Open Letter To Muslim Opinion Leaders

By Dr Zulk Ahmed Bugri

It is with extreme heaviness of heart and decorous angst that I draft this letter to you my father figures and superiors.A myriad of concerns have arisen with their unsolicited heads,and i would like with all due respect,your help to get over them.A litany of glitches exists though i will discuss one very important topic.

My heart is heavy because of an article I read about a young Ghanaian who joined ISIS.Terrorism has no place in Islam and no justification exists that supports it.I am not an Islamic scholar but i seek to bring to the fore,the issue of modern day terrorism.

A Brief history.

It is common knowledge to Muslim scholars that ISIS, Boko ?aram, al-Qa?idah,Hizb Al-Tahrir and others are simply another manifestation of the recurring appearance of this group that was explicitly mentioned by our holy Prophet,Muhammad (S.A.W).They are described as Kharijites(Extremist renegades).These Kharijite renegades came in two waves. The first were known as the Saba'iyyah and they assassinated the third caliph,Uthman (RA) in the year 35H. They were behind the events that led to the appearance of the second wave who abandoned the fourth caliph, Ali (RA) during a period of civil strife, and he was eventually killed by them in the year 40H.

The one who killed Uthman (RA), when he cut off his head he began to shake it and roll it with the end of his sword and said "I have not seen the face of a Kafir better than this"! Uthman ibn 'Afffan, chief of the believers, the one who the angels of the Lord of the creation had shyness of, the one whom the Messenger (S.A.W) married two of his daughters to and said "If I had a third I would have married you to her", and he said "It doesn't harm Uthman what he does after today", and he said "Who will prepare the army of hardship and for him will be Jannah". And he said "Who will buy the Rumah well and for him will be Jannah." So, the Prophet said about Uthman what he said from praise and laudation, and this criminal says "I have not seen the face of a Kafir better than this".Those (Khawarij), whom Uthman or Ali (radiyallaahu 'anhumaa) were not safe from, do you expect the Islamic lands of today to be safe from them?

These renegades have killed MORE Muslims than non-muslims whilst using religion as a cover.

The story of Dhul-Khuwai?arah al-Tamimi is known to many,this man and a few fellows challenged the integrity of our beloved Prophet (S.A.W) in a famous incident which is documented in numerous prophetic traditions.As the Prophet (S.A.W) was distributing wealth to a number of tribes for certain benefits he had in mind for them, this man appeared and said, "Be just O Mu?ammad" and "We are more worthy of this than them" and also, "This is a division by which the pleasure of Allah is not sought."

the Prophet (S.A.W) said, "From this man's offspring will appear a people who recite the Qur?an but it will not go beyond their throats."He is described as the grandfather of the Kharijites.

"The Kharijites strived to kill every Muslim who did not agree with their view, declaring the blood of the Muslims, their wealth, and the slaying of their children to be lawful, while excommunicating them. And they considered this to be worship, due to their ignorance and their innovation which caused [them] to stray."-Ibn Taymiyyah.

Religion is merely used as a cloak to legitimize their activities and serve as a means of recruiting the ignorant and unsuspecting. Thereafter, it is used as a vehicle to help them attain their objectives.

Their MODUS OPERANDI is to be appealing to many naive, ill-informed, emotive Muslims who see oppression, bloodshed and war in Muslim lands.They are emotionally manipulated into believing that the loud, rhetorical voice of the Kharijites and their use of lofty slogans of "Shari'ah", "Jihad", "Judging by Allah's Law", "Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil" are contextually valid, evidence-based, authentic voices when in reality they are nothing but the rantings of ignoramuses, ignorant of the basics of the Islamic creed and ignorant of Allah's laws in His creation.

The world is shrinking,technology has made communication and interactions as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.In this age of "Information Superhighway",the youth have assess to all sorts of information and may be exposed to these Kharijites.

I am angry because majority of Ghanaian Muslim youth are ignorant about these terrorists and openly support them.

Does the Ghanaian Muslim youth fully comprehend the acts of ISIS,Boko Haram and others?

Is our Ulammah doing enough to educate our youth?

Are Ghanaian Muslims been stealthily recruited for Terrorist groups?

Is unemployment among the youth a contributory factor to accepting ideologies of violent extremism?

This is an appeal to all well meaning Muslim leaders,a call for you to act swiftly so as to stop the radicalization of Muslim youth.The consequences will not be good if we sit aloof.A case in point is the radicalization in Northern Nigeria that resulted in the death of Muslim Scholars like Sheikh Jafar,Sheikh Albani and the like.The case in Ghana is more precarious because it is Graduates who are been radicalized.

Am sad for the Alema Family,May Allah bring back their son and guide Ghanaian youth to knowing the truth.