My Take — Muaz Magaji Didn’t Celebrate Abba Kyari’s Death -By Omar Muaz

It is high time I wrote on this scandal. I couldn’t really remember the last time I bled words on political saga. Politics should be a game of idea not hypocrisy. My decision to write on this issue came up when I checked on Muaz’s wall to see whether he’s a robust person or not. I found that he seldom writes much as his likers and wowers hardly exceed 150. However, that particular post of his has 500+ reactions with 1k+ commenters.

I tapped on the comment box to say my mind. And, I could read plenty of sadistic comments and unbearable insults. Although, I haven’t heard of Muaz Magaji in my life before talkmore of knowing him personally… I couldn’t get a plenum in my heart to believe in what people speak about him.

Someone who seemed to be educated Islamically commented, “Engineer by profession jahili a addini (Ignorant in religion)”, he continued by quoting a prophetic tradition which says, “do not insult the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have done.”

I replied, “We all need to give our brothers uzr (excuse) to explain themselves whenever they speak equivocally. I am sure, you know that insulting a Muslim is fusūq and fighting (killing) him is kufr. You misunderstood his words. Please, read his recent article where he clarified himself… May Allah forgive us, Aameen.” People misunderstood me as well, and I was attacked. From there, I got interest to write on this trending issue.

“Win win… Nigeria is free and Abba Kyari ya mutu cikin annoba… Mutuwar shahada in har da Imani mutum ya cika!”
— Muaz Magaji, Facebook post.

Misunderstanding people’s words is tangential, more especially politicians. And religiously, we are commanded to always watch our words. Several verses from glorious cautioned us. Moreover, the listeners, are warned to always be unbiased when interpreting people’s words. In Islam, it is wrong to judge people’s equivocal words without giving them a chance to clarify or defend themselves—that’s the teaching of Islam.

Muaz himself had this to say after realizing that people, including the Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have misunderstood his post on Kyari’s death: “Wholeheartedly, I want to use this opportunity to reiterate that as a devout Muslim, I could not have celebrated the death of any human being; because it’s against my culture, social civilization and most importantly the teaching of my religion. I equally want to appeal to all people, especially those in Kano to give people the benefit of doubts by accepting their explanation on what they actually and truly mean by themselves”

The great mistake made by Muaz is how he commented ambiguously. He would have done that straightforwardly. Yet, he shouldn’t be punished on his words that need interpretation. He should be given a second chance to clarifies himself or apologize if he, at the end, happened to have really celebrated Kyari’s death.

Muaz in his long notes clarifying himself said, “The use of ‘win win phrase’ is basically an attempt to explain the Islamic promise on the people that died as a result of any kind of pandemic. The late Mallam Abba Kyari was privileged to die as a result of Covid-19, making him among the beneficiaries in Islam. He is conferred with the automatic privilege of martyrdom.”

Isn’t the above quotation sufficient to persuade us that he’s innocent? No, maybe we still need some logical reasons.

Muaz Magaji, before his “win win” vague post has made several posts mourning Kyari’s death on same wall and through his special assistants, but general public couldn’t commend those posts or claim he did, rather, tend to capitalize on that comment to purposely mar his image politically. We, partially, follow the teaching of our deen (religion). There are several verses and the traditions of our beloved prophet (pbuh) that warned us to not think of our brothers and sisters negatively.

It is harām to insult the dead as Aisha reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not abuse the dead, for they have reached what they put forward.” In another narration, the Prophet said, “When your companion dies, leave him alone without speaking badly about him.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1329

It is also harām to insult Muslim, more especially on what they didn’t ready do. The Prophet (S) also said, “Abusing a believer is transgression. Fighting him is infidelity and devouring his flesh (doing his Ghiība) is a sin and his wealth has the sanctity like his blood.”

This hadith indicates that the sin of abusing a Mu’min is more serious than Ghība. This is so because abuse is more hurtful than Ghība. Ghība is done behind a person’s back but abuse in his presence shows contempt and humiliates him.
—Al-Kāfi Vol. 2 page 360

So, insulting Muaz Magaji, Former Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, that he (misconception) celebrated the death of a Muslim is eke a sin in Islam.

Conclusively, as we are all entitled to our opinions; I am much convinced that Muaz Magaji should be given a chance to defend himself and therefore, he is clean in my sight. I am not saying that he was sacked unconstitutionally — never! The governor has the right to sack him with or without reason. I advise Muaz Magaji to always explain himself in his write-ups and Nigerians to always give one a chance to explain his or her words if not clearly understood.

— Omar Muaz