Masussuka’s preaching, killing contrary to Islamic laws – Sheikh Maraya

In this interview, Sheikh Halliru Maraya, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric of the Tijjaniyya order, spoke on the killing of Sheikh Ibrahim Yahya Masussuka, calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.

What do you make of the killing of Sheikh Yahya Masussuka?

The Qur’an has already addressed this issue from the Islamic perspective. It establishes clear principles and explains the consequences for anyone who unlawfully takes another person’s life.

How would you describe his teachings; and what influence did they have on his followers and the wider community?

He held the view that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) did not have Hadiths. This teaching generated controversy within the Muslim community.

But he was not the first person to hold this position; he was a follower of those who shared the same view. But this teaching contradicts the established positions of the Islamic schools of jurisprudence and the understanding of earlier Muslim scholars. But under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), every Nigerian is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to practise religion according to their beliefs.

Nigeria is not a country where Islamic laws are applied as the governing legal system in all matters. If Islamic laws were applied in the matter under discussion, a person holding the views attributed to the late Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka would be brought before an Islamic court. If the court established that his teachings contravened Islamic law, it would determine the appropriate action in accordance with Islamic legal principles.

What do you think may have caused the attack?

Regarding the killing, my appeal to the people is that they should fear Allah. Anyone who kills another person because of religious differences, political disagreements or any other form of disagreement should remember that they, too will eventually die.

No matter how long a person lives, he or she will ultimately depart this world; and the Almighty Allah will judge everyone hereafter.

My appeal is not limited to people who disagreed with Sheikh Masussuka, it applies to everyone, regardless of their identity or religion. People must do everything possible to ensure that they do not take another person’s life unlawfully.

As I said earlier, the gravity of unlawfully killing one person is comparable, in terms of the sin involved, to killing all of humanity. May Allah protect us from such wrongdoing.

If killings of this nature are not properly addressed, they could lead to a situation in which people kill others whenever they have the opportunity.

Lack of accountability encourages individuals to take the law into their hands. Every person who is killed has relatives, and if those relatives believe that no action has been taken over the death of their loved one, they may begin pursuing those they suspect of being responsible.

This could trigger retaliatory attacks and eventually lead to wider conflicts. May Allah protect us from such an outcome.

Ansaru has claimed responsibility for the killing. Why do you think of that?

Regarding the claim that Ansaru carried out the killing, I call on the Nigerian authorities, through their security agencies, to conduct a thorough investigation and establish the facts. The authorities must investigate carefully to identify the actual perpetrators of the killing. Although the late Sheikh’s teachings were contrary to what I consider the established teachings of Islamic law and the understanding of earlier scholars, that does not justify taking the law into one’s hands. What happened was contrary to Islamic law.

Do you think the killing could have been motivated by factors beyond religious differences?

On whether the killing was connected to religious differences between the late Sheikh and other Islamic scholars, or disagreements over Islamic teachings, that cannot be established without a proper investigation.

The security agencies must be allowed to investigate thoroughly and determine who carried out the killing. At this stage, it would be wrong to reach a definitive conclusion about the identity of the perpetrators before the investigation establishes the facts. The authorities must investigate carefully.

What are your final words to Nigerians and the authorities on this?

My final appeal is that people should understand that Islam does not permit them to take the law into their hands. Whenever someone is suspected of committing any offence, the appropriate action for members of the public is to hand the suspect over to the authorities, where possible.

The authorities must investigate the allegation, and if the offence is established, administer justice in accordance with the laws applicable in the country where the offence occurred. Where Islamic law applies, the accused should be brought before the appropriate court and dealt with in accordance with Islamic legal principles.