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By Abdulkadir Salaudeen
Despite the overshadowing hardship that envelops most of us, it is still a hilarious experience to be a Nigerian in Nigeria. Our politicians are adept at using sledge hammers on us (the vulnerable) to stifle souls out of us and condemn us to poverty, through their unfavourable policies. But at the same time, while we writhe in pains, they improvise ways of entertaining us with comics.
Pastor Tunde Bakare’s trending homily titled “An Idle Man’s Brain is the Devil’s Workshop” and its ensuing drama is, no doubt, entertaining. The vociferous pastor (also a politician) prophesied himself becoming the next Nigerian president in 2023. Playing his political card—prelude to next election—he re-opened the seemingly closed chapter on the state of origin and parentage of Sen. Bola Ahmad Tinubu—the Bourdillon Landlord, Jagaba of Borgu and the Father of All Democrats. Bakare’s homily was differently understood and interpreted. It generated a calculated reactions which the pastor himself foresaw.
A camp championed by Farooq Kperogi argues strongly that Tinubu was clandestinely defanged—the homily was aimed at nailing him to the political crucifix. Another differing camp with Femi Fani Kayode, along with Yinka Odumakin, as its interlocutor; fumes that Bakare actually defended and praised Tinubu. You may wish to follow any of the camps or remain non-aligned.
Pastor Bakare’s homily is, indeed, of interest to me since I major in Political Science. However, I will observe self-restraint—I wish I can do so—to focus rather on the Islamic ruling on Muslims claiming to have originated from states (not their states of origin) or attributing themselves to parents (other than their biological parents). But quickly, whose optics is dented by Bakare’s oration? His or tinubu’s? This is the politics! The urge to discuss it, I will try to suppress.
It is important to clarify a point from the outset: I am not taking any stance on Sen. Tinubu being from Iragbiji in Osun State or from Lagos State, nor do I acclaim or disclaim the claim of his natal attribution or otherwise to the late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji of Lagos. I am only seizing the opportunity—as it aptly presents itself—to discuss the position of Islam on ancestry and state of origin generally. And I hope it interests Muslims and Non-Muslims to know.
It is equally interesting to note that Islam is not just a ritual exercise/experience, it is a complete way of life. This discussion will, hopefully, enrich and deepen our understanding of the verse of the Qur’an which says; “We have neglected nothing in the Book” (Q6:38).
First and foremost, Islam abhors deception. Thus, Muslims, generally speaking, are not deceptive. When a Muslim deceives or cheats, he is on his own. Such Muslim, in respect to his deceptive acts or deeds, should not be associated with Islam. The concept of origin/ancestry and parentage are sacred (not secular) issues in Islam. Mystifying one’s origin or denying one’s parent is an act that is capable of re-directing one’s spiritual route from Paradise to Hell. Here is why:
The Prophet said in a very clear and simple words: “whoever calls himself by other than his father’s name (or attribute himself to someone other than his father), will be cursed by Allah, the angels and all the people, and Allah will not accept any deeds or excuses from him on the Day of Resurrection” (Muslim, 2433). He further said: “Whoever claims knowingly to belong to someone other than his father will be denied Paradise” (Agreed Upon).
The two hadith quoted above do not address state of origin. Its emphasis is on paternity. What if someone attributes himself to his natal parents but claims to belong to some people (not his real people) or from another state (different from his real state)?
This is as serious as denying one’s parents. The Prophet said: “Any man who knowingly claims to belong to someone other than his father has committed an act of Kufr (disbelief). Anyone who claims to belong to a people when he has no lineage among them, let him take his place in Hell” (Bukhari, 3317; Muslim: 61).
From the above, we come to understand that Islam is more than five daily prayers (with dark spot on the forehead) and fasting in the month of Ramadan. It takes care of the entirety of our existence. In this regards, and in juxtaposition with other religions, Islam is matchless, unparalleled, and cannot just compare.
Islam, in its justice system, sanctifies parentage and lineage. It amounts to injustice for a person to attribute himself to another person (as father) in defiance of his biological father (same for mother)? No matter how lowly, despicable, ignoble, irrelevant, humiliating, and shameful are one’s parents, is one’s origin, ethnicity, or state; a Muslim who hopes for the meeting with his Lord (Allah) will not deny his parents nor will he deny his state. It is a religious obligation to be nice to parents (Q17:23). It only adds value to you, in Allah’s system of justice—and in the judgement of those with sound reasoning—if you attribute yourself to your parents even if they are sociopaths—mentally deranged.
Recently, one APC chieftain claims former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is of an Igbo origin from Anambra. Such claim was also made in 2007. However, rightly or wrongly, Obasanjo immediately refuted it and retorted that he is a bona fide (not half cast) Yoruba. He asserted that his both parents are Egbas from Ogun State. I wonder why the former President reacted with such swiftness, for I doubt if ancestry or parentage is such a serious issue in Christendom as it is in Islam—perhaps I need to be schooled!
Also, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmad quickly set his ancestral record straight when it was said that his ancestors were Tauregs from Mauritania. He did so in a very polite manner which shows that he is a conscious Muslim. This should be a good lesson for all those who try to befog their origin. Listen to Dr. Hakeem Baba:
“Our father was Arab…it is important to make this correction, as you are aware, it is wrong in Islam to attribute wrong paternity or identity if the facts to avoid doing this are available. This is an ancestry we are both humbled by, and grateful for, the same way we are proud of our Nigerian nationality and identity.
The Tauregs are a great people, and we would have been just as proud of a Taureg ancestry if it was ours. But it is not, and it will be wrong to let go a major mis-classification of our family without an effort to correct it.”
I hope Tinubu does just this! He should also soro soke to set the record straight as a Muslim!
It is a serious act of ungratefulness to deliberately obliterate one’s origin and disown one’s parent arrogantly or subtly. That is why the Prophet called it kufr (disbelief). Parentage is not a matter of choice; you cannot choose. In other words, you can determine, with the help of God, the kind of parent you like to be; not the kind of parent you want to have at birth. This is beyond the power of any mortal. It is a sealed deed which you cannot alter. You can only deceive people to claim possession of what you do not possess; you cannot deceive your Creator.
What is said above is just a preliminary to the discussion on parentage and state of origin in Islam. There are FAQs among which are: why do people falsely claim to belong to parents or states which are not theirs? Can a Muslim bear the name of his grandfather or uncle? Can he bear the name of his mother? Can he bear the name of his adopted father/mother? What if he does not know his parent at all, whose name does he bear? If his father’s name is repulsive, can he change it, and bear another name? What about Muslim ladies who bear their husbands’ name? Can a Muslim lay claim to citizenship of another state? If he can, under what circumstance? If he cannot, why? I shall address myself to these questions in another column, God willing.
Abdulkadir Salaudeen writes from Gashua
Salahuddeenabdulkadir@gmail.com
@salahuddeenAbd
[…] and State of Origin in Islam My article titled “Tinubu’s Parentage and His State of Origin Hullabaloo: An Islamic View” which was published last week generated reactions more than I expected. I set out to answer some […]