Death of a Muslim.

As a child, I attended a private Muslim school in Lagos, Nigeria and when the dictator/president of Nigeria Sanni Abacha passed, the Nigerian people celebrated in their usual riots and tear gas parties but at my school we prayed. Yes. We prayed for this tyrant who tormented many and killed many. We prayed for him simply because he was a Muslim. Even as a young child, I found it odd to pray for this horrible man. But that is what we did because as Muslims we pray for our brothers and sisters who die regardless of what we think about their actions.

So Osama Bin laden has been reported killed by the US. When I heard it, I was instantly filled with conflicting emotions. First, I was overjoyed. Finally!  They had captured this man who had caused so much pain to people all around the world. A man who had no regard for human life even Muslim life. For he constantly shed his own Muslim people’s blood. A man who took Islam and twisted it to support his agenda then fed this to the world as real Islam. A man who empowered others to join in uprisings of terrorism around the world and led them astray.  This man was dead and I was happy. But instantaneously, I was also sad and confused. How could I be happy that a man was dead? And how could I rejoice that a Muslim man, my Muslim brother, was dead? It is simple, I’m human.

In the US, people were rejoicing in the streets and at home. And I do not blame them for that. This was a man who killed many of their family and loved ones. We cannot say that the death of Osama was not just and we cannot say it was not done in self defense. This is a man who had killed many and did not plan to stop. We needed to protect and defend ourselves. Only time will tell the impact that his death will have on the world.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon. - Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return. Osama bin Laden has returned to his Lord, the only one who can judge him. We can but speculate about where he might end up but the decision rests with Allah. It is our duty, though as Muslims to pray for Allah to forgive him. Ask Allah to lead those Osama lead astray to the right path. We should pray that his influence diminishes and that terrorism dies out. We should pray that Allah makes this event a momentous change in the terrorism world and lead toward an end to it dominance. We must pray. Plain and simple.

I’ll share a secret now, when Saddam Hussein died, I did a quiet prayer for him. And asked Allah to forgive him. Praying for the wicked might seem hard but it is what we are supposed to do as Muslims. May Allah make it easy for us. Amin.

May Allah strengthen each and every one of us. May he give us light and show us the truth in every situation. May He help our knowledge grow and bless us with understanding. May He protect us and help us. May He lead us closer and closer to Him. Amin