As shocking as it is, most media think they can just compare the Prophet (PBUH) with Sunday Igbo without disturbing the personality of the Muslim Umma.
It’s not a simple matter in Islam, because Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) preaches against Shirk (Doing Charm and others), somethings Igboho extremely support, how then could Afenifere and Sahara Reporters compare the noble Prophet with someone like Sunday.
On Monday, July 26 Sahara Reporters published an article with the headline ‘Igboho Is Like Prophet Muhammed Who Fled Mecca For Medina Over Persecution’ which was attributed to the National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Jare Ajayi.
In the write-up, Jare Ajayi simply means Sunday Igboho fleeing his country was similar to that of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Prophet Moosa (PBUH) and compare them in that sense, however, it no doubt that every Muslim Umma (and most people) would agree that such comparison is a fatal mistake that could turn a country upside down.
Let me give you another example, Sunday Igoho was declared as wanted by the government, and the goverment are seeking means to capture him, I’m not speaking of whether what the government did is wrong or bad.
Part of the article read: “Afenifere said ‘We recall that Moses had to be taken away from the prying eyes of Pharaoh and his agents in Egypt. Prophet Muhammed (SAW) too had to leave his hometown, Mecca for Medina in order to escape persecution.’”
But is there any report in history, saying the government of Mecca declaring Prophet Muhmmad as wanted? NO, they are only fighting him over religious matters?.
Everyone, (including the tribe leaders, disbelievers, young and old) knows that the Prophet was a really kind person and a person of generosity – except religious quarrel is there anything that caused fight among them.
That said, we all know the disaster we are facing in Nigeria, and how really serious this had hit on our self-worth and emotion, but I would say, comparing Sunday Igboho with the Prophet of Allah is like adding to the fuel of our sufferers.
In fact, this kind of word requires strong repentance, because it’s just as saying the Prophet of Allah is the same as someone who doesn’t believe in oneness of Allah.
Don’t think I’m the only one that supports this.
In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Mr Disu Kamor“MPAC strongly condemns a statement credited to Afenifere wherein it compared Sunday Igboho’s escape from Nigeria and his entry to the Benin Republic to Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Makkah to Madinah.
“The earlier published statement on Sahara Reporters is a great insult to the person of Prophet Muhammad who stood for every ideal that Igboho stands against. The Prophet’s flight from Makkah in 622 CE was to escape persecution, not to escape justice.
“The comparison therefore not only decontextualises the watershed event in the life of the early Muslim community, but it also desecrates the plight and triumph of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over a people who sought to kill him and end his prophetic career.”
Conclusion
I will end this article with words from the Holy Quran (Al-Mumtahanah Q60-V4) which says:
‘There has already been for you an excellent pattern1 in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah.
We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone” – except for the saying of Abraham to his father, “I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allah. Our Lord, upon You we have relied on, and to You, we have returned, and to You is the destination. ‘
And also, in Al-Ahzab Q33: 21
” Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often. ”
I will also like to outline the advice of Mr Disu Kamor to the Sahara Reporters and Afenifere, Jare Ajayi “Apart from using this incident to learn more about Islam and the position of Islam on tribalism, it is important for Afenifere to learn to go about its businesses without offending the sensibilities of others”
May Allah protect us from the known and unknown evil plans and devilish acts.