“He explained that the Holy Quran clearly pointed out that the sins of anyone who kills one innocent soul is seen as haven killed the entire humanity however, anyone who gives life to another soul is rewarded same.” The problem here, as always, is the definition of “innocent” — especially since, as Dr. Sheikh Amin Bonsu no doubt knows, the verse of the Qur’an immediately the one to which he refers here says that the punishment for those who wage war against Allah and his messenger is that “they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land.”
Also, once again we see a Muslim leader declare Boko Haram un-Islamic without dealing with its Islamic justifications for its actions. The Qur’an refers to “the captives of the right hand” (4:3, 4:24), and just in case there is any mistake as to what those are and what they’re for, it says to Muhammad: “Prophet, We have made lawful to you the wives whom you have granted dowries and the slave girls whom God has given you as booty” (33:50). All of the many articles saying that Boko Haram is not Islamic have ignored such passages.
“Islamist Leaders Says Boko Haram Are Not Muslims,” by Abubakari Seidu Ajarfor, SpyGhana, June 15, 2014:
Some Islamic leaders of the Ghana Muslim Mission have defensively demonstrated the disconnection between the practice of Islam and the actions of Boko Haram against the austere perception that have linked these gunmen to the Muslim religion.
Dr. Sheikh Amin Bonsu, National Chairman of the ghana Muslim Mission and Board Chairman of the Ghana Muslim Students Association has expressed worry as to why Islam has being associated with the activities of Boko Haram.
He said the fact that such groups like Boko Haram, Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda bear Arabic names does not reasonably justifies that they are Muslims and therefore should not be associated with the Islamic religion.
Dr. Sheikh Amin Bonsu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amen Scientific Herbal Hospital said revolutions like the apartheid regime, 1st and 2nd world war, and Ireland which saw massive killings in decades ago were not linked to any religion.
According to him, Islam frowns when Boko Haram and the rests commit various crimes and they are linked to the Islamic religion.
“People who commit various crimes and violence should be treated as individuals rather than linking such abominable acts to religious groups as we wrongfully do most times,” he stated.
He explained that the Holy Quran clearly pointed out that the sins of anyone who kills one innocent soul is seen as haven killed the entire humanity however, anyone who gives life to another soul is rewarded same.
Dr. Sheikh Amin Bonsu said this during a seminar organized for Muslim students from selected second cycle schools in Accra.
As part of the preparation towards this year’s Ramadan fasting, brought together Muslim students in the second cycle and tertiary institutions within Accra to mentor them morally and spiritually on issues around the Ramadan fasting even as they pursue intellectual training.
He therefore underscored the need for these young minds to build strongly on the wheels of moral and character that is motivated by the good teachings of Islam so that they can be become worthy members of society of Islam and the country as large.
Sheikh Amin Bonsu cautioned the students against acts of violence but to be the vessels of change promoters and peace wagons with people in other faith as Islam preaches.
The Chairman of the occasion, Nii Okai Aryee, Product Development Manager, Amadeus during his closing remarks urged the students to desist from listening to songs which do not glorify Allah and stop over-eating during the period of Ramadan.
He advised the students to flee from acts that may lead to fornication and violence should there be any during the Holy month of Ramadan.