I am not a fan of anything religion because the belief in a supernatural being comes with practices, mostly insane and barbaric.
In the wake of Bishop Daniel Obinim’s openly flogging of two of his church members, a diabolical action he has justified on several platforms as the appropriate prescribed punishment for children by the Bible, I wrote a piece to stamp out the fact that Ghana is not a theocracy, thus what any holy book says cannot be followed if it violates the laws of the land.
But a lot of christians continue to get things mixed up and constantly as Obinim does, quote the Bible to support illegalities–as if the Bible is the constitution of Ghana.
What such religious people, even if smart, do not realize is that their religion and holy book is not the only game in town and there are countless others which offer alternative solutions to dealing with every day human issues. At this stage, which of these books, all said to be from a celestial father should we really respect, allow to be used freely–even if what the book commands contradicts the laws of the land?
If on the back of Proverbs 13:24 which reads: “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them,” Obinim and many Ghanaian christians believe they can flog children or are mandated to do so by a God, then surely my muslim friend should equally be granted the liberty to do what the various holy books of his religion teach.
My childhood friend-Safianu has said as a muslim, the Hadith is equally valid as the Quran and therefore, he is obliged to do what the Hadith commands. He wants to be able to enforce the below verses from the Hadith and Sira. Remember when it comes to Islam, the Hadith,”second only to the Qur’an in importance and authority, are collections of Islamic traditions and laws (Sunna). This includes traditional sayings of Muhammed and later Islamic sages.”
Bukhari (6:60:79) Two people guilty of “illegal” intercourse are brought to Muhammad, who orders them both stoned to death. Apparently their act was out of love, since the verse records the man as trying to shield the woman from the stones.
Bukhari (83:37) – Adultery is one of three justifications for killing a person, according to Muhammad.
Muslim (17:4192) – This hadith clarifies the different penalties for adultery (when the subjects are married), and fornication (when they are not): “in case of married (persons) there is (a punishment) of one hundred lashes and then stoning (to death). And in case of unmarried persons, (the punishment) is one hundred lashes and exile for one year” (See also 17:4191)
Muslim (17:4196) – A married man confesses to adultery. Muhammad orders him planted in the ground and pelted with stones. According to the passage, the first several stones caused such pain that he tried to escape and was dragged back.
Muslim (17:4206) – A woman who became pregnant confesses to Muhammad that she is guilty of adultery. Muhammad allows her to have the child, then has her stoned. The description is graphic: “Khalid b Walid came forward with a stone which he flung at her head and there spurted blood on the face of Khalid and so he abused her.”
Muslim (17:4209) – A woman confesses adultery and is stoned to death on Muhammad’s order.
Ibn Ishaq (970) – “The adulterer must be stoned.” These words were a part of Muhammad’s farewell address to his people on the occasion of his final pilgrimage to Mecca.
Tabari 9:69 “Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us” The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam.
Not only these, Safianu a true Muslim also wants to adhere to these verses of the Quran, and he takes the literal translation as his best shot.
Quran (2:191-193) – “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing…
but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)”
Quran (2:216) – “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”
Quran (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement”
Quran (9:123) – “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
I don’t really like the fact that my friend wants to abide by these verses of his religious books and I know he should not be allowed to do anything that violates the laws of Ghana, even if his religion commands him to do so.
If he proceeds to do such a thing such as stoning his adulterous wife in violation of the law, it will be criminal, because we are governed by the laws of Ghana and not what any religious book commands.
However, it’s only fair that if christians believe they can do whatever they want provided the Bible sanctions it and we’ve seen Obinim do so, then Safianu should also be allowed to do all he believes his religious books tell him to do–including killing the infidels.
Is this the sort of anarchy we want to befall Ghana? Why can’t religious people just see this?
The truth is; everyone has a right to practice a religion–provided the practices do not violate the laws of the land.