THE IMPACTS OF DA’AWAH IN IDP CAMPS: THE CASE OF FCT ABUJA

THE IMPACTS OF DA’AWAH IN IDP CAMPS: THE CASE OF FCT ABUJA

CHAPTER ONE

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The Boko Haram insurgency and counter-insurgency activities there to widened in scope and intensity throughout 2014 and 2015 in the three North East States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

There have been increased security incidents, leading to masses of internally displaced persons seeking safety. While the majority of displaced persons are currently in the most affected North East states, IDPs have also moved to other States throughout the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Further, in the North Central, fierce clashes have ensued between Fulani pastoralists and Tiv or other farmers as well as communal and religious violence in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa and Zamfara, which has also contributed to large numbers of internally displaced persons.

This displacement from North East and North Central conflicts led to the establishment of a number of IDP locations within the FCT.

As of July 2015 FEMA has reported 20,659 IDPs in FCT originating from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

This insurgency has rendered families homeless, displaced to different part of Nigeria, children been orphan or even lost from their Parents, exposing children to child abuse, child trafficking and even organ excoriation (for money ritual).

IDP Locations in FCT

1. New Kuchingoro
2. Kuje Area
3. Durumi Area 1

Da’awah in this IDPs camp is to deliver the message of Allah to the displaced persons and encourage them not to lose faith in Allah in time of hardship and difficulty. Allah says in the Qur’an,

We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and life and fruit of your toil. But give good news to the steadfast, those who when disaster strikes them, they say, we belong to Allah and to him we will return. Those are the people who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord, they are the ones who are guided. Q155-157

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is observed that IDPs face a lot of difficulty and hardship such as hunger, lack of proper shelter, poor educational system, insecurity, unhealthy environment, including lack of systematic humanitarian response, e.t.c which make them sell out their children, to ease their difficulty.

Some muslims among them go to the extend of joining non-muslims in worship or convert to other Religion, to get food items or gifts from them.

Women and young girls go into prostitution or marry men they don’t know to get shelter.

1.3    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The following are some of the objectives of this research work:

1. To invite the muslims and non-muslims IDPs to Islam and convey the message of Allah.
2. For humanitarian purposes, such as providing food, shelter, cloth and education especially to children by muslims communities in FCT
3. To promote love, peace and unity among the IDPs through Da’awah
4. To proffer solution to the identified problems in the IDPs camps within FCT.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research study is significant in the following areas:

1. Creating awareness about Islam to the non-muslims who think Islam preaches unjust killing of non-muslims
2. Identifying the challenges associated with IDPs in FCT camps
3. The research work will benefit Dawah groups, the government and also non-governmental organization (NGO) to identify the challenges in FCT IDP camps.
4. Suggesting ways of overcoming these challenges.

1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

The scope of this study is limited to the IDP camps in FCT Abuja. It seek to convey the message of Islam through Da’awah and to proffer solutions to the identified problems in FCT IDPs camps.

1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The methods of collecting data for this research work include both primary and secondary sources. These include oral interviews with the IDPs and some elderly indigene of FCT in the field of history of FCT, newspapers, library materials, the internet, observations, Qur’an and Hadith.

1.7   CONSTRAINTS/ LIMITATIONS

The major limitations to this research work are scarcity of written materials on the history of FCT and written materials on FCT IDPs camps. These constraints have been overcome through utilizing the limited resources at hand.

1.8   LITERATURE REVIEW

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips in his book “ Dawah Training Program” stated the definition of dawah as follows:

Arabic term da‘wah is derived from the verb da‘aa which means to call, to

invite, and to supplicate, i.e. to call on God. It is used to refer to the act of conveying or calling people to the message of Islam. Allah says:

“Say: This is my way and I invite to Allah with certain knowledge …”

Q 12: 108

Virtues of Da‘wah

Da‘wah was the basic mission of the prophets of God. They were raised up among their respective people to call them to the worship of Allah alone and to abandon the worship of the various false gods that they had invented. Allah also says:

“I have sent to every nation a messenger (proclaiming) Worship Allah and avoid the worship of false gods.” Q16: 36

There are numerous verses in the Qur’an which describe how the former Prophets invited their people to Allah. These stories serve as examples to the last Prophet and his followers. Furthermore, there are a number of other verses in which Allah specifically exhorts the Prophet to convey the message of Islam to people. He says

“Call to your Lord and do not be among the pagans.”

Q28: 87

Consequently, Allah praises those who engage in this noble endeavor as being the best in speech.

“Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds and says indeed I am among the Muslims.” Q41: 33

The best words that any human being can speak are words of guidance inviting people to the purpose of their creation, the worship of God. This being the case, the reward for giving da‘wah must be tremendous. (Page 1)

DA’AWAH IN THE EARLIEST PERIOD

Badmas Lanre Yusuf in the journal “muslim world league” stated that the Prophet started Da’awah from his home as he was directed by Allah . thus, his wife, Khadija, his servant Zayd, his cousin Ali and his friend Abu Bakr embraced Islam. The prophet further invited the Qurashy to Islam.

Some of them responded positively while others did not only turn down the invitation, but also became the most inveterate enemies of Islam.

The rightly guided caliphs similarly made tremendous efforts to propagate and defend Islam. Islam thus expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula to such areas as Rome, Kufa, Basra, etc.

At this juncture, it is apposite to note that though Islam enjoins the Muslims to embark on Dawah, it does not allow them to use force, intimidation or persecution to convert people, Islam respects man and gives him freedom of thinking and choice. Once Dawah is directed at him, he is free to choose between Dalal (error) and Huda (guidance). Vol 21, page 55.

REASONS FOR DA’AWAH

According to Somayah Kassas in his book “Fiqh Ad-Da’awah” Da’awah is an act , an effort toward effecting change. In essence, dawah to Allah is both a human necessity and a religious obligation. Three main reasons may be cited for this duty:

1. Allah’s directive that he be worshipped alone, for this purpose he sent prophets and messengers, charging them with:
2. Leading people to knowledge of himself, understanding of his names and attributes, and awareness of what he expects of them in this life and has prepared for them in the hereafter.
3. Teaching about matters of the unseen
4. Clarifying what is permitted and prohibited in order to attain what is harmful in this life and the next
5. The amendment of manners and morals by directing people toward Islamic values and conduct pleasing to Allah.
6. Allah meant for people to interact socially for their own benefit while recognizing that distinction and merit is due to righteousness and not differences of race, language, lineage, e.t.c
7. Allah place human beings on earth in a position of responsibility. He says: He has produced you from earth and settled you in it. Q11:61

This verse means that man was settled on earth for a purpose, to develop and civilize it. Allah also said:

Allah has promised those whose who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that he will surely grant them succession upon the earth just as he granted it to those before them and upon that he will surely establish for them their religion which he has preferred for them and that he will surely substituted for them, after their fear, security, they worship me, not associating anything with me. But whoever disbelieves after that then those are the defiantly disobedient. Q24:55

Allah has honored man by making him a khalifah. Believers in particular, are responsible for the bearing of trust and authority. Their obligations are to profess and adhere to belief in Allah and what has revealed, to work for the establishment of that belief throughout the land, and to perform righteous deeds. Prophets and messengers were sent to inform and make people aware of these obligations, of how to fulfill them, and how to civilize the earth. Da’iyahs are their successors. (16-18)

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

DA’AWAH: Invitation to Belief in Allah and what his messengers have taught, the Preaching of Islam.

IDP: Internally Displaced Persons

HUDA: Guidance to the right path

QURASHY: a person with quraish (one of the Arabian clan) origin