Who’s misleading some Sheikhs?

(Link on Daily Trust site)

From time to time, some otherwise credible Sheikhs make unsubstantiated assertions on topical issues they are barely informed about thereby triggering unnecessary controversy and exposing themselves and, by implication, their followers to avoidable ridicule.

Some Sheikhs are fond of disseminating controversial interpretations of some sensitive topical issues ostensibly to expose alleged conspiratorial motives behind some events and developments including scientific and technological measures designed to address some collective challenges.

By the way, though many people are excessively obsessed with conspiracy theories in interpreting events and developments, which explains the ridiculousness of many of their analyses, it doesn’t necessarily negate the existence of conspiratorial agendas as many wannabe “wayayyu” insist. In fact, the current trend of dismissing and ridiculing whoever suspects a conspiracy in something regardless of the quality of his arguments is itself probably borne out of a conspiracy designed to discourage appropriate critical approach to issues and developments.

In any case, the reality is that, since time immemorial, conspiring has always been and would indeed remain a key strategy in the human struggle for power, resources and influence; only that it’s dynamic in sophistication according to the era, place and issue in question. However, just as it necessarily involves extremely painstaking intellectual efforts to plan, and indeed massive resources to pursue, exposing it equally necessarily involves appropriate intellectual capabilities, sharp analogical and analytical abilities.

Anyway, out of inexcusable gullibility or a penchant for controversy or both, some Sheikhs seem unable to resist the urge to comment on any topical issue even when they are clearly misinformed or, at best, ill-informed about it. It isn’t uncommon to hear an otherwise authoritative Sheikh citing speculations and mai-shayi joint tales to form a conclusion on a sensitive issue not minding the security and other serious implications of his conclusion. In their haste to comment on any trending topic, some Sheikhs have inadvertently compromised the sanctity of their respective pulpits.

The current unnecessary confusion among a significant segment of the society over the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic is largely due to the unfounded speculations promoted by such Sheikhs.

Sheikhs with this tendency don’t only inadvertently undermine their own credibility, but also expose themselves and indeed their respective followers to mockery. Many a time, one feels hugely embarrassed when an otherwise reputable Sheikh makes an easily refutable assertion or peddles a ridiculous supposition based on, say, a poorly photoshopped picture, an anonymous or digitally altered voice circulating on social media.

Besides, being supposedly and indeed quite understandably too engrossed in preaching related works to thoroughly follow the intricacies of topical issues, one would wonder where such Sheikhs get the sensitive information on the bases of which they make their controversial analyses on local and international political, economic and strategic issues. Perhaps understanding the dynamics of their relationships with some members of the elite would solve this mystery.

It’s a common practice in the society that a typical serving or retired political or technocratic elite individual, and depending on his influence, current pursuits and future ambitions, would always keep several marabouts and/or Sheikhs as kind of private spiritual advisers. And in his private chats with them, he would sometimes reveal some sensitive, albeit not necessarily always accurate, information on the conspiracies, shenanigans and other manipulative manoeuvres perpetrated in the corridors of power, which the Sheikhs believe on the assumption that since he is/was part of the system, all his claims are necessarily true.

They hardly bother to confirm the authenticity of his revelations, which they confidently repeat and sometimes even stress that “Wani babban mutum ne ya gayamin”, to lend absolute credence to the revelations. They, therefore, analyze developments accordingly; and sometimes make demands on the authorities, and even make blackmailing rhetoric in the name of promoting or protecting the Muslims interests, Arewa or their respective states and communities.

Whereas, those “babban mutum”’s revelations may not be the whole truth after all, as he would, of course, never reveal the extent of his involvement by commission or omission; and would instead only reveal what would fetch him unearned credit in the eyes of the general public.

Some Sheikhs are also apparently misled by some of their close disciples who knowingly or unknowingly feed them flawed or false information on public affairs, local and international political and economic issues. This is quite obvious from some of the allegations that such Sheikhs make on their respective pulpits, and the conclusions they arrive at on the bases of such allegations.

Now, though, like everybody else, a Sheikh has a right to hold and express his views on any topical issue, his particularly sensitive position of moral influence in society underscores the particular need for him to always ensure the authenticity of the sources on which he forms his opinions. After all, as someone who is supposedly necessarily conversant with the stringent information verification methods in Islamic intellectual pursuits, he is supposed to be particularly concerned with the authenticity and exhaustiveness of information especially on sensitive issues before forming an opinion on its bases.