Sunday 19 August 2012

THE BANE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: ISLAMIC SOLUTION



2ND ANNUAL RAMADAN SERIES OF LECTURES, ORGANISED BY HILAAL (CRESCENT) ISLAMIC CENTER

DATE: YAOMAL KHAMEES, 7TH RAMADAN, 1433 (THURSDAY, 26TH JULY, 2012)

TOPIC: "THE BANE OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: ISLAMIC SOLUTION"

DISCUSSANT: BRO. ALABI OLANREWAJU ABDULLATEEF


All praises due to Allah the Omnipotent. May His Blessings continue to be on our noble Prophet, my friend and Allah’s friend Muhammad (PBOH).

Whenever we hear about corruption our minds quickly goes to our Public places and the rapid embezzlement therein. But corruption goes beyond that. Its like a virus in a system of Computer or mobile phone, no-one prays for it because its effect is damaging. Every single person in Nigeria nowadays is living with this Corruption virus. As a result of this, our citizens are bane of suspicion everywhere in the World. For this we may have to limit ourselves to Political Corruption which I know most of us will focus our mind on.

Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty around the world. It occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, judiciary functions, large and small businesses, military and other services and so on.

Corruption affects the poorest the most, in rich or poor nations, though all elements of society are affected in some way as corruption undermines political development, democracy, economic development, the environment, people’s health and more.

Corruption has Brothers including Bribery, Nepotism, Graft, Extortion, Cronyism, embezzlement to mention but few. The Children includes, Advance fee Fraud (419), Theft, Armed Robbery, Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, Human Trafficking, Egbesu Boys, Bakassi Boys, Odua Congress, Militant, and the current Boko Haram. I also noticed recently that our able body workforce (able men) have all ran out of Nigeria in search of greener pastures (Modern Slavery). No wonder we have many single ladies with no possible solution at sight of getting a husband. In Dubai currently, more than 18 Nigerian guys usually sleeps in a room and they are happy with that. Not only that, they don’t have any hope of coming home at all, so where are their wives?

Around the world, the perception of corruption in public places is very high. In doing Business, Nigeria among other nations has been judged by the New York Times as the worst recently. And it was not until recent times, Transparent International has put Nigeria on the top list of most corrupt nations.

WHAT DOES ISLAM HAVE?
Islam is the Manual of our life. Allah says; Al youm akmantu lakum deenukum wa akmantu 'alaikum ni'mati was radeetu lakum al Islaam deen. The neemah in this verse represent peace, and as such if we want peace, not only in Nigeria, in the whole world we must go back to Islam. This reminds me of someone who visited his friend with his new model Mercedes Car. He park wrongly and when his friend offer to help him re-park, he was looking for the key hole not knowing that such vehicle doesn’t come with key-hole again but just a botton. How can he know when he never read the manual of the Car? We do have major issues with our electronics because most of us never bother to read owner’s manual. Allah is our creator and Islam is the manual of our life.


Hadith No. 1 said: “Actions are judged by motives, and a man shall have what he intends.” The Holy Qur’ān warns mankind in these words: “Do not speak which you do not do.” The Blessed Prophet was the living example of this statement, and this is the reason why Thomas Carlyle wrote:

“A man of truth and fidelity true in what he did, in what he spoke and thought. The word of such a man is a voice direct from Nature’s own heart.”


All the historians who studied the history of Arabia, Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) have agreed unanimously that Islamic rule (C.E.630 to 664) established by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and continued by Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar bin Khattab, Usman bin Affan and Ali bin Abu Talib was free of corruption and best rule the world has ever witnessed. Even during the time of Usman bin Affan there was corruption among the relatives of the Caliph. Historians opine that this created adverse effect on the purity of Islamic administration followed by Usman.

In Islam, wealth is a blessing which should be utilised for our livelihood and helping fellow humans. Otherwise, it is a curse. It is a test from God, and those who are successful will have a blessed life in the next world. The Holy Qur’ān states: “Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter, who layeth it by, thinking that his wealth would make him last forever” (94:2-3). In its Tafseer, Yusuf Ali says: “Woe to the miser who blocks up the channels of use and service and dams up his wealth.” The Prophet (PBOH) said that on the Day of Judgment God will ask every person how he had utilised his wealth.

Wealth includes money, land, property, buildings, and ornaments of different category and so on. Wealth can make our life dignified and comfortable as well as it can destroy our soul.

The Holy Qur’ān warns mankind: “And let not those who covetously withhold of the gifts which God hath given them of His Grace. Think that it is good for them: Nay, it will be the worse for them: soon shall the things which they covetously withheld be tied to their necks like a twisted collar, on the Day of Judgment” (3:180). One the Day of Judgment, human beings will be asked regarding their wealth. Wealth should be utilised properly. It should be utilised for human welfare, progress and development. On analysing the attitude of non-believers towards wealth, Allah states: “And verily, he (man) is violent in love of wealth”. (100:8).

Qur’ān says: “All extravagant people are brothers of Satan and Satan is a rebel against God.”

The Holy Qur’ān warns mankind regarding evil acts, and states: “Do neither evil nor mischief on the face of the earth” (11:60). It also insists mankind to “Forbid one another the perpetration of evil” (5:79).


Islam, with its wide range of economic policy, never allows public money to be exploited by an undeserved few. The Holy Qur’ān warns people of accumulating illegal wealth. It warns them against capturing the wealth of orphans and the destitute. Moreover, Islam never permits a man to hoard wealth without circulation.

The income of the state, share of the poor, safety of the weaker sections, etc. are to be protected by the authorities. The officials are supposed to be service minded and harbour no pre-occupied decisions. All are equal before the law. Communications, revenue collections, distribution of welfare funds, rendering help to the poor, etc. are to be done with an open mind, and no discrimination should be made.

Caliph Umar bin Khattab showed the best example for eradicating corruption. While he was discussing official matters with a person, the speaker turned his discussion to personal matters. Immediately Umar put off the light saying that public finance should not be utilised for private matters.

But the question now is are we ready for the cleaning of our system? If you think we are ready then it starts with every individual. Obey Allah today and stop all vices from your own end. It is then you can be able to abuse any President or Governor, otherwise we are all in it together. This is a question that needs answer.

Salaam alaikum warahmatullah.


References; Translation of Qur'an (Yusuf Alli), Al Nawawi Hadith, Transparency International Report
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