A call to national repentance
As if this disaster is not enough, the poor image of Nigeria has again been wounded; this time, in Saudi Arabia. It is sad that about a thousand Muslim women who went to perform the 2012 hajj were embarrassed with a threat of deportation even with their valid visas. What a shame that Nigeria has […]
As if this disaster is not enough, the poor image of Nigeria has again been wounded; this time, in Saudi Arabia. It is sad that about a thousand Muslim women who went to perform the 2012 hajj were embarrassed with a threat of deportation even with their valid visas. What a shame that Nigeria has lost all places including the “holy land” to find respite and safety. Could this be a punishment for the desecration and attack on the houses of worship in some part of Nigeria? What a human quake! The houses of worship in some part of Nigeria are no longer safe for worshippers whereas these were houses of refuge before the advent of terrorism in Nigeria. That our Muslim sisters were detained in the Holy Land, the very home of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a cause for worry. All this points to a call for national repentance and penance for our individual and collective sins.
I do not think that God has deserted his people even though the actions of many people in Nigeria insult the good God of mercy and compassion. Now the signs are clear to go back to God in humble supplications. The bible and the Qur’an provide us the means to do this if we really want to obey the teachings in our holy books.
In the Old Testament of the bible, natural disasters and mysterious deaths were signs that the key performance indicators (KPI) of the people had fallen below average in the sight of God. In such terrible occasions the prophets normally called the people back to God through penance and repentance because sin and evil separate human beings from the love of God.
Repentance in this context becomes so serious that the Greek word “metanoia” was strongly used to indicate a deep “transformation of mind” and serious resolution to live in conformity to the rules and ordinances of God. Another word used for repentance is in Latin, “agite paenitentiam”. This action word meaning, “do penance” indicates an inward repentance that should lead to an outward expression. The inward remorse should lead to better external actions because as faith without works is dead, so also repentance without penance is dead. After all the arguments of Job to justify his righteousness, he surrendered by saying: “I retract what I have said and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42, 6).
Jeremiah highlighted the sense of shame and the need to return to God. This call is urgent in Nigeria today: “Bring me back, let me come back, for you are Yahweh my God! For since I turned away, I have repented; having understood, I beat my breast. I was deeply ashamed, I blushed, aware of the disgrace incurred when I was young” (Jeremiah 31, 18- 19).
God reveals the fake prophets of prosperity: “The visions your prophets had for you were deceptive whitewash; they did not lay bare your guilt so as to change your fortunes; the visions they told you were deceptive” (Lamentations 2, 14). The prophet Ezekiel highlights the benefits of repentance: “If the wicked, however, renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and upright, he will most certainly not die. None of the crimes he committed will be remembered against him from then on; he will most certainly live because of his upright actions. Would I take pleasure in the death of the wicked – declares the Lord Yahweh – and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live” (Ezekiel 18, 21-23)?
In the New Testament, the need for repentance and penance is well emphasized. The opening message is couched in: “repent for the kingdom of God is near” (Matthew 3, 2). Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 4, 17). He declared: “I say to you unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13, 3). Jesus invites us to draw strength from him: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
In Arabic, the word Tawbah is repentance. Literally it means “to return”. In Islam Tawbah is an act of returning to the commandments of Allah: “And O you believers! Turn towards Allah, that you may attain bliss” (Qur’an 24:31). “Surely Allah loves those who turn unto him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves” (Qur’an 2:222). Tawbah is a transformation of the heart from evil and wickedness.
Like the word “taqwa”, repentance also applies in a specific sense that calls for immediate restrain from doing evil. For example a “jihad” on oneself that is manifested in a change of a particular decision to kill by any means. Muslims believe that the only source of forgiveness is God. “Say, O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not for the mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly he is often forgiving, most merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53).
Islam believes in individual responsibility. That is to say that each person will account for his or her sins on the Day of Judgment (Yaum al-Qiyamah). Therefore each person individually should seek forgiveness from God before death. Given the ugly incidents of Nigeria, it is time for all the ministers of God in all the religions to call for a national penance that may lead to repentance so that our land may be spared of doom and any form of disaster. In this year of faith, I pray that our land may find favour in God’s sight!
Rev Fr (Dr) Omonokhua is Director, Mission and Dialogue, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja