Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami has preached that Muslims should always re-pay evil deeds with good deeds, noting they will triumph over their foes.
Pantami, a respected Islamic Scholar in Nigeria, gave the admonition while speaking recently at 1Ummah Convention, an annual gathering on promoting peace and unity, which had participants from different parts of the country.
In the 4 minutes lecture monitored by Muslim News, the Honourable Minister, Dr Pantami, who was in a recent pull-him-down attempt, was accused of being sympathetic to terrorists, discouraged retaliating evil deeds in kind.
Further search by this medium showed that there are countless of Sheikh Pantami’s recent lectures both in Hausa and English where he discourages violence and promotes harmonious relationship, among others.
In his lecture aired by I-Media TV, Dr. Pantami noted that even without competition, some people will just hate you for no justifiable reason, adding that for a Muslim to reach the peak of Ihsaan (righteousness), he has to pay them back with good actions.
According to him, “Even in public office, not all will like you; not all will love you. (Whatever you are). Even if you are a driver. Some people just hate you with passion, and you don’t know why. And there’s no competition amongst you in any way. You are not in the same department; you are not teaching the same course, but they hate you. And you don’t know the reason they hate you.
“Today, some people are more interested in hating you than justifying the reason for hating you. They just don’t like you. When you ask them for reason, no reason. Not even a flimsy excuse. But they hate you, envy you, attack you and insult you and can go to any extent to destroy you. Even in that regard in Islam, for you to reach the peak of Ihsaan, you have to retaliate with good actions. They attack you, you try to do good to them. That’s what Islam is.
“Prophet Isa (AS) went to his people preaching to them, and they were busy castigating him. He said to them, ‘May Allah protect your wealth’. And they reply him, ‘May Allah curse you’. And he was praying for them, ‘May Allah increase your faith’. They reply him, ‘May Allah curse you’.
“People then asked Isa that these people were cursing you and you are busy praying for them. He said yes, they always give me what they have in their store, and I also give them what I have in my store. Do you want me to go to their store and borrow evil actions? No. They give me what they have in excess in their store, and what I have in excess in my store I always give them. So, they give me evil deeds and I give them my good deeds. Meaning that I teach them through my action and I don’t know anything except doing good actions. That’s how Muslims are supposed to do. It’s not easy but we must strive to attain.”
The Communications Minister, who has been adjudged one of the best in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, also explained that by rewarding evil with good, enemies can turn to bosom friends, saying however that to attain the feat, steadfastness and patience are required.
“The Quran says, ‘No one can attain this except those who are patient, those who remain steadfast. As long as you do not at least manage your heart, it’s impossible for you to attain. Ordinarily, we always retaliate evil with evil. But if you look at these verses, you’ll realize that you are not to pay back evil with evil.
“Somebody gives you what he has in his store — and what he has in his store is hypocrisy, conspiracy, character assassination, envy. What you have in your own store is nothing but good, so bring out something from your store and give him. And this is what can change your enemy to be your bossom friend and noble friend in deed.
“If someone does something bad to you today. He repeats it tomorrow, the next day, but you always retaliate with something good, for sure he can’t continue. At worst, he will remain neutral — he neither helps you nor harms you.”
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