By Seyifunmi Odunuga
The Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide has said that it is a criminal offence in Islam for anyone or group of people to kill anybody through jungle justice.
It was gathered that a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Miss Deborah Samuel was allegedly killed by a group of students over an alleged insult to Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The cleric has however described the incident as anti-Islam, barbaric and sad.
Rasool Shafau (IM) in a statement, described the case of mob killing of the girl in Sokoto as a criminal offence in Islamic law.
Prof. Olagoke condemned in strong terms the jungle justice meted out on the deceased on the excuse of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
Olagoke in the statement explained that killing innocent people does not have a place in Islam.
He said that as a Muslim Organisation, we join all other groups and individuals to condemn what happened in Sokoto recently.
The renowned cleric used the opportunity to charge Islamic scholars to renew their commitments to preaching peace, love, tolerance and understanding as taught by the Prophet Muhammad himself.
He said, “Allah says in Qur’an 5 verse 32 thus: … We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it is for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people…”
“So the punishment for any offence in Islamic law is decided by a judge. No other member of the public has that jurisdiction. The Almighty Allah prescribes in Q16 v 125 for wisdom and Tolerance instead of a high sense of forgiveness.
“This is so because if any individual or group is permitted to judge and execute punishments on their own without recourse to the constituted authority, there will be nothing but jungle justice and anarchy on the land, hence a punishable offence.
“The Prophet (S.A.W) during his lifetime was maligned, insulted and attacked but he didn’t retaliate or order his people to prosecute any of them, hence, people accepted Islam during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad ( S.A.W ) because of his exemplary and worthy character”.
The Holy Qur’an is an authority for Muslims to follow and presently, no death penalty as being misconstrued.
Q25 v 63 “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace, ”
He however calls on the Federal Government to be responsive to sensitive issues that can set the country on fire As a matter of urgency especially now that the election is very near.
