Because Nigeria is a country where little value is given to human life, one often hears or reads about individuals being killed over trivial issues. With violence through the criminal activities of bandits and kidnappers already taking its toll daily on citizens, why again should Nigerians ‘add salt to injury’ by killing themselves for not-good-enough reasons? No matter how grave a suspect’s offence appeared, no one or group besides the law has the authority to decide the fate of an accused.
The recent beating to death of a 20-year-old young man by a 40-year-old tea vendor (called Mai Shayi in Hausa) is a classic example of how human life yet remains inconsequential in Nigeria. According to newspaper reports, Abdulrashibu Ya’u of Sararai village, Jigawar Tsada town, Dutse Local Government Council of Jigawa State, descended on Hassan Garba and beat the latter to death. Ya’u had accused Garba of stealing from his bread, milk, noodles, and petrol. After receiving the report of the incident, the police deployed a team to the scene. While the suspect was arrested, the victim was rushed to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Jigawa, said during questioning at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse, Ya’u admitted to the crime; adding that he was enraged by Garba’s repeated thefts to act in the way he did. Ya’u also said he had previously informed his parents who took no action on the matter. DSP Adam explained that Ya’u tied Garba with a rope and beat him with a stick, leading to Garba’s death. “Following a thorough investigation, Ya’u will be arraigned in court to face the full weight of the law,” the PPRO said.
As a believer, Ya’u should not have taken over the job of the courts, which have the authority to convict, condemn or discharge Garba after the due process of the law had been exhaustively pursued. But even greater than the official laws of the land established by man is the final judgement in every matter which absolutely rests with Allah. Ya’u should have also known that the theft of items from his shop was not the worst thing that could happen to him in his tea business. What could he (Ya’u) have done if it was fire that razed and completely destroyed his tea shop; probably leaving him with nothing to trade with as a tea vendor?
Indeed, over every disappointment is another that could be much bigger or worse. That which is expected of Muslims in all adverse circumstances such as the one suffered by Ya’u over the theft of his tea making supplies is to thank Allah that a worst-case scenario did not happen to him because whatever was bad could still be worse. If one may ask, was Ya’u expecting to be in the tea business without experiencing trial(s) sanctioned by Allah to test or check the depth of his faith? Allah states in Qur’an 29:2 “Do men think that they would be left alone on saying, ‘we believe,’ and that they will not be tested?”
The wise among scholars also say, “Every disappointment is a blessing.” The second Khalifah in Islam, Sayyidina Umar bn al-Khattab (RA), is reported to have said that since he believed he loved Allah and Allah loved him in return; whatever came thereafter from the Supreme Lover (Allah) to His beloved servant (Umar bn al-Khattab) would ultimately be in his (Umar)’s best interest even it was bitter. After all, one of the seven articles of faith in Islam is the belief in destiny, good or bad.
Certainly, there is a divine purpose behind everything. Nothing happens without Allah’s knowledge, the Omniscience, including the most infinitesimal of things. Thus, believers are encouraged to always note, as mentioned in Qur’an 94:5-6 that there’s ease with every difficulty. Rather than languish in lamentations when a misfortune befalls us, Islam requires us to anticipate ease and look at the immediate future ambitiously; hoping that the best is going to come our way.
The tendency to destroy what ought not to be destroyed is always high each time an individual decides to take-over an activity or job that is out of his/her competence, jurisdiction or knowledge. This is exactly what happened when the tea vendor, Ya’u, made himself a judge in the theft of his provisions allegedly carried out by Garba, the suspected thief.
Meanwhile, the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) urges us to patiently and perseveringly manage the natural anger in us, which the devil, Satan, is always happy to inflame; solely to mislead and misguide us to the path of destruction. While it is dangerous to rush any decision-making process, it is more dangerous to do so when angry. Persons who hastily take decisions often live to regret their rushed actions. The worst moment for a person to take decisions is when he is offended, provoked, or hurt by the actions or inactions of others. May Allah protect us from being victims of uncontrolled anger, amin.
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