By: Habib Korede Jimoh
Once upon a time, when everything was peaceful and when there was sincerity in our affairs, we had a lot of Christian Neighbors of which we enjoy an Harmonious life with our Christian neighbors, some are amongst our best friends. Then, as a kid, I use to remember during the Eid Festivals how we use to take Eid (Sallah foods) foods to our Christian neighbors and to some Christian Family Friends and I equally remember how they bring their Christmas delicacies and Chicken to us – which we do eat comfortably and they eat ours with joy, too. Infact, then, as kids, we were only interested in visiting any Christian neighbor or Family Friends who will give us some Sallah token (Barkah da Sallah).
Then, the Muslim Children and the Christian Children do Play, innocently, together. We go to School and we also come back happily, together. Our parents also live Comfortably and Peacefully with each other. I could remember as a Child, when we were Playing, and it is time for Sallah (Prayers) some of our Christian friends will remind us that they have called Prayer and it’s time for Sallah, which sometimes we will go and Pray and other times, we will procastinate the prayer, still, I can’t forget how sometimes our christian friends will escort us half-way when we’re going to Islamiyyah (Islamic School) – then, we live Innocently as we naturally understand our differences. Also, I equally remember how we use to welcome our Christian Neighbors when they’re back from Church without any hostility. Then, no one was afraid of anyone. We were inter-woven. I could, still remember clearly that despite our Peaceful and Cooperative togetherness with the Christians, we all know our limit. As a Muslim, we will not go to Church, and as Christians, they will not come to our Mosque.
Everything was fine, we all understood our differences; we all know our limits and we were all careful enough not to trespass our limits. Then, Your good lifestyle and praiseworthy habit will market your Religion. Then, the Muslims and Christians understood and put into practice the Verse of the Qur’an which says: “To you, your religion, and to me, my religion (Al-Kafirun 6:105). This verse was awesomely understood by all and was naturally, as well, qually effective in our lives; but, that never interfare with our Peaceful and Good Neighbourhood. Then, Everything was just awesomely Peaceful and Understanding between the Muslims and Christians.
But, along the way, tsk! tsk! tsk!
As a boy of Mid 90’s, who was born and bred at Kaduna, the memories is still fresh in my Brain. The Experience was terrifiably unforgiveable. I could remember, while we were at school, in the class, it was still morning, only for us to see Parents rushing to classes to pick their children, everybody was shouting (anfara, anfara = they’ve started, they’ve started), the tension was at the climax. Damn!
As kids, initially, we don’t know what was happening, all we were told is for everyone to rush home, some teachers lead some children towards the direction of their respective houses to ensure the safety of the pupils.
I will never Forget!
From my experience, that was the beginning of Disunity amongst us. Houses were burnt down, Churches and Mosques were burnt to Ashes. It was surprising seeing neighbors killing each other – Unjustifiably because of some petty differences. Humans were roasted alive. Neighbors turned to enemies etc etc. However, The one being Killed don’t know why he was killed and the one that is killing equally don’t know why he’s killing. Damn!
It was an unforgettable gory experience.
It got to a Stage where you hardly find a Christian in an entire Province out of fear of attack, likewise, you find it difficult to see a Muslim residing in a particular Domain for a similar fear. Well, as I have known my Islam, those unjustifiable Killings and the war were not in any way Islamic War; it was a discord fueled by Nepotism, Sentiments, Ethnic Bigotry etc, etc. I have missed some invaluable Christian Friends a result of Pseudoprophecies by some religious scholar of both Faiths – which lead to Chaos, almost all my Christian friends have no choice than to relocate and some new Muslim friends, then, also relocated to our domain.
But why?
May the Wrath of the Almighty God be Upon the Leaders (Religious or Political) who took advantage of the Gullible followers, thereby, leading them to fight each other. They device a strategy of “Us Vs Them” they divide us in order to rule us for their selfish interest. Providence will never forgive them.
Still, they keep dividing us out of sentiment and nepotism for their personal selfish interest – sadly, it’s glaring that some of the followers are foolish enough to keep allowing that; thinking their leaders are infallible and all that their leaders says and do is always right.
Even if we will not Live as Brothers/Sisters who share the same Faith, I hope we can start Living as Humans who share the same Planet/Earth. Where is our Humanitarianship? Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him) was a Humanitarian – why can’t you be?
I am sorry to say that; at times, I always think and tend to conclude that some animals’ lifestyle is somewhat better than that of some humans.
Well, as Muslims, I believe we all should have known that “Prophet Muhammad” should always be our role model and not this Sheikh or that Sheikh.
I will be Unapologetic to say that: some recent, and recently-past Islamic Scholars are only but unkowingly leading their followers to doom; a result of their rigid and uncompromising verdicts on acts that never happened during the time of the Prophet which obviously deserves a mild verdict considering the level of ‘Imaan’ of the Muslims of now and the Muslims of then, and also considering the environments of now and that of then.
There comes a time in Islam, where some Muslims took their Mallams and Sheikhs to be Infallible, having known that the only Infallible Soul that has ever liveth on the Earth Surface was Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu ‘Alaihi Wasalam).
I remember a statement by The Hindu scholar, ‘Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya’, he said: “We are talking about Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon him) and we should keep it in our mind that he is the greatest individual in history. If anyone wants to know about Islam, one should judge Islam by Prophet’s (Peace be Upon him) life and his teachings.”
Prophet (Peace be Upon him) Live Peacefully with his Christian Neighbors, he live Harmoniously and Understandably with his Jewish and Pagan neighbors. Then, why shouldn’t you; who claims to be a Follower of Prophet Muhammad?
I am certain, some Scholars will use the advantage of this “Yuletide Season” to Further sow Hatred and discord of some People (of different faith) in the Heart of their gullible followers. Some myopic reasoning Religious Scholars will use this Season to further disintegrate us.
It’s high time we should all know that; Islam is built on ease. This is something that Allah likes – He does not like hardship. Allah says: “Allah likes (yureed) for you ease and does not like (laayureed) hardship for you”
It is also the sunnah of the Prophet salallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, who, as stated in the hadith, “was not given the choice between two matters except that he took the easiest of the two as long as it was not a sin.”
DIGRESSION
Now, we are faced with a very emotional issue – the issue of “halal meat” as well as the issue of the meat from the “ahl-alkitab”.
However, when deriving a “hukm” on these issues, we need to look at the evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah and we should detach ourselves from emotion.
We should avoid trying to make things “haram” for the people and avoid making things difficult for the people as long as these things are not a sin.
As for our own personal actions, however, we should choose the most righteous path.
In other words, if we are in doubt about something but don’t have clear proof to make that thing haram, we can still avoid it ourselves – and this is from taqwa In-Sha-Allah. But we should not enforce that on others; otherwise, that is legislating what Allah has not legislated.
“Made lawful to you this day are At Tayyibat [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.). The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Christians and Jews) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Christians and Jews) before your time, when you have given their due Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah and in all the other Articles of Faith [i.e. His (Allah’s), Angels, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and Al Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers”. (Al-Ma’idah 5: 5)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: It is not essential to ask about that which was slaughtered by a Muslim or a kitaabi, and how it was slaughtered, and whether the name of Allaah was mentioned over it or not. Rather that should not be done, because that is being obstinate in religious matters. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ate meat slaughtered by the Jews and did not ask questions. In Saheeh al-Bukhaari and elsewhere it is narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that some people said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): Some people bring meat to us, and we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allaah over it or not. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Mention the name of Allaah over it and eat.” She said: They were new in Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told them to eat without asking, even though those who brought the meat to them may not have been aware of the rulings of Islam because they were new in Islam. End quote from Risaalah fi Ahkaam al-Udhiyah wa’l-Dhakaah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him).
Just as some Sect of Muslims do not engage in any activities of ‘Maulud’ so does some Sect of Christians do not engage in any activities of Christmas. A Muslim that eat Christmas Meat or Christmas delicacies offered by a Christian shouldn’t be regarded as an ‘Apostate’ by you who see no reason to eat it. That you’re not eating Christmas food shouldn’t give you the audacity to think of yourself a better Muslim than the Person that do eat.
Behold! ‘The Wisdom’ of the Almighty God is beyond your Grasp!
So, my dear friend, Judge Not!
Anyways, if you see no reason to eat Christmas Chicken or Christmas food, I (Habib Korede Jimoh) see reason and reasons to do that. And judge me not, for I have Tangible and Verifiable reasons to do that; if you differ, then, “To you, your decision; and to me, my decision”.
Whatever the case, if (permissible) meat comes to you from people whose slaughter is permissible – and those whose slaughter is permissible are three types of people: Muslims, Christians and Jews – then, do not ask, just eat.
The Jews used to give gifts of meat to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him) and he would eat it without asking about it. The Jews would invite him to eat barley bread and fat, and he did not ask about this fat and how the animal it came from was slaughtered.
Don’t make difficult for people what Allah has made ease for them, and don’t drive people away from Islam by your Shenanigans.
Islam is for alland not for you and yours, alone!
The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him).
