Muslim Youth, KATH standoff: To What End?

Introduction

There we go again! Did we really have to do what we did?

Irate Muslim youth storm Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital over the body of a still birth baby. They assault hospital staff forcing them to flee for their lives ....

So now the maternity block, a place where a daily activity of putting to birth was undertaken is now closed down and workers are adamant to return with reason being that the atmosphere is not conducive. What have we achieved?

Four people arrested and arraigned for court. Most unfortunate.

As a Muslim youth I surely hope and wished that things were done differently.

Hard Questions Did these young people wait to ascertain what the law states when issues of still birth occur? Was their action sanctioned by the parents of the deceased? May Allah have mercy of its soul Who was the oldest member of the group that marched onto and closed a state institution? How sure can the attackers be that they assaulted only the nurse in question and that no other person was touched?

I ask these questions because for all it is worth, aside the state holding four of us for the charges that have been proffered, even Islam certainly frowns of this particular line of action where we create a bigger inconvenience for people who are in no way connected to an issue.

Post KATH Closure: Harder Questions

Given that not the maternity ward is closed indefinitely: can we then justify the following issues post the closure? If any woman in labor is turned away and dies; we have to take responsibility? Can we assert that the problem leading to the protest has been solved? Most importantly; who would we have to blame for a deepened perception that we are 'intolerant?' Could we not use this current issue to highlight the need for rules to be made on still births and even extend it to issues of releasing our corpses for burial within acceptable Islamic practices? Now that is how big an opportunity we have blown; but it is not too late.

Conclusion Subhanal Laah (All praise is due to Allah) we could have done way better, roll back the days to the Hohoe incident and if you ask me same scenario. Rush youth and the entire Muslim community had to suffer.

Indubitably, the Quran and our prophet Mohammed (May Allah exalt his mention) have admonished us to remain patient and indeed there are patient ones amongst us. What we must do let's do but go through due process and ensure that much as we are not cheated, we also do not cheat others.

The psyche must change and the myself and other Muslim youth must endeavor to take a little while to analyze the effects of our actions within particular contexts. May Allah grant us peace and tranquility in all we do. Allah bless our homeland Ghana.

Abu Musah Kwankwaso

newcguide@gmail.com