From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Last Friday, the Chief Imam of Masjidu Khulafa’ir Rashideen Mosque Kumbiya Kumbiya Quarters in Gombe metropolis, Dr. Dawud Muhammad, used his sermon to condemn rape, gender-based violence and other forms of crimes and criminalities that are on rampage in Gombe. According to the Imam, it is disheartening to see that rape, molestation of women, and other forms of violence against humanity are finding a place and settling in a Muslims dominated state like Gombe.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Sun, shortly after the Friday prayer, Imam Dawud explained that the Friday sermon is one of the most effective platforms for addressing issues that affect society and that sermons are not just a religious obligation; it is also a tool for socialization and moral education.
According to him, Imams have the opportunity to provide guidance, admonish offenders, and encourage positive behavior through these sermons. “And that is what we have been doing,” he said adding the Imams can also discuss issues relevant to contemporary society such as Gombe.
Commenting on why he focused the last sermon on the issue of rape and gender-based violence, Imam Dawud said, “The rate at which people are complaining and the reports that we are receiving is alarming and calls for concern. Almost on a daily basis, we receive people, especially women coming to report domestic violence against them by their husbands, some are men coming to report their wives.
Also, we always get reports of rape and some youths attacking residents with dangerous weapons in their houses, you see all this is against the teachings of Islam and our beloved prophet. Our religious leaders and preachers are always preaching, teaching, and warning the people against sinful acts, but I think we need to put in more effort and energy,” the Imam said.
He further explained that the rise in crimes and criminalities in Gombe can be attributed to factors, such as poverty, drug abuse, and a lack of education and moral values. Adding that addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, especially the government, traditional and religious leaders as well as all residents.
“It is not long ago that we hear about the arrest of Gombe youths who were planning a same-sex marriage and the arrest of a serial rapist by Civil Defence, almost every day you will hear about a case of rape or breaking and entry into people’s houses, to the extent that you hear about people being killed in their homes, husbands beating their wives until she shed blood, these are very things that Islam is against,” the Cheif Imam stated.
Recently I have threatened to charge a man who beats his wife to court for him to stop beating her, Islam prohibits all forms of domestic violence just the way it is against killing, rape, and violence in the land today. I would like to call on the government first, then our security agencies, religious groups, and leaders, traditional leaders as well as both legal and medical practitioners to do the needful in addressing the challenges that are posing a serious threat to the well-being of the society, especially the judiciary,” Imam told Daily Sun.
The offenders must be arrested and made to face the law and the victims and those who are offended must be made to stop hiding a crime in the name of shame or fear, Islam encourages reporting crime so that the perpetrator will brought to book, we can not continue to hide crimes and expect the criminals to stop, we must bring them out for the law to take it’s cause and to serve as deterrent to others, there is also a need for the authority to be serious with issues, we don’t want a situation where a criminal will be arrested after few days he will be released to come back start threatening those that contribute to his arrest,” Imam added.
Meanwhile, some worshipers interviewed at the Mosque disclosed that the Chief Imam’s message is a step in the right direction and that it serves as a wake-up call to all. “It reminds us of our individual and collective responsibilities in living and contributing to peace of our society and also our obligation to live a righteous life with the fear of God,” Bashir Aliyu a motorcycle mechanic in Gombe told Daily Sun.
Another worshiper, Boda Yusuf said, “It is true, we all have a stake in addressing crime and criminalities in our society. I like it that the Imam emphasizes the need for us to hold ourselves and each other accountable for our actions”.
Also speaking to Daily Suns Alhaji Hassan Muhammad, a trader in Gombe main market who was at the Mosque said, “It is very important for everyone to know and remember that we have a hand in the challenges of crime and criminalities and even the hardships that we are grappling with, and we must all contribute in addressing the challenges by being fare to all including the government, we must support our security agencies to succeed in making our town and community safe”.
He equally urged other religious leaders and preachers in the state to use their platform to contribute to the effort of addressing issues affecting the people and the country. He said, “We must all take responsibility for our actions and work towards creating a better society for ourselves”.