21st May, 2019
LOOTERS MUST REPENT, REFUND &
REFRAIN IN RAMADAN
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised
people who corruptly enriched themselves to seek forgiveness before the end of
Ramadan. The Islamic advocacy and human rights group spoke on Tuesday 21st
May, 2019 via a press release issued by its Founder and Director, Professor
Ishaq Akintola.
According
to MURIC, the process of securing forgiveness for looters involves genuine
repentance by the looter, refunding the stolen money or property or diverting
it to non-profit public use and finally, refraining from further stealing. The
organization advised that looters should seize the opportunity in this month of
Ramadan because it is the month of forgiveness.
“We advise looters to repent in this
Ramadan because it is the month of forgiveness. The train of mercy is leaving
now. Purchase your own ticket before the month ends. Ask Allah to forgive you
and He will do so because He is a Merciful God.
“So we have brought the three R’s this
Ramadan: Repent, Refund and Refrain. Looters are asked to repent. They must
refund stolen funds after repenting and finally, they must refrain from further
stealing after refunding what they stole.
“Allah frowns on corruption because it
is a cancerous tumor which must be removed from the anatomy of every society
lest it spreads and consumes the whole. It is an established fact that no good
surgeon will hesitate to amputate an infected part of the human body.
“As a religion which promotes human
welfare, Islam seeks to create an egalitarian society where there is no
palpably visible wide gap between the rich and the poor. This is where
corruption and Islam stand poles apart. The former compartmentalizes society into
the stupendously rich and the terribly poor whereas the latter seeks to raise
the standard of living for all.
“This is why Islam forbids every man or
woman from taking or receiving bribes and kickbacks or engaging in over-invoicing
(Glorious Qur’an 2:188; 4:29-30). The Qur’an also condemns the accumulation of
wealth (102:1-8; 104:1-9).
“Prophet Muhammad (may the peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) condemned cheats, bribe-takers and looters.
This is very clear in his numerous pronouncements on corruption. Examples are,
‘Whoever cheats us is not one of us.’ ‘The curse of Allah is on both the givers
and takers of bribe.’ ‘Gifts accepted by public officers are ghuluul (i.e.
ill-gotten gains).’
MURIC also spoke about the
eschatological implication of corruption on looters.
“The Glorious Qur’an warns that those
involved will be punished in al-Akhirah (the Hereafter), ‘They take
usury and collect bribe even though it is forbidden. They devour people’s money
wrongfully. Verily indeed We have prepared a grievous punishment for
unbelievers’ (4:161).
In
the hadith (sayings of the Prophet) ‘Any leader who dies as a cheat will never
enter al-Jannah (Paradise).’He also said that any public official or
businessman who steals the people’s common patrimony and uses it to purchase or
build personal property will appear yawm al-Qiyamah (the Day of Ressurrection)
carrying the stolen money, property or properties on his head. Stolen money
will become reptiles right from the grave on the day a looter is buried. Snakes
and scorpions will bite him ad infinitum until yawm al-Qiyamah!
To avoid the travails of al-Akhirah,
MURIC asked looters to seek forgiveness.
“Muslims are known to covet al-Jannah.
All their acts of worship (Salat, Zakat, fasting in the month of Ramadan,
pilgrimage to Makkah, etc) are for the sake of al-Jannah. Therefore, the
issue must be very serious if they are told that they will be denied that same al-Jannah
if they loot public funds regardless of whether or not they dutifully performed
other acts of worship.
“The way out is to repent. Looters must repent before they die or they
will burn in hell. Fast everyday of your life if you like. Go on pilgrimage
every year if you so desire. Perform Umrah every month or bring the whole city
of Makkah to your expansive hilltop mansion and underground palace. You will
burn in Jahannam (hell fire) if you steal our common patrimony and you still
fail to repent, refund and refrain.
“MURIC did not say it. It
came from the lips of Prophet Muhammad and the Prophet does not speak in vain
because every single statement of his is divinely inspired (Qur’an 53:3-4 wa
ma yantiq ‘anil hawaa, in huwa ilaa wahyun yuuhaa). You have only one
option: repent. Repent before it is too late. Ramadan is the month of mercy and
forgiveness. So do it now! You may never have another chance.
But the group also advised
that seeking forgiveness may not be enough if those who looted public funds
fail to return the stolen money.
“There is every chance that
Allah will forgive looters if they manifest genuine remorse. That sincere
remorse can only be exhibited by the looter if he surrenders the loot. We
therefore advise looters who are seeking Allah’s forgiveness to surrender their
loot after seeking forgiveness. There is double assurance that Allah will
forgive because He is the Most Beneficient and the Most Merciful.
“Allah Himself says
concerning this, ‘Say Oh my servants who have transgressed against their own
souls, do not despair about the mercy of Allah because Allah forgives all sins.
He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful’ (Qur’an 39:53).
The Islamic human rights
organization also throws light on how looters can return stolen funds.
“Some looters may find it
difficult to return stolen money. This may be out of fear of the law
enforcement agencies. But they must remember that if anti-corruption agencies
(EFCC or ICPC) does not sees them, Allah sees them. They cannot hide from
Allah. He sees and knows everything.
“Therefore, our advice is that any looter who finds it difficult to
return stolen money to the government should use it for a project from which
the public can benefit, e.g. build roads in communities, provide drinkable water
for rural communities, build city halls, repair roofs and windows of public
schools, build public libraries, theatres, laboratories in public institutions
of learnings, universities, secondary schools, etc and maintain them.
“He can build public toilets
in several cities and make arrangement for their maintenance. Members of the
public must be able to use such toilets free of all charges. Allah’s reward
will continue to go to him for so long as people get relief from using the
toilets.
“School buses can be put on
the road for free ride by students. You can build public eateries where two free
meals per day can be provided for senior citizens (anyone above the age of 60)
and the jobless. This will reduce criminal activities to a large extent because
many youth go into crime due to hunger. You can institute an endowment that settles
hospital bills for poor and helpless patients. You can also distribute wheel
chairs and similar health facilities for the handicapped.
“But there is a caveat here.
In an attempt to return stolen funds through the provision of service to the
public, looters should not invest the money in any venture that will fetch them
money in return, e.g. building private universities where exorbitant fees will
be charged.
“In the final analysis, forgiveness
and al-Jannah will be guaranteed with the proviso that the looter does not
continue stealing after seeking forgiveness and after returning the loot”.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
