By
Chief Imam, Nigeria Police Force, ACP Yaqub Alhassan
In his Jumu’at Sermon
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
All praise belongs to Allah, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, Knower of the seen and unseen, Sustainer of the perfect balance of the Universe and all its inhabitants. He Alone we worship and His Aid Alone do we seek.
May the most perfect peace and blessings be upon His Beloved messenger, the Seal of the Prophets, a Mercy to the worlds. His birth will be forever marked in the history of the Earth as its happiest moment, and his death will be marked as its most mournful. He is the perfect example, and anyone who strives with might and main to align their life in accordance with his teachings will reap the benefit of this struggle, by the Will of Allah, both in this life and the Next.
Servants of Allah! The protection of lives and properties is a fundamental responsibility shared by governments, law enforcement agencies, and communities. Effective security strategies increasingly recognize the importance of collaborative partnerships between these stakeholders. This approach acknowledges that community members are crucial contributors to safety, possessing valuable insights and resources that can be leveraged to prevent and address security challenges.
When trust is established, communities are more likely to engage, collaborate, and collectively work towards shared goals, like safety and security. By fostering community partnership, we can create safer, more resilient environments where lives and properties are protected, and communities thrive.
Islamic Law was made to protect five things: Religion, life, mind, offspring, and property, which are the main rights of human in this world. The purpose of this Law is for humans to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter, by following the law of adopting the good and neglecting the bad. Islamic Law does not command anything that is not good for people, and it does not forbid anything that is not bad for them.
The Qur’anic verses continue to warn of attempts on the life of innocent people, and give the wronged person the right to ask for fair and just punishment for his/her opponent. Allah the Almighty says:
“Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).” [Al-Quran, 17:33]
Islam considers aggression or assault upon human life as a great crime and one of the seven serious crimes in life, which destroys both religion and life. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), warning Muslims, said:
“Avoid the seven great sins.” His Companions asked: “What are they?” He (Peace be upon him) replied: “Joining others with Allah – in worship or other issues – , magic, killing a person, except by right and fair judgment, earning money by interest, misuse and benefiting from an orphan’s money, running away from the battle, and defamation of the faithful pure women, who did nothing wrong.”
Islam guarantees the right of life for every human being. Every human life is sacred in Islam and every person has been granted Allah-given fundamental and universal rights at the time of their birth. Allah the Almighty says:
“And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with lawful good things, and have preferred them to many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.” (Al-Quran, 17:70).
The dignity that Allah bestowed upon humankind at the time of creation was the blessing of a sacred which manifests itself as the rights to life, freedom, and property. The right to life has been recognised as the first and most important universal right derived from the Shari’ah and classical Islamic Law.
Islam protects humanity through its laws. It obligates the leaders to look after the poor and give them the basic needs, shelter, food, drink, clothing and other needs of life. It obligates charity and almsgiving, which come under the law of cooperation and helping one another among individuals to achieve social solidity in the society. Islam guarantees a good and noble life for humanity; thus forbidding humiliation, annoyance, and harm. Allah the Almighty says:
“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.” [Al-Quran, 33:58]
Allah the Most High considers the aggression or assault upon one soul as equal to the aggression or assault upon the entire human race. Allah the Most High says:
“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for the crime of murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.” [Al-Quran, 5:32]
The glorious Quran describes Muslims, who avoid slaying innocent people as true Muslim believers. Allah (swt) says:
“Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; and anyone that does this meets punishment.” [Al-Quran, 25:68]
The Islamic Law of Equality (qisas) is one important warranty that prevents the spreading of crime. The person, who knows that killing another person will definitely lead to his/her own death, will avoid committing such crime; consequently, people will feel safe, live in peace, and enjoy the right of living. The Noble Quran says:
“In the Law of Equality there is (saving of) Life to you, o you men of understanding; that you may restrain yourselves.” [Al-Quran, 2:179]
Servants of Allah! I need to mention here, that the first life that Allah the Almighty forbids aggression upon is the person’s own life. The person who commits suicide or harms him/her self will be subject to grave and harsh penalties and punishment. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Whosoever jump from a mountain, drinks poison (with the intention of killing him/her self) will be in the Hellfire forever. Whosoever kills him/herself with a piece of iron, he will continuously do the same to him/herself in the hereafter, while he/she in the Hellfire and remain forever.”
Servants of Allah! Property is the backbone of life, and it belongs to Allah Almighty’s, which He the Most High makes man a guardian over it, and allows him/her to earn them in lawful ways and use them moderately.
Islam encourages work, production, and earning money and other property by lawful means. Allah the Most High says:
“It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so you traverse through its tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him is the Resurrection.” [Al-Quran, 67: 15]
In this regard, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) awakens the Muslim’s desire to work, and considers work as worship that brings the person closer to Allah. He (Peace be upon him) said:
“No earning is better than what the person earns from his own work, and whatsoever the man spends (in lawful matters) on himself, his wife, his children, his family and his servant is charity.”
Once, the Prophet’s Companions noticed the activeness and the hardworking of a man, they asked the Prophet saying:
“We wish that his hard work was for the cause of Allah.” Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) replied: “If he did so to care for his children, his old parents, or for himself (In lawful deeds), it is for Allah’s cause, and if he did so for pride and hypocrisy, then it is for Satan’s cause.”
Islam also guides how to spend money correctly. It does not allow one to spend as he/she wishes. Squandering and spending without control and neglecting paying the rights of the poor, are satanic deeds. Allah the Most High says:
“And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (himself) ungrateful.” [Al-Quran, 17: 26 – 27]
And He the Most High says: “And spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward.” [Al-Quran, 57: 7]
Servants of Allah! In the address which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) delivered on the occasion of the Farewell Hajj, he said:
“Your lives and properties are forbidden to one another till you meet your Lord on the Day of Resurrection.”
Allah, the Almighty has laid down in the glorious Quran:
“Anyone who kills a believer deliberately will receive as his reward (a sentence) to live in Hell for ever. Allah will be angry with him and curse him, and prepare dreadful torment for him” [Al-Quran, 4:93]
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) has also said about the Dhimmis (the non-Muslim citizens of the Muslim State):
“One who kills a man under covenant (i.e. a Dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud]
Islam prohibits homicide but allows only one exception that the killing is done in the due process of law which the Quran refers to as Bil-Haqq (with the truth). Therefore a man can be killed only when the law demands it, and it is obvious that only a court of law can decide whether the execution is being carried out with justice or without justification.
Thus, effective protection of lives and properties hinges on collaborative efforts between communities and law enforcement agencies. This synergy fosters trust, enhances vigilance, and promotes collective responsibility for security.
When trust is established, communities are more likely to engage, collaborate, and collectively work towards shared goals of safety and security. By partnering together, communities and authorities can reduce crime, improve quality of life, and create safer environments for all.
Finally, we pray for continuous peace and unity of our great Country, Nigeria and all other areas around the world. We pray for our self, or family, our country and our leaders. May guide them and bless their decisions. We pray for all our officers and men and other security agencies everywhere in the country.
We pray for the Inspector General of Police and his management team, and all officers and men and other security agencies on duty wherever they are and every one of us here: May Allah increases us in health, May He protect us, guides and directs our affairs.
The Inspector General of Police. May Allah protect him and continue to guide and directs his policies, May Allah increase him in health. May Allah be with him and continue to protect him day and night. May Allah increase him in health, wisdom and happiness. May Allah watch over them. May Allah continue to support him in his efforts of fighting against criminals and criminality, protection of lives and properties. Ya Allah bless his decisions, establish his feet firmly and help him against the enemies and the criminals. Ameen!!!
QUOTE:
‘’The protection of lives and properties is a fundamental responsibility shared by governments, law enforcement agencies, and communities. Effective security strategies increasingly recognize the significance of collaborative partnerships between these stakeholders. This approach acknowledges that community members are crucial contributors to safety, possessing valuable insights and resources that can be leveraged to prevent and address security challenges’’.
