Throwback Interview Series: “Islam is a Religion of Peace” – Prof. Dawud Noibi
Interview with Professor Dawud Olatokunbo Shittu Noibi, OBE, first published in the Shaaban/Ramadan 1427 AH (2006) print edition of The PEACE magazine.
Professor Dawud Olatokunbo Shittu Noibi is an international Islamic scholar of repute, a professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, recipient of the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), a former University of Ibadan Don and a notable figure in the British Muslim community. In this no hold-barred interview they with Abdulfattah Abdussalam, he bares his mind on several issues with regards to Muslim and Islam.
Excerpts
Sir, can there ever be peace In the world?
A’udhubillahi mina shaytan Rajeem, Bismillahi Rahman Raheem. These words of Allah are very relevant to the question you asked. We must ask Allah to keep Shaytan away from us and we should be conscious of the fact that there are influences of Shaytan on man: he does not want peace to reign in the world. Certainly, there can be peace provided human beings learn from some of the things that happen around us. Furthermore, the more people put pressure on Islam, the more they will be interested in knowing about the religion. Recently, the Ambassador of the US to Nigeria said that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US, which then means giving the fact that democracy is a game of number, the more the people of US are part of Islam, the more they will appreciate the need to embrace peace as Islam is a religion of peace.
Terrorism seems to be becoming synonymous with Islam, what is responsible?
It is a contradiction in terms to attribute terrorism to Islam because the religion itself by its definition is a religion of peace. Islam teaches that if the relationship between man and Allah is peaceful then we would have achieved the highest level of peaceful living, and we would have peace in our heart. Islamic teachings are comprehensive on how to relate with other people, regardless of their Faith, creed race, and other living things, even non-living things. There is class distinction between Islam and terrorism. I want to say that this kind of link is as a result of propaganda by those who see Islam as a force that could challenge the extreme, which are the main characteristics of capitalism. However, I believe that with effort made by people like you and your organization, THE PEACE magazine, as well as other sectors of media, people will appreciate the message of Islam and be more informed about the religion.
How is Islam a challenge to capitalism?
Islam has many things to challenge. Capitalism is a materialistic concept with its practices that encourage greed, the inclination to dominate others not caring about their economic interest. Furthermore, it is the market value that determines means and wants. In plain terms it encourages the concentration of wealth in the hands of few, to the exclusion of overall well-being of the people. These are clearly contrary to Islamic teachings. There are citations in the Qur’an where it is mandatory for wealth to be shared among the people. The concept of Zakat is one of such principles. In addition it is a secular way of life: it does not consider any religious value and ethics. For example, during the colonial days, the colonialists, came to plunder Africa, took slave to their plantations in the Americas, devastated people’s lives, without any consideration for their persons. In the present-day, we have wars here and there. Each of these wars is indeed manifestation of capitalism. The war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the present struggle to stop Iran from enriching its nuclear programme are machinations of capitalism. Mark you, capitalism thrives on immoral kind of businesses: alcoholism, pornography, gambling and usury. All these are against the principles of Islam. And since Islam is a force against this unjust way of life, it is been attacked.
What is your comment on the standoff between Iran and America on the Iran’s nuclear enrichment programmes?
My own observation is that Muslims across the world are fully in support of Iran pursing its nuclear programme. In the first place, Iran has said its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. I do not think anybody has the right to stop them. Why are they afraid of Iran when Israel as small as it is, has a large arsenal of nuclear weapons that could be used to terrorize its neighbours. What iswrong with Iran having its own nuclear power? It has been said times without number that it is for peaceful purposes. That would further ensure there is peace in the Middle East. Today, India and Pakistan are now been forced to live together because they are aware of each other’s nuclear capabilities. Allah (SWT) has guided us to realize that it is only when we are fully prepared that our enemy who may want to terrorize could be deterred. Therefore, Iran should be encouraged and supported, to have its own nuclear power.
Sir through your Islamic activities in UK, can we have a peep into Islam in UK?
I went to United Kingdom in 1990. I was with the Iqrah Organization to be their Islamic consultant. I was there for a limited time, but various circumstances kept me there permanently. The work involved quiet a number of activities including: publishing books, articles, pamphlets, printed materials through which we disseminate information particularly in schools, organizations, prisons, courts, and solicitors’/advocates’ offices. I am fully involved in writing reports for lawyers and courts, staging of Islamic exhibitions, especially for children, so that they can have the opportunity of seeing Islam at a very close range. I remember that every centre we went; the children were very enthusiastic to join us in prayer, and many of them know more about Islam. We also had a radio station which ran for a few years, helped some newspapers, which sometimes send their articles on Islam to us for editing before publishing. In United Kingdom we have the National Council for the Welfare of the Muslim Prisoners of which I am the chairman. We visit prisons. One of our aims is mainly to ensure that Muslim prisoners are well looked after and their religious rights are not denied. Again, I am personally involved in the activities that lead to interactions with leaders of the Christians and Jews. In South East London where I live, there is the Southern Muslim Forum, which is the organization that represents Muslims. It is recognized by the government and can be called upon on any matters pertaining to Islam. Sometimes I deliver Friday sermons, Sunday lectures and coordinate Ramadan activities.
What are the roles of Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN) within the Muslim community in London?
Muslim Association of Nigeria, MAN is a stable of Nigerian Muslims organizations in the UK. We now have about twelve organizations. We still have an umbrella organization that embraces all Nigerian Muslims organizations, i.e. the Committee of Nigerian Muslim Organization (CNMO). The leaders and officers of each organization are members of CNMO. I was the first AMIR: it came to being because there was need to prevent a situation where Nigerian Muslim organizations might be quarreling with each other on petty things. We have mosques, which are recognized, in government circle, police and officials of counties. The most important mosque and the most peculiar is the one at the Old Kent Road, South East London. We conduct our activities in English so that non-Nigerians as well as non-English Muslims can be part of the mosque, listen to our sermon as well as the teaching of Arabic studies. A quiet number of children, and even adults registered with us. These organizations unite us in UK.
If you are able to achieve unity in UK, what stops us here in Nigeria?
One of my greatest desires is to achieve unity among Muslims in Nigeria. Nigerian Muslims must be ready to achieve unity. I recall that in a paper I presented in the 80s, where I said that the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is the most successful organization that has united Muslims in this country. Whether they are from the East or West North, they are together, unfortunately, it is sad that some individuals, because of their own selfish and ethnic interest, would not allow for such. They prefer to lead their own ethnic group against the other even when it is harmful to Islam. I believe that with better understanding of Islam as religion of unity, as religion that discourages ethnicity, soon the unity is achievable. Talking about unity, I remember early 80’s, it happened we went to Ikenne, Ogun State to see the late Obafemi Awolowo over the late Bola Ige’s apparent hard-line against Muslims in Oyo state, while awaiting the arrival of Awolowo a gentle man came to us pretending to be a Muslim, he requested us to gather the Ulamas in the South West of the country and curse the North for the evil he thought the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) members were doing to the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I remember, I responded that ” what you have asked us to do, we cannot do it. The Muslim North and their Ulamas are our brothers. Muslims do not curse, but we might pray to Allah to change their hearts. The unity of Muslim in the country should be taken serious.
In line with your remarks on activities of MAN, in UK, one can say organizations like Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs is not really performing…
I agree with you But my agreement has its limits. You are not different in that kind of remark on Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. There is much for us to do as Muslims. Much of our rights have been taken away from us. Our children have been denied their rights in terms of Islamic education. People who are not well disposed to Islam for instance are leading us, I think there a lot of things we can do as Muslims if we have proper orientation and are sufficiently organized. Hajj for example, is something we can do on our own especially that the government is not ready to do it right. What happened during the last Hajj was a big shame. It was due to our over-reliance on government, and perhaps on some individuals. I must say however all these are not sufficient reasons to write off the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs because it is only when you loose something that you appreciate its value.
What is your opinion on Islamic Banking and University?
In England, there is the Islamic Bank of Britain which was established few years ago, and it is doing fine. Muslims are patronizing it and even, non-Muslims. Muslims were thought in the Qur’an that Riba is haram, and as such, a bank that exists on interest might not be enough to cater for those who want to live pure Islamic life. I am aware of the Jaiz Bank, but its operations are yet to take off fully. It has worked fine in other places. On Islamic University, it is also workable, but we should understand what Islamic University means. Whether what we have now in Nigeria are close to Islamic or not is another issue. Under pure Islamic setting, a University is where operations are guided by Islamic values, ethics, where both teachers and students will be honest and work hard in an environment filled with Taqwa as it was the case for eight hundred years in Spain. Also, it is not only in religious sciences that such university should be noted for, but should also embrace all other disciplines. Let me tell you the origin of Islamisation of knowledge. It started some where in United States where the idea was put across to the Islamic world that we can achieve various practices of learning through the eyes of Islam. Where in the study of Physics for example, we will be conscious of the fact that we are studying the laws of Allah and use the laws in consonance with the laws of the Creator.
In your days at the University of Ibadan you were a father to many Muslims, can we take a look back to those days?
I remember the MSSN and my activities. Let me give you a particular example. In those days at the University of Ibadan (UI), there were attempts to put lectures between 12 noon and 2 pm on Fridays. At a particular point, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) had sent in circular to all the Faculties requesting that, that period should be lecture free. But majority of the lecturers. especially in my own Faculty. Arts, were against it. They were set to upturn the VC’s decision. At the Faculty meeting I said to them all that I would write a minority report in support of the directives from the VC if ever there were attempt to change the decision. I challenged them on why they were not considerate that it is the right of the Muslim students to be free for two hours on Fridays while the Christians have the whole of Saturdays and Sundays. My action stopped them from executing their agenda. Recently, while on the same campus, I saw some students in Niqaabs which was not so in our days. In fact you will not find a single Muslim student wearing Hijaab, not to talk of Niqaab. Do you know that Niqaab is reaction to the undue pressure that has been mounted by the system on Muslim students that necessitated some of them to stand up for their rights? The University environment in present times have crippling effects on the practices of Islam and Shariah which then means that the present crop of Muslims in MSSN have to go extra mile in practicing their religion. I also remember there and then, we fought the Government of Oyo State over its undue pressure on Muslims by trampling on their rights to Islamic education. Our activities were then well coordinated and accounted for one of the reasons why Bola Ige was never returned to power. On my present visit to Nigeria, when I visited the University. I am particularly happy that better relations have developed between the Muslims and non-Muslims on campus. I do hope that there will be more of this.
Experiences in London viz-a- viz poverty among Muslims?
There are traces of writhing poverty among Muslims in Britain. It is not surprising to me because the Muslim community in Britain is made up of some people that came from the third world where there is poverty. Sixty-five Percent (65%) of them are Africans and you know that Africa is the poorest Continent in the world. But what should be our concern is how do we solve our problems: how do we prevent the continuation of poverty among Muslims? In the first place our governments are not sincere. Third world leaders should be more transparent and accountable.
Take a look back, would you say that you are satisfied with your activities?
If I say I’m satisfied, that may border on arrogance. I believe that whatever people feel I have done that were good could have been done in a better way. 1 could have done much more; I give thanks to Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to do some of these things. I recall my pledge before Allah when I first sighted the Holy ka’abah in 1968; ” O Allah! If you give me these things that I asked, I present the rest of my life to your service’. Allah has given me hundred times over of those things I asked from him. I must say those things; especially the ones done at UI and UK were done in collaboration with colleagues, younger ones, elder ones and the Ulamas. Alhamduliliah!
Lastly your advice to Muslims?
We should endeavour to be better in our Deen. Which implies that we should subject our lives both in private and in public to laws of Allah. Allah sees all that we do; we should not say something and do something else. The Caliphs, the Heads of States, the Governors, Prime Ministers, and all human beings shall account for their deeds. While we the adult try to pattern our lives according to Islamic teachings, we should also catch the young ones young and mould them in such away that when they grow up. they grow as true Muslims in every thing they do.
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