Some Imam Houses Stink
An Imam is expected to embody knowledge, piety and trust. Yet allegations of fraud, sexual misconduct, ritual killings and criminal associations involving some mosque leaders raise an uncomfortable question: what happens when those entrusted with guiding the community become part of the very moral crisis they are meant to confront?
“Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?” Qur’an 2:44
By Abdulfattah Abdussalam
The Imam’s position in Islam is revered. It is a position meant for the most learned in a Muslim community. He is the leader of a mosque responsible for leading the five daily prayers, delivering sermons on Jumah, and leading Eid prayers where necessary.
Imams are also expected to act as spiritual mentors, counselors, educators, and peace makers who resolve disputes, teach the Qur’an, officiate at Islamic functions like Nikkah and Janazah, and provide support to challenged individuals in their community. Typically they are chosen based on their deep knowledge of Islam, piety, character, and proficiency in Quranic recitation. They are selected by people of the community or association, based on their trustworthiness.
But sadly, some Imams in today’s Islam are the complete opposite of what an Imam should represent and stand for. Some of them are more known for diabolical acts, fraudulent activities, unashamed adultery, money rituals, bashful lifestyles, backbones for miscreants, armed robbers, and money rituals.
Some Imams are currently, having cases to answer at many police stations across Nigeria and, some are in prisons for heinous crimes. In Lagos State, an Imam was arrested and is still undergoing prosecution for fraud, to the tune of 150 million naira, he duped people under pretences. In another town in the North, an Imam impregnated a woman and ran away abandoning the woman and the child. When accosted, he cared less. In Ibadan, Oyo State, a popular Imam, was arrested for money ritual. Days before his arrest, he killed a surveyor for money rituals. In another house of an Imam, rather than getting married to women of his choice, he has become a serial flirt with women, because he is afraid of his wife.
Some of them go clubbing at bars, some of them drink, and many are retarded in knowledge seeking. Unfortunately, these are the leaders many Muslims, have regard for, whereas their homes are in sordid situations. Most of them, without established sources of funds keep large amounts of money in their banks and live above their means.
Editor’s Note: Truth is a reflective and satirical column drawn from the “Front of the Book” pages of PEACE Magazine. It seeks to provoke introspection, not hostility; reform, not ridicule.
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