Muslim clerics react to female suicide bombing

In separate interviews in Abuja, with Trust Islamic Forum, founder of the Islamic Science House of Nigeria (Daarul Ulumil Islamiyya fi-Naijiria (DUIN)), Dr. Rafee Busayree Al-Ijebuwi; founder of the Al-Mustoffiyya Islamic Society of Nigeria, Ustaz Maisuna M. Yahaya; the Director and Imam of Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi; the Chief Imam of […]

In separate interviews in Abuja, with Trust Islamic Forum, founder of the Islamic Science House of Nigeria (Daarul Ulumil Islamiyya fi-Naijiria (DUIN)), Dr. Rafee Busayree Al-Ijebuwi; founder of the Al-Mustoffiyya Islamic Society of Nigeria, Ustaz Maisuna M. Yahaya; the Director and Imam of Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi; the Chief Imam of Nawair-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Abuja branch Dr. Nurain T. Dindi and the Imam of the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) Alhaji Sharafudeen Abdulsalam Aliagan, the religious leaders were unanimous in condemning the act, saying there was nothing to justify the actions of the female suicide bombers.
Dr. Al-Ijebuwi who is also the deputy chief Imam of Kubwa Muslim community, said attempts at either good or bad is not limited to the male gender.
“Therefore if we go by the western feminist adage that ‘what a man can do; a women can do better’, we must not be surprised. Women are the soft gender, they are respected and seldom suspected. It is this advantage that the sponsors are now capitalising upon. Call for gender equity will eventually change the trend. We all need to monitor our children both male and female,” he said.
He also prayed that Allah gives the country quick resolution of the crisis and lasting peace.
Ustaz Maisuna M. Yahaya who quoted from Surah Nahl (chapter 16) vs 90-97 of the Glorious Qur’an where Allah enjoins Muslims on kindness, justice and doing good to kith and kin, and also forbids shameful, evil and oppressive acts, added that Allah forbids all forms of atrocities either by males or females.
He said: “Even in the wars with the pagans of Mecca, the females were not at the forefront of battle let alone putting them in suicide missions. Suicide bombing in whatever from is strictly forbidden for all mankind.”
Sheikh Fuad Adeyemi on his part said the females involved in the suicide bombings were either forced to do what they did  or were ignorant of Islam, for them to be taking lives of innocent souls along with theirs despite that Allah clearly forbids such acts.
Adeyemi said: “This shows that we should all work towards getting our children to acquire knowledge, emphasising, especially on girl-child education.”
Dr. Dindi said it will continue to be difficult to resolve the insurgency unless the alleged involvement of the government is cleared, recalling that the DSS (SSS) captured an alleged bomber all the way from Sudan but found it difficult to get the suspect prosecuted in court.
He said: “I think the female suicide bombers are being forced to do what they are doing. If they have the freedom of choice they would not chose to commit suicide. Women generally are known to abhor violence; they are the ones working for peace in the family, homes and the world.”
Sheikh Aliagan who said all cases of suicide are forbidden in Islam let alone involving the females, added that Islam has honoured women as precious creatures of Allah, and that any woman involved in suicide killings must have been brainwashed.
Citing Qur’anic verses, he said: “Killings in Islam is strictly forbidden except on very rare cases and which must have been sanctioned by the Sharia court through Sharia implementation.
“Female suicide bombing is so barbaric and completely against humanity and all faithfuls must shun it in Nigeria and outside the country to earn the pleasure of Allah.
“It is sad that many non-Muslims are claiming to be Muslim to perpetrate evil. It is only Allah that knows their identity and can identify all of us.”