MUPAF as a socioreligious group was founded some years back to sensitize the Muslim populace on the importance and benefit of political participation. The basis that brings about the existence of the organization is purely for Islam and to serve Allah by restoring good governance in the nation and the world at whole.
We have mission to create political awareness among Muslims, sensitize them on the leadership matter and engage political office holders when necessary so as to ensure good governance.
Our noble vision is to be a leading advocate for good leadership, provide a political awareness and promote mutual understanding among people.
Politics & Hate
Many people use to say “Politics is haram, I hate politics, I don’t want to join politics, politics is dirty game…” and many others. Many use these statements but not as deeply as they were meant. Nowhere in the Quran & Sunnah that against the issue of politics.
Digging into the meaning of politics, it worth something not to be hated. We can only hate the attitude of the set of people practicing it or the system of which it’s being practiced. Politics is a daily activity practiced by every human who has his/her senses in the right order to manage the relation & affiars among fellow human. It concerns with brain, therefore only daft among human detests the practice of politics. So, if you choose to hate politics then you have chosen to hate being a sensible human.
Politics is the tool through which we structure ourselves as a group and society, politics governs every aspects of our lives, it controls our day to day activities and by not participating in it, we are literarily allowing other people to decide on what we can eat, when to pray, where, when we can have access to good health care, standard education, payment of tax, how our race, ethnicity and religion will be operated, on either to be consider a criminal or whether or not your religion to be put on terrorist list.
If the decision on how to govern our lives are being decided by others, Allah says: “How (can there be such a league) seeing that if they get advantage over you, they respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) their mouths they entice you. But their hearts are averse From you: and most of them are rebellious and wicked” (Qur’an 9 v 8 ).
Therefore, We can hate or dislike a system of political parties around but we should not hate politics as a concept because it is what we practice on daily basis to manage relationship at least. In Political arena where we have many individuals coming together, larger relation is being managed there and this has to do with ruling a town, city, state or nation. Then, who are those actors sitting to decide our faith as human? This is a reason why a scholar of Islam asked that WHERE ARE THE MUSLIMS?
Voters’ Card registration
One of the vital issue that must be on the mind of every Muslims is the registration of voters’ card. It is a matter of honour & protection for Muslims & our religion as well. it is considered to be one of the great things that Muslims do not recorn with but only seeing it as just an exercise. We must all understand what it means to handle the paddle of autorithy. This is the paddle that determines the price of fuel, rice, beans, functional bills and so on. It also dictate to the society the necessary peace, freedom or unrest of various phases changing names & forms with time & space which has to do with the suit of such human in control. So who should handle such paddle? This is a matter that must interest all Muslims around. We should all build in ourselves a kind of power supply sense that will be charging the battery of our minds all times, generating for us a well lighted screen to see that compulsory application of voters card as a great personal tool of power. Let’s go out in masses to register when it’s time especially to those who has attain the age of the laid down rule of the electoral body which is 18 years & above as well as those in one way or the other have lost or spoilt theirs. To all the practical & potential lovers of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), voters’ card registration is never a forbiden act for us. Therefore, if you have a truthful love for our prophet, take it as your responsibility to participate in any of the voting activities be it registration, voting and so on. It is your power now & in the future.
The roles of Imams
The president of any mosque be it of smaller or of larger capacity is the imam. He may be assisted with some ministers depending on the mosque capacity with respect to their program or project. Imams are the commander of their mosque & the overall leader.The mosque also serves as a great powerful tool which should be used by the imams to command power for Islam and the Muslims. Who will lead our society should be an important issue to be handled by the mosque and not just anybody. Mind you, the only power dominating and controlling all other power is the political power (the power that rules). Therefore, registration of voters which is the primary exercise towards power must be an enormous concern of the Imams and the mosques.
One of the great expectation from our Imams and Alfas is to let there people know the important of choosing the right leaders which start by getting ourselves registered as an eligible voters. We should not take this issue with levity hand as it dictates almost all conditions of our livelihood. If a right leader is choosing while the Imams & mosques are key actors then we shall enjoy peace and stability of the governance. It is only the mosques that preach the fear of Allah, Equity & Justices so we should leave not our dear society in the hand of people that know not Allah & respect not our religion. It is time to intervene fully into our political system which can simple be achieved by the power of our voters Card. So let the eligible ones go out for voters registration. It is very important as it tells our presence & future.
Comrade Lukman Obembe
The National Coordinator,
Muslims Political Awareness Front (MUPAF)
