Can the death penalty stop blasphemy?

This is obviously what most of our ulama, and all those who hailed the judgement passed on Sharif Yahaya Aminu, a Kano-based singer believe. No doubt about it, his offence was grievous. Ascribing polytheism to Rasulillah, SAW, is the ultimate insult anyone can do to him, because polytheism was the one thing he was sent to abolish. The whole mission of his life, PBUH, was to affirm the unity of Almighty Allah and the falsity of idol-worship.

So if the death sentence is what Aminu Yahaya deserves, by all means let him have it. But will it stop the next blasphemy?

I mean it was only five years ago when another young man from Kano, another Tijjaniya adherent like Aminu, committed an even worse blasphemy. In his own case Abdul Nyass blasphemed against Almighty Allah by comparing Him, SWT, to the late Senegalese scholar, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass.

Abdul Nyass was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. He appealed the first ruling at a Kano High Court but lost his appeal. Abdul then took his case to the Court of Appeal in Kaduna. This court is yet to start hearing on his case, while Abdul Nyass is currently held at the Kurmawa prison in Kano.

Though Abdul’s fate is well-known to Sharif Aminu, it did not deter him from treading the same path. In other words, their mistake or deliberate mischief, is borne out of a strong conviction that makes them think what they are doing is right.

This is why I think executing them for blasphemy cannot stop the phenomenon all together. There is no way we can treat a disease successfully by dealing with its symptoms rather than its cause. Not long after Abdul Nyass’ arrest, I heard an audio recording of Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, who was head of the Kano Hisba commission, in which he talked about his encounter with the young man. He said he had a session with Abdul during which he learnt that the young man only said what he sang (his blasphemy was contained in a song) because of what he was taught by his teachers. In other words, it was informed by his understanding of the religion as taught by his scholars.

And if this is the case, do we know how many other youths are out there being taught to believe things that are an insult to Almighty Allah the Rasulillah SAW?

The challenge before our scholars, especially those of the Tijjaniya order, is to try and fish out those among them who are teaching their youths to compare Sheikh Nyass to Allah SWT and Prophet Muhammad, SAW.

It’s obvious that this is a new phenomenon, if it isn’t, we would have known long ago that Tijjaniya adherents have no qualms about disrespecting Almighty Allah and His revered Messenger, PBUH.

This kind of indoctrination must be fought at the root by getting hold of and stopping those who are spreading these dangerous and false beliefs. If possible by prosecuting them.

Another thing the leadership of the Tijjaniya order, in Nigeria, can do is to reduce the veneration with which they hold the late Senegalese Sheikh, Ibrahim Nyass. I remember when I went to Senegal in 2003, I kept seeing commuter taxis and buses bearing the name of an unknown Sheikh. He was probably the owner of the vehicles; though no photos of his were on display, his name was nevertheless engraved at the top panel of cars and buses.

I asked my husband why we couldn’t see any photos of Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, whom one sees everywhere in Kano and most other parts of Northern Nigeria, as stickers on buses and cars. He replied that maybe one would only  see them in Kaolak (Kaulaha in Hausa) the home town of the Sheikh.

Indeed, in the two weeks we spent with our children, between Dakar and the coastal town of St. Louis, we saw no sign of Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass anywhere. Now for a man whose whole popularity is confined to his hometown of Kaolak in Senegal, it’s amazing that his stickers adorn all kinds of vehicles in Northern Nigeria.

Whether you are a Tijjaniya adherent or not, you’ll certainly be familiar with his trademark stern look and cotton-white beard staring down at you from many a commuter vehicle.

Then there is his annual birthday, an event that manages to cripple every occasion that coincides with it. Sheikh Nyass’ birthday is celebrated in such a big way you’d think he is a 100% Nigerian saint. Then there are those who make the pilgrimage to his home town, Kaolak, just to visit his grave and earn blessings.

With all these practices surrounding him, can we blame some Tijjaniya youths if they end up deifying this man and commiting blasphemies in the process?

The only way out, in my humble opinion, is for the top hierarchy of Tijjaniya to sit down and revise their doctrinal syllabus. They must make sure that they teach their youths that Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass was a mere mortal and that’s why he’s even dead now.

All the practices that have led to his deification by some misguided youths must be stopped. Otherwise many more blasphemies will be committed and more death sentence will have to continually be dished out.

Though I believe that Abdul Nyass and Sharif Aminu should be severely punished, maybe by long prison terms, I believe the death sentence should be waived and provision be made for them to learn true doctrines of Islam while in prison. Commuting their death sentences to prison terms will ensure that any followers or fans they have (they are both singers) will not consider them martyrs and follow in their footsteps.