Curbing excesses of preachers

The month of Ramadan comes with inumerable blessings to the world, especially to those who exert themselves in acts of obedience to Allah. Among the many meritorious acts – complementary acts such generousity to the poor, praying Taraweeh, observing the Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Power) and giving in charity (Zakatul Fitr) – with which the ummah […]

The month of Ramadan comes with inumerable blessings to the world, especially to those who exert themselves in acts of obedience to Allah. Among the many meritorious acts – complementary acts such generousity to the poor, praying Taraweeh, observing the Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Power) and giving in charity (Zakatul Fitr) – with which the ummah accompany their fast during the month, one in particular, which has been subjected to abuse is the Qur’anic tafsir.
Tafsir, a scholar, Abu Bilal Philip, says in Usool at-Tafseer, refers to the accurate interpretation of the Quranic texts, such as Arabic grammar and syntax, Arabic literature and Quranic sciences (Ulum al-Quran). It also refers to those branches of knowledge which are necessary to provide the proper Quranic interpretation. This branch of knowledge provides the step-by-step methodology of interpreting the Qur’an to ensure that interpretations are not merely the result of human whims and fancies.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said: “Opinion-based argument about the Quran is kufr.” He repeated it three times, then said, “What you know of it, act upon; and what you are ignorant of, refer it to one who knows.”  – Abu Hurairah
Many religious groups use the tafsir sessions, which they run for about 30 days commencing a couple of days before the sighting of the crescent, to usher in the month of Ramadan. During the sessions, the entire Qur’an is read, interpreted and explained, for the elightenment and great delight of the ummah.
However, the distortions, contortions nay convolutions in the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and positions of the guided Sahabah (AS) by some of these poorly educated interpreters have resulted, not only into  serious  misunderstanding of the Islamic religion, but also into giving the religion a bad name and exposing innocent Muslims to ridicule, hate, deaths, destruction and dislocation.
These sects, whose activities are in total disagreement with the tenets and spirit of Islam, choose to holler ‘Allahu akbar’ as they execute their variegated dastardly, anti-Islam acts.
Towards curbing the unfortunate trend, Islamic bodies, scholars, government and other concerned people have over time kicked against provocative, politicised and other ill-informed reaching during the Ramadan.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in its communique recently, raised alarm that “negative conducts contrary to the established creed of the Islamic Faith were being exhibited by some scholars in their Tafsir sessions.
“A number of the Mufassirun do not have the basic knowledge of tafsir, therefore lack the capacity to conduct Tafsir,”  the communique signed by Prof. S. W. Junaidu, Chairman, LOC, and Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu,                                                         Secretary-General, JNI, said.
It appealed to “scholars to focus on the real exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an which depicts love, kindness, fear of Allah (SWT), good neighbourliness, honesty etc, in their respective Tafsir sessions.
“The leadership should regulate the conduct of Tafsir to control erring commentators and make it mandatory for any Mufassir to be screened and be given permission by the JNI or any authorized body before he could be allowed to venture into Tafsir.  Ramadan Kareem.