction that Muslims are allowing Boko Haram to taint the image of Islam is a serious matter. Is he alluding complicity on the part of Muslims again as he earlier on made in his radio contributions? All need to be assured about Muslims indignation against the activities of Boko Haram but in this our stance; we seek not to appease Sydney and people of his ilk because as he captioned his article, we have “unlike minds”.

Muslims are used to being associated with anything negative done by groups disposed to violence who chants ALLAHU AKBAR. The curious contradiction is that, when more violent movements like the Lord Resistance Army abducted 139 girls in Aboke in 1996, nowhere did local or international press houses and commentators attribute their activities to Christianity because in truth Christianity abhorred what they did although they loudly profess to be influenced by their faith in Christianity and the Ten Commandments of GOD The ALMIGHTY.

Shani Bashiru
Head of Publicity
Ghana Muslim Academy Accra

body-container-line