8th January
2024
PRESS RELEASE:
STOP INFLUENCE OF KINGS ON YORUBA IMAMS - MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights advocacy
group, has advised Muslims in Yorubaland to put a stop to the influence of
kings on Imams. The group argued that this old practice is one of the misplaced
syncretic and socio-religious norms in the Yoruba society.
The advice was given in a statement issued on Monday, 8th January,
2024 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The full statement reads:
"Contrary to the tenets of Islam, Yoruba kings have tremendous
influence on the Imams in their domain. This has been so from the advent of
Islam in Yorubaland which dates back to the 16th century.
"We have seen this in many Yoruba cities particularly whenever
an Imam dies and a new one is about to be appointed. The kings often influence
the choice of the new Imam particularly where the post is competitive. It is
also the king who gives the Imam the staff of office.
"This is an erroneous,
archaic and obnoxious practice because the king has no role whatsoever to play
in the imamate under the Shari'ah, particularly where Islam is not used as the
form of government (a non-Islamic State). This is different from what applies
in an Islamic state where Islamic political thought is the state policy and the
khalifah is equally the Imam.
"The greatest danger in
this is that the Oba (king) may impose a Muslim favourite who has no
appropriate prerequisites for the post of Imam on the Muslims. This has dire
consequences. Already, some crisis brewing in some towns in Yorubaland can be traced
to this ugly phenomenon.
"It is even worse where
the king is not a Muslim. A Christian or traditionalist as king dictating to
the Imam or influencing decisions and steps to be taken by Muslims is a
complete anomaly in Islam. It is absurd, illogical, irrational and therefore
unacceptable. Many mosques have been ordered closed by non-Muslim kings
using the most trivial and ridiculous pretext.
"MURIC warns Muslims in Yorubaland to free themselves from the
shackles of sycophancy and syncretism. The practice of putting Imams under the
control of the king is a clog in the wheel of progress for Muslim
communities.
"For the avoidance of doubts, we are not advocating
confrontation between the Oba (king) and the Imam, what we are saying is that
their places and status are entirely different. The Oba is the head of the
traditional institution. The Imam is the head of the Muslim community.
"In actual fact the Oba plays a role greater than that of the
Imam because he heads the whole city, including the Muslim and Christian
subjects whereas the Imam only heads the Muslim segment of the
population. Both the Muslims and Christian citizens recognize the Oba as
their traditional ruler but what we are saying is that the Oba must not
interfere in their religious affairs.
"But the paradox lies
in the fact that while the Oba wields such immense power on the mosque and the
Imam, he has no such influence on the church and the bishop. Yoruba Obas
control the Imams in their cities but they dare not try the same with the
pastors and bishops. Muslims need to think about this.
"Muslims in Yorubaland must therefore use every lawful means
to sever themselves from the Oba's umbilical cords. The Yoruba Ummah (Muslim
community) cannot make real progress until this is done.
"We urge the relevant Islamic organizations to step up
enlightenment of the Muslim populace in Yorubaland towards achieving autonomy
for the Imamate. The League of Imams in Yorubaland, the Muslim Ummah of South-West
Nigeria (MUSWEN) and other Islamic organizations have a big role to play in
this regard.
“This is not the responsibility of any federal, state or local
government. Neither does it concern any state assembly, Senate or the House of
Representatives. It requires no form of legislation because no government
imposed the Obas on the Imams and it is not written in any law that the
traditional rulers should decide matters of the Imamate.
“This harmful policy was self-imposed
by the Muslims in times of ignorance. What is clear to us is that the Muslims
need no revolution to change it. All it requires is the spiritual will to stop
all external remote controls of the Ummah so that Yoruba Muslims will be able
to think like Muslims who have Muslim minds, not like Muslims who possess
colonial cum traditional mentality in Muslim bodies.
“How can the body function properly when the mind is alien to it?
How can the Muslims operate as one united community when they have leaders who
pay allegiance to the agents of neo-imperialism?
“What the Muslims need to set themselves free from the control of traditional
rulers is a change of mindset and a determination to liberate themselves from
traditional slavery. The Glorious Qur’an says, “Allah will not change the
condition of a people until they change their own ways” (13:11).
“The wind of freedom for Yoruba Muslims is blowing. The tickets of
freedom train is readily available for those willing to liberate themselves. To
start with, the League of Imams and MUSWEN must step out boldly to stop the
involvement of Obas in the appointment and installation of new Imams across the
region.
“We are not rejecting the Obas totally and categorically. Let them be
invited as royal guests without playing any authoritative role. They must be
given recognition. They must also be respected. But they must stay away from
the Imams and the Imamate.
“We appeal to Muslims throughout the South-West to desist from going
to court over disputes concerning the post of Imam or issues affecting their
mosques. It is unethical, condescending and despicable. Most of the judges are
non-Muslims and they are not in a position to understand Islamic points of
view.
“How can you ask a plumber to service your car? It makes no sense.
Majority of court cases which resulted in the closure of mosques for years were
decided by non-Muslims. It will not be wise for two quarreling rats to take
their case to the cat. Both of them will end up in the cat’s belly.
“Instead of going to
conventional courts where non-Muslim judges are most likely to make a mess of
cases involving mosques and Imams, Muslim communities and Imams who have
disagreements should take their cases to the League of Imams or to MUSWEN. Both
groups have branches in all Yoruba towns and villages. More importantly, they
have eminently qualified Shari’ah experts capable of giving justice to cases
involving Muslims.
“From now on, any Yoruba Oba
who unilaterally orders the closure of any mosque will face the wrath of
Muslims. All forms of remote control of the Ummah from non-Muslim quarters must
stop. Let the Muslims go!”
#SetTheImamFree
#LetTheMuslimsGo
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
