Our Wish List to Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council

Al-HamduliAllah, all help proceeds from Allah (Subhanahu Wata’ala). It is a milestone. June 11, 2020 is a day to remember. A day which is not different from the battle of Badr, when hopelessness casted its shadows, a sign-post of progress for Ethiopian Muslims at last. Our Islamic institution, Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (or Federal Majlis), has been enacted by the Parliament as legal institution; to have similar rights and privileges to Christian Denominations in Ethiopia as at June 11, 2020.

Christian Institutions were enacted decades ago, and even Orthodox Christianity ran as a state religion till 1974. The affirmative actions from the imperial regimes had helped the Orthodox institutions to be where they are today with many organizations, institutions and owning several properties across the country.

Though Muslims were considered as second citizens until 1974, the demand for legal recognition for Muslims’ Representative Institution has taken over 50 years of intergenerational struggle to get to this historic date. The imperial, military, socialist, and authoritarian regimes and their associates had blocked and suppressed the rights of Ethiopian Muslims for so long. Al-HamduliAllah, at least the main CHOKEHOLD has been removed now, and it is a step for progress to seeing the twinkling light at the end of the tunnel.

Like many of our brothers and sisters around the globe, we sincerely relay our congratulatory messages to all Ethiopian Muslims and especially to those who suffered and struggled against inequality and inhumane regimes. Muslims were incarcerated, killed, tortured, disabled and choked in their own beloved country; all these happened to them because they were struggling for Islamic causes. However, with continuous determination, perseverance and team work, this is the starting point marching towards exercising our full rights as Muslim citizens!

Before we submit our WISH LIST (sort of colorful dreams!!) to be considered as part of Federal Mejlis’s plan for the next 5 years, let us provide some exemplary Muslim Councils from non-Islamic countries, where the Muslims are the smallest minority, but have done wonders for the Ummah in their respective country. Plus, huge contributions with significant impact on the country’s historical, political and socio-economic affairs. We should be connecting and learning from such Muslim Institutions around the Globe. From our personal experiences, we always admire how the British Muslims and the South African Muslims have made significant contributions, and differences to the country at large.

For lack of space and time, we will give facts from the UK only. The Muslim Council of Britain is a national representative Muslim umbrella body with over 500 Muslim affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, educational instituions and many more. It represents at the highest level any Muslim organisation and institution from different ethnic and sectarian backgrounds within British Islamic society. Basically, with less than 4 percent Muslim population in Britain, and starting off just in 1950s, their achievements, successes and impacts are felt throughout the UK to date.

• Muslims participate in all walks of life from politics, health, media, businesses, manufacturing, charity to sports
• Built over 1000 Masjids throughout Britain
• Built over 120 Islamic schools, Academy and Hybrid schools
• Students from these schools usually achieve over 90% success rates
• Produced high profile lawyers, politicians, health professionals, teachers, sportspersons, professors, media professionals and many more
• In politics: over 200 councilors, 4 MPs, 1 European Parliamentarian, 5 House of Lords and over 10 Mayors including the Mayor of London
• Own serval large, medium and small businesses
• Over 5500 Muslim Millionaires in Britain alone
• Muslims also add over 31 Billion Pounds to British Economy annually

Besides psycho-social influences, these are some real achievements for this tiny Muslim Population in Britain. As amalgamated Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian and African Muslims with diverse sects, the South African Muslims, who are less than 2 percent of the population, have remarkable achievements, successes and impact in South Africa, as well.

How did these Muslim populations reach to such heights? Simply, through dynamic team work, trust and sticking together under the banner of Islam regardless of their sects and some internal ideological differences they have! They look at the bigger picture in the odd environments they are in; to please Allah and serve the Ummah!

Given our huge proportion or numbers in Ethiopia, over 60% (or estimated 60 to 65 million Ethiopian Muslims), obviously there is no problem of quantity. For now, it appears we are like foam on the ocean! In order to achieve, even more than the tiny Muslim populations of UK and South Africa, the Federal Majlis must show quality leadership from now to make real and better changes in the lives of the Muslim population and the country at large.

The Federal Majlis must have quality leadership to effectively become VISIONARY Islamic Institution. Representing all Muslims regardless of their ethnic background and sects. Whether at institutional or individual level, we learn from Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), the secrets of becoming Great Leader. Simply put, earn peoples’ trust first; as trust marks the beginning and the end of relationships, and serve to please Allah no matter the circumstances are!

The proclamation by the parliament was historic for Ethiopia and the Muslims at large. It is a new beginning for Ethiopian Muslims. We are one Ummah under the banner of “La Illah Ila Lah, Muhammadun Rasul Allah.” Anything below this is either internal or external divide strategy. Whichever sect one belongs, no one is here to judge anyone. As none of us are “Maliki Yawmedeen.” Let’s leave the judgement of ‘which sect is right or wrong or which sect is awesome or not’ for Allah (Subhanahu Watalaa).

Having said that, how does the Federal Majlis leadership will earn more peoples’ trust as a public institution?

Without dwelling much on the philosophy, psychology and politics of trust, here are some tips from fellow Muslims who have achieved much in their countries. In order to stop ‘the divide alone the sect lines,’ the Federal Majlis has to evaluate its leadership quality with at least some criterions: Truthfulness (serving to please Allah), Credibility (persons with credentials, experiences and skills and regional representations), Reliability (being responsible; accountable and transparent) and Serving the People (with no egotism, no selfishness and no discrimination).

Noting that these are not exhaustive criterions, but they could help to trash out some tribal differences, uncontrolled emotions, pity squabbles and personal motives so that Ethiopian Muslims move forward. What is ahead is significant and more important!

Now coming back to our Wish List and putting the dynamic young generation at the heart of Majlis’s plans and activities, the Federal Majlis hopefully will consider the following WISH LIST when it will present its roadmap to societal debates and consultations.

1. Education, education and education! Without education we are incarcerated in deep darkness. Establish hybrid primary and secondary schools, Academy and Colleges, as well as, Universities (blending Islamic and Secular systems) across the country. At least, for example, International Islamic University of Ethiopia with campuses in all cities of Regional States. This will also cater Muslims students from the Horn and neighboring countries.
2. Islamic Banks – at least establish National Islamic Bank of Ethiopia; branches across the cities and towns in Ethiopia. These will open opportunities for small businesses, entrepreneurship and enhances agricultural, manufacturing and other sectors in the country
3. Charity and NGOs. Since most poor peoples in Ethiopia are Muslims, these organizations will uplift and alleviate poverty among the Muslim Population, and prevent conversion to non-Muslim religions. Poverty is being used as a tool in converting Muslims to non-Muslim denominations as many experiences have shown across the globe
4. Youth and Women Organizations. Need to give special attention to these segments of the Muslim Population, as they are the engine of survival for the Muslim Ummah anywhere. Empowering them in all aspects: be it in education, business, politics, technology, production, etc., are crucial for progress, mass-movement, leadership creations and quality life.
5. Media, Media and Media. Media is dubbed as the fourth arm of any government. It communicates to the mass instantly, and influence public opinion. It is the hub of information, misinformation and disinformation. No matter what, Ethiopian Muslims need to be heard more! To better communicate among ourselves, educate others about Islam and defend ourselves from Islamophobics. We need National Islamic TV and Radio stations. We definitely need media that propagates, educates and informs in timely fashion. Without its own media, the Federal Majlis could not properly function, serve and have relationship with Ethiopian Muslims at large. We need independent National media!

Hope the honey moon is over. It is time to roll up our sleeves, focus, create a roadmap and implement it in a timely fashion. Hopes are very high that the Federal Majlis will be a

VISIONARY Islamic Institution to progress and work with the UMMAH for the UMMAH. We also believe that all Ethiopian Muslims must support their Islamic Institutions: at Regional and Federal levels so that they can lead Ethiopian Muslims for the things we colorfully dream, and deserve! We have much more to do together as a team as our victories have yet to come.

OUR LAST WORDS: Without getting much into the details, we are not yet out of anti-Islamic woods. With no exception to Ethiopia, Islamophobics are unabatingly spreading their hateful messages around the globe. Ethiopian paranoid deacons, unprofessional reporters, biased human right lawyers and fanatic individuals are always engaged in spreading misinformation, disinformation and assimilation messages to undermine the efforts of Ethiopian Muslims. We have to be hyper-aware of the push-backs, sabotages and tools to divide us; and sometimes using internal bugs and political maneuvers, as it were. We should be constantly on the watch for such dividing personalities so that internal minor differences cannot be exaggerated to slow us down from our vision. We cannot afford our Islamic identities to be compromised and our youthful population is being hijacked. No matter what, let’s hold to the rope of Islam collectively. We stand together to reach our goals of making our people better and the country prosperous, InshaAllah.

Till we meet again, Aselam Alykum