‘The Name Game’: A Deceptive Tool | By Yusuf Olatunji Alabi
The Name Game: A Deceptive Tool
It’s imperative that we speak out against deception and no longer turn a blind eye. We’re witnessing scams being perpetrated in broad daylight, with audacity, by individuals against the majority who entrusted them with power. Religion is a personal choice, and one can adopt any faith at any time. Similarly, the name one bears is also a choice in a democratic country like Nigeria.
However, in a country plagued by fraud, like ours, under fraudulent leaders and their religious cohorts, this opportunity has become a tool for scamming the majority. It’s a deceitful instrument. Nobody objects to someone changing their religion. We understand that changing one’s religion doesn’t diminish opportunities or rights compared to those who haven’t converted.
BUT WHY USE A NAME TO DISGUISE ONE’S TRUE IDENTITY? If changing religions and maintaining one’s former name isn’t problematic for society, and one’s new faith has no hidden intentions, why not be transparent? Many reserve these names for future deceitful use. Some, with no intention of deceiving, are encouraged by their leadership to keep these names for future use—perhaps for scamming.
In Islam, deceiving others is a grave sin, regardless of the reason. The Quran states, “….do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful and deceiver (Q4:107)
The Prophet says in a hadith, “The one who deceives us is not among us,” implying that deceivers are not righteous. No righteous religion or leader expands influence through deceit. It is an act of the unrighteous people.
Any Muslim who deceives is not part of the Ummah and will face hellfire. I know a non-Muslim who secured a free Hajj ticket using an Islamic name, despite being a non-Muslim. She bragged about exploiting her Islamic name for personal gain against the entitled Muslims. This is the case for many who keep Islamic names—they await opportunities to claim what doesn’t belong to them after claiming what belongs to them.
We found the example in a state here in the Southwest where the governor promised fairness in appointments but slyly used names to deceive. Among six appointees, only one was a Muslim, while three had Islamic names. Perhaps this is a tactic taught by their new faith—to deceive for their faith. This is evil!
South West Muslims have been tolerant, but our tolerance has become a tool for politicians to exploit. They know we value our faith and consider it in all our actions, so they deceive us. The lopsided appointments will favour those willing to compromise their faith when necessary.
Recently, the Oyo town Muslim Community’s attempt to inaugurate a Sharia Arbitral Panel which is already in the major cities of the South West including Lagos tó ṣeé to their domestic and marital affairs in an Islamic ways but was thwarted by the state government after being stigmatized by non-Muslim social media agent of deception half-baked elies. These panel that suppose to be the concern of Muslims became a trivial argument. The Muslims are always at the receiving ends, our rights are always denied in every chance they get to deny them.
If these injustices continue despite our protests, we’re sitting on a powder keg. The religion that uses deceitful tactics to gain power will eventually turn against us and execute us. The people should know the religion that encourages and expands by deceit and scam cannot lead them to salvation.
However, the perfect Qur’an ends it all.
“States that those who seek to deceive Allah and the believers are only deceiving themselves (Q2:9)”.
By Yusuf Olatunji Alabi. He is a teacher, blogger, social, religious, and political commenter, and an opinion writer.
