Putting Nigerian corrupters on religious scale
I strongly agree with her on the level of corruption in this country and the mental and psychological assessment of most of our public officers, but I disagree on the way out. Today, Nigeria has become the engine of corruption in the world. Elected leaders, political appointees, technocrats, civil servants, businessmen, some men of God, […]
I strongly agree with her on the level of corruption in this country and the mental and psychological assessment of most of our public officers, but I disagree on the way out. Today, Nigeria has become the engine of corruption in the world. Elected leaders, political appointees, technocrats, civil servants, businessmen, some men of God, security personnel, journalists and even labourers, messengers and cleaners perpetrate and perpetuate corrupt practices as if we would remain for ever in this temporary world. Most of our sufferings and artificial poverty are becoming accumulated and multiplied as a result of one monster, evil and devil, i.e. corruption. Our schools are dilapidated, hospitals are in shambles, roads are being converted to death-traps, and there is insecurity everywhere, kidnappings, cultism, strike, immorality, greed, avarice, robbery, and lack of qualitative education. All these artificial problems occur as a result of corruption. And you can even say “Nothing is working in Nigeria” courtesy of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III. And believe me, no one is enjoying this country, including the corrupters. At this juncture we need to ask ourselves, ‘what is the way out’? How can we fight fraud, corruption and indiscipline?
The answer is, we must instill and inculcate spiritual and moral restraints in our lives individually and collectively. Madam Farida, the psychiatric problems of these public officers do not require the intervention of scientific psychiatric medicine, but rather demands the prescription of spiritual and moral psychiatric doctors/pious and sincere scholars. As a reminder to my fellow Nigerians, let us read the following Prophetic traditions on the dangers of corruption and fraud. On several occasions, I wrote them and many others and sent them to leaders in order to discharge my responsibility, but of course guidance belongs to Allah.
The Prophet says: Eschew evil deeds (corruption), for on the Day of Judgment, evil deeds will become manifold darkness; and safeguard yourself against corruption, for corruption ruined those who were before you. It incited them to murder and to treat the unlawful as lawful (Muslim reported it).
AbdulLahi Bn Amr, a companion of the Prophet related that, a man named Kirkiratu who was in charge of wealth during the period of the Prophet died, and the Prophet said: He is in the fire. Some people went to his house looking for its cause and found therein a cloak that he had embezzled through corruption (Bukhari reported it).
The Prophet says again: When I appoint someone from among you to public office and he puts away by stealing a needle or even something less, that is corruption, and he will be called upon to produce it on the Day of Judgment. Thereupon one of the Ansar (helpers of Prophet) who had a dark complexion stood up (I can recall him as if I can see him before me) and said: what is the matter? The man said: I have just heard you say this and that. The Noble Prophet said: I say it again that one whom I appoint to public office must render an account of everything big and small. What he is given out of it, he may take, and what he is forbidden he should abstain from (Muslim reported it).
The Prophet says again: Allah forbids paradise to one whom He appoints in authority over people and who deceives them, die when he might. (Bukhari and Muslim reported it). In another Version, he says: Even the fragrance of Paradise will not reach him, if he does not look after them with goodwill and sincerity.
The Prophet says again: If Allah places someone in authority over his followers and he puts up a barrier between himself and their needs, Allah will put up a barrier between Himself and his needs on the Day of Judgment.
A Just leader, Umar bn Khaddab (RA) admonished leaders by saying, (1) “The leader whose intention is good will have the help of God in the administration of his affairs; he whose intention is bad will come to disgrace.” (2) “Do not accept gifts that are bribery.” (3) “The Judge should always uphold the principle of equality before the law.” (4) “May God curse the people who hesitate to dine with the slaves.” (5) “He who has any public responsibility should perform his duties for the sake of Allah without caring for criticism.”
The Bible says: A fool doing some stupid things a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit. (Proverb 26:11)
Islam teaches and reminds our leaders and public officers, that whosoever steals a needle will not enter Paradise. A sincere person looks for blessed, legitimate and legal wealth, while an insincere one looks for any without border. Allah has indicated that only piety can give us blessed wealth.
Finally, if we all escape the humiliation of this world despite our corruption, we can’t exonerate ourselves from the humiliation of the hereafter. Prophet says: Fear Allah whenever and wherever you are. Allah ya shirye mu, amin
Ibrahim-Pantami is Lecturer & Chief Imam, Department of Information Technology, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University. [email protected]