The Amir of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Honourable, Ministers, Parliamentarians and Heads of
Public Institutions present, Invited Guests and Jamaat of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat:
I say Assalamualaikum and Peace Be Upon You All. I also bring you greetings from the
Commissioner, Management and Staff of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
I want to start off by stating that if you want to look at how the Ahmadiya Jamaat has impacted Sierra Leone, look no further more because I am one of the biggest beneficiaries of their social and educational contributions to this country, as I am a proud alumnus of the Nasirr Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Kenema, under the principleship of L.R Mahmoud (that is, 1977/78 – 1981/82).
As we gather here today, I am honored to speak to you about the vital link between Islam and the fight against corruption in our beloved Sierra Leone. Just like the Anti-Corruption Commission, Islam teaches us to uphold the principles of justice, integrity, and transparency. It calls upon us, to foster a society based on fairness, equity, and accountability. Therefore, it is only natural that we explore the role of Islam
in tackling corruption, which is a grave societal ill that affects the lives of ordinary Sierra
Leoneans.
Certainly, corruption is one of the behaviours mostly condemned by Islam, as evidenced
by multiple verses in the Quran. For example, according to Verse 77 of Surah Al-Qasas,
Allah says: “Seek the life to come through what God has granted you, but do not neglect your rightful share in this world. Do good to others as God has done good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for God does not love those who do this” Yes, Allah detests those who practice corruption.
In addition to the Quran, the Hadiths or teachings of the Holy Prophet of Islam stated that the Prophet warned mankind against corruption in His Kutubas (sermons) to His
Sahabas (Followers), saying that it would damage a person or soul and keep them from
entering Aljannah (Heaven).
The misuse of resources under the care of those entrusted to protect them for and on behalf of others is typically referred to as corruption.
According to the Al-Bukhari Hadith, Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) claimed to have heard the Prophet state that a man is a guardian of his fathers property and is accountable for it.
Thus, every one of you is a guardian and accountable for the things entrusted to your
care.
A large number of Sierra Leoneans are Muslims, and some of us handle resources granted by the government and its partners for and on behalf of Sierra Leone. How, though, have those Muslims who occupied positions of trust complied with the
prohibitions against corruption in the handling of such resources?
Ladies and Gentlemen, corruption is a menace that undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust, and perpetuates poverty. It robs our people of their dignity, their rights, and
their opportunities. Corruption is an obstacle to our progress as a nation, and its
consequences are felt by everyone.
The fight against corruption is not only a legal or political issue; it is also a moral and
ethical one. Therefore, we need to look beyond legal frameworks and institutional reforms and tap into the ethical and moral values that guide our actions.
Islam provides us with a framework of values and principles that can help us combat corruption. The Quran and the Hadith contain numerous verses and teachings that
emphasize honesty, fairness, and accountability.
Islam directs us to avoid corrupt practices and seek to promote the greater good. It calls
upon us to prioritize justice over personal gain and to treat public resources with respect
and responsibility. It is the Islamic way to stand up against oppression, exploitation, and
dishonesty, as contained in Surah Al-Nisa – 29: “O believers! Do not devour one another’s wealth illegally, but rather trade by mutual consent And do not kill each other or yourselves Surely Allah is ever Merciful to you”.
In light of this, we need to re-examine our relationship with Islam and the role it can play
in our collective fight against corruption. We need to harness the moral and ethical values
espoused by Islam and integrate them into our social and legal frameworks.
We as Islamic scholars should imbibe the culture of including anti-corruption teachings
in sermons in our different Masjids, as we are moral guarantors who command great
respect in our different communities.
Sierra Leone has made tremendous strides in the fight against corruption over the past few years under the Government of His Excellency Brigadier (Retired) Julius Maada Bio.
At the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, for example, Sierra
Leone has made massive progress from a position of 130 in 2017 to 108 in 2023.
Sierra Leone has also been outstanding in its Score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard, with consistent excellent
scores above 70% in the last six years.
Similar exponential jumps have been recorded in
other respected global corruption measurement institutions like Afrobarometer which
confirmed that corruption prevalence has considerably reduced from 70% in 2015 to 40% in 2020, when the last survey was conducted.
However, we all know that much more needs to be done to create an environment that is
hostile to corruption. We need to continue to improve transparency and accountability,
and raise public awareness on the dangers of corruption.
For this, we need to tap into the strong Islamic values and principles that can help us in this fight.
We need to work together to create a society that is just, honest, and transparent, a society that reflects the true spirit of Islam.
In conclusion, I urge Islamic clerics to teach the values of transparency, honesty and integrity and apply them in our fight against corruption. We owe it to ourselves and to the
generations to come. We also need to do this to please our Maker and for us all to develop a Sierra Leone that is prosperous for us and our children yet unborn.
Thank you, and may peace be upon us all.
©️ Public Relations Unit, ACC
