Religion (Analysis)
By Omar SaidyKhan, Louisville Kentuckty
SaidyKhan was born Muslim and grew up Muslim. Later in life he converted to Christianity with much consternation from family and most Muslim friends. In this thought-provoking essay, Saidykhan discusses religion especially, in the Gambian context.
In the effort to probe into every aspect of our societal maladies I am going to try to connect and twitch the Gambian mind to critically approach one of the most insidious yet significant super structures of our society-Religion. From time immemorial, our religious leaders were held in super high esteem and reverence. They in turn were not only religious leaders but fearless and uncompromising, and never wanting when it comes to telling the truth to power. Can any one point to that character in the majority of the so-called leaders of today?
To understand where I am coming from, we have to open wide the various faiths and their creed to questioning. My religious life has been colorful, to say the least. I was born into a Muslim family rich in religious tradition. My maternal ancestors were a line of Imams, and as a Fula my paternal ancestors were as well devout Muslims. Most who are Muslims will realize and appreciate the gravity and utter disbelief of both my family and friends. In total bewilderment, and some times pain, some of them asked WHY? From the reactions to my conversion to Christianity I realized that the furor was more of emotion than erudition. I know for a fact most people do not read most religious literature with understanding. A sample of a conversation with a childhood friend will illustrate that the religious practices of a majority of Gambians is just like parrots do.
On my return home in 2002 a childhood friend noticed that I never participated in any religious activity and asked, “Why don’t you join in prayers with us?” I do not pray, I nonchalantly answered. He further queried,” don’t you believe in Allah and what will happen to you when you die?” No, I worry about my life now. I answered and, I never planned for this world either, so I see no reason to plan for the next life, if there is any. The friend swore to never talk religion with or in my presence, even though he went on to spread his discovery of a great infidel in their midst. My religious changes are educated and through thorough process of searching and answering the vast misinformation that are characterized as revealed sacred material. The pomp characterizing the clergy, be it Islamic or Christian, has only been a recent phenomenon in The Gambia. The clergy’s close affiliation with the politicians corrupted and made them willing partners in their betrayal of the traditional trust in them. This is further causing a religiosity comparable to fanaticism and an upsurge in fundamentalism of the kind that encourages terrorizing the community. Growing up, religion was never overbearing, and even though the observance was pervasive, no one suffered any significant harm for not being pious. Today, the intimidating nature of the observance only shows the desperation and the lack of hope that afflicts our populace. Like the Sadducees and Pharisees of the Gospel we have tucked in every little nook a mosque or a church, with the young with marked foreheads from constantly praying. There is a total adoption of Eastern cultures and traditions as a more superior culture for all to prove how Islamic we ought to be. The result, as in the gospels, is the appearance of being saintly when in fact you are not even close. For the only reward you get is– to be seen of men.
Present day religious leaders are a bunch of beggars and have very little credibility with their flock. They have not only ignored the evil in their midst but have been willing participants in the lying of a corrupt government. Sometimes perpetuating it by their sycophantic sermons in support of the tyrants. My friend’s dissemination of the fact that I am an infidel garnered some curiosity and another friend asked me about the veracity of my rejection of all religions including Islam. He asked if I do not believe in God.
In an effort to get some answers about his religion I asked that we go find the answer from the scriptures of all three major religions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. He retorted that we have to only talk about Islam for that is the only religion he cares about. I was not taken aback for he is honestly where what most Gambia are.
He enumerated the same claims of an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent Allah. To emphasize, he, further asked how do you think all these things you see came about? From nothing I suggested! To show his frustration he opined, “this is why our ancestors rejected sending any of their children to school. Because of people like you; one has to be more than vigilant. For you, there is no hope, you are going to hell”. This simplistic conviction of my friends agitated me at first. But I asked him to give me a chance to ask him the same question, which I thought were genuine. Firstly, we have to dissect belief, or faith to understand that the two are the same, and can and have been used interchangeably. The concept of belief is “evidence of things not seen, and the substance of things hoped for”. After a few clarifications he accepted that as a basis for our understanding. “Can you present evidence in court without any one seeing it?” I asked. No he answered with an apprehensive look. Can you show me the substance of your hope, if you realize that to have substance we have to have material? That set my friend in a tizzy. He said this is why I had been warned not to talk to you about religion. Because it is sinful to.
Since, you feel uncomfortable about where our discourse is leading I will ask you if you ASKED Allah to create you? No I was not there so how could I. Then how could He demand any submission to His will when you made no decision to be here? Do you know who made that decision, I asked. I believe Allah and may be my parents. He replied.
You are right, and then He should hold them responsible then. But no they never asked to be created either I retorted. Why does Allah want our worship? Allah wants us to go to Heaven and not to follow the Devil, and to show our humility in His presence. Who did you say not to follow, I asked in anticipation. Satan, forcefully, as if that should put a lid on this blasphemous drivel of an Infidel like me. But to me this is the weakest link in the theologies of the world. The attributes of Allah’s powers include omniscience, and since he KNEW or ought to have KNOWN that Satan would be the evil DEVIL why did he create him? He thought he must have had me in a bind, for he came at me with tired old reasoning, “He gave you a mind to know good from bad”, he answered confidently. He gave you a choice to be good or bad. Again reason to be useful has to show a connection to the issue at hand. The concept that only God fearing can be termed good and nonbelievers as evil is false to the core. If history is to be learned, evil is as rampant among the religious, and I challenge more so than in the non-religious men. The efforts by the faith crowd to be the only source of our goodness has been proven false over and over again. They have constantly courted the despots, and tyrants of our lives while claiming by their cloaks and full bears to be vessels of hope to the poor and ignorant. This is pure hypocrisy and injustice. I asked no favors of God and only wants to be free of any domination by man, beast or God.
Is this too much to ask? To be continued.