The hypocrisy of a nation

As the country is brazing up for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in December, various political parties, especially the two biggest parties, the NDC and the NPP, have intensified their campaigns.

Over the weekend, I read a news article on GhanaWeb about the vice president of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, visiting a shrine in the capital city, Accra.

This act by the vice president has driven a wedge between Ghanaians, especially supporters of both parties. As expected of our political artisanship, whereas the opposition party and its flagbearer, His Excellency, the former president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, have called for the head of their opponent, the flagbearer of the NPP, and his followers on the side of the field see nothing wrong with this decision to seek the blessings of a deity for victory in the upcoming election.

Before the dust could settle on this matter, a verdict was passed on this matter by an Islamic cleric to the effect that Bawumia did no wrong and argued that this deed is in line with Islamic teachings.

I am not outraged by Bawumia’s visit to the shrine as much as I am by the verdict passed by the conscience of the nation, the voices of God on earth, the "saints,” and the holy souls who have been condemning other people for lesser "sins.”’.

Before I continue with my write up, let me issue a caveat to my reader that I am not in any way trying to condemn Bawumia for visiting the shrine, nor am I condemning the shrine and the priest.

I am trying to expose the hypocrisy of Alhaji Abdul Hannan Abdul Rahaman, president of the Coalition of Muslim Organizations of Ghana, the Islamic community in Ghana, as well as the Christian Council and Christians as a whole in this country.

To point out this hypocrisy, I will proceed with my argument by quoting supporting Quran and Bible verses for us to appreciate this discourse.

First of all, it is not in doubt that idol worship remains the greatest sin mankind could ever commit against God, and as such, it is the only unforgivable sin according to the Islamic faith.

Let me refer you to Surah an-Nisa (4:48). “Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with him in worship, but forgives anything else of whoever He wills.” And whoever associates others with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.

One can argue that Bawumia is not the worshipper of the deity he visited, but deity worship does not only connote the priest of the deity, but whoever patronizes it is also as guilty as the worshipper. In the video, our vice president was seen bowing to the deity and subsequently himself to the rituals at the shrine.

Alhaji Abdul Hannan argued that Bawumia's visit was a sign of respect for the customs of the people and therefore committed no wrong. This is a clear distortion of Islamic teachings by a group of hypocrites and a clear exhibition of double standards.

In the grand scheme of things, I wouldn't mind if a politician or layperson made this argument, but an Islamic scholar?

According to various Hadiths, like Bukhaari and the rest, the Prophet of Allah, Mohammed (SAW), ordered the destruction of shrines and idols and has forbidden any believer from entering into such places.

Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allah al-Bajali was ordered by the Messenger of Allah (s.w.a.) to destroy a deity called Dhu'l-Khalasah, otherwise known as Ka’bat al-Yamaaniyyah, which was eventually burned with fire.

Other idols like Manaat, Suwaa, and others in Egypt were destroyed. Here Islam tells believers that it is an obligation upon us to destroy idols upon chancing on them and not to even enter a shrine to receive blessings.

In the Holy Bible, it is even pronounced with a much stronger force. According to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter (17:2–5), if a man or woman is found guilty of idol worship, they must be stoned to death. Chapter (13:2–18) goes further to instruct the destruction of all that is found in the city where such an act is occasioned, killing the inhabitants, including their livestock, and pulling down the city.

I reckon the fact that democracy allows for freedom of association, and for that matter, I will be the last person to call out the actions of the vice president.

However, the difficulty I have is that the same people who are defending and justifying the actions of His Excellency Bawumia on this prohibition against his religion are the same people calling for the heads of other people committing lesser sins in the country.

Whereas God almighty Allah prescribes idol worship as a sin he cannot forgive but could forgive any other lesser sins if He so wishes; fornication, homosexuality, alcoholism, betting, etc., we are on up to arms against homosexuals when shrines and deities have been dotted across the length and breadth of the country.

Where is fairness, where is justice, where is truthfulness, and where is equality in our society?

Stop the discrimination!

Stop the injustice!

Stop the hatred!