By ACP Yaqub Alhassan PhD, Force Chief Imam, Nigeria Police Force, FHQ Jumu’at Mosque, Abuja
The protection of lives and properties is a fundamental responsibility shared by governments, law enforcement agencies, and communities. Effective security strategies increasingly recognize the importance of collaborative partnerships between these stakeholders. This approach acknowledges that community members are crucial contributors to safety, possessing valuable insights and resources that can be leveraged to prevent and address security challenges.
When trust is established, communities are more likely to engage, collaborate, and collectively work towards shared goals, like safety and security. By fostering community partnership, we can create safer, more resilient environments where lives and properties are protected, and communities thrive.
Islamic Law was made to protect five things: Religion, life, mind, offspring, and property, which are the main rights of human in this world. The purpose of this Law is for humans to achieve happiness in this world and the hereafter, by following the law of adopting the good and neglecting the bad. Islamic Law does not command anything that is not good for people, and it does not forbid anything that is not bad for them.
The Qur’anic verses continue to warn of attempts on the life of innocent people, and give the wronged person the right to ask for fair and just punishment for his/her opponent. Allah the Almighty says:
“Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).” [Al-Quran, 17:33]
Islam considers aggression or assault upon human life as a great crime and one of the seven serious crimes in life, which destroys both religion and life. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), warning Muslims, said:
“Avoid the seven great sins.” His Companions asked: “What are they?” He (Peace be upon him) replied: “Joining others with Allah – in worship or other issues – , magic, killing a person, except by right and fair judgment, earning money by interest, misuse and benefiting from an orphan’s money, running away from the battle, and defamation of the faithful pure women, who did nothing wrong.”
Islam guarantees the right of life for every human being. Every human life is sacred in Islam and every person has been granted Allah-given fundamental and universal rights at the time of their birth. Allah the Almighty says:
“And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with lawful good things, and have preferred them to many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.” (Al-Quran, 17:70).
The dignity that Allah bestowed upon humankind at the time of creation was the blessing of a sacred which manifests itself as the rights to life, freedom, and property. The right to life has been recognised as the first and most important universal right derived from the Shari’ah and classical Islamic Law.
Islam protects humanity through its laws. It obligates the leaders to look after the poor and give them the basic needs, shelter, food, drink, clothing and other needs of life. It obligates charity and almsgiving, which come under the law of cooperation and helping one another among individuals to achieve social solidity in the society. Islam guarantees a good and noble life for humanity; thus forbidding humiliation, annoyance, and harm. Allah the Almighty says:
“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.” [Al-Quran, 33:58]
Allah the Most High considers the aggression or assault upon one soul as equal to the aggression or assault upon the entire human race. Allah the Most High says:
“On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for the crime of murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.” [Al-Quran, 5:32]
The glorious Quran describes Muslims, who avoid slaying innocent people as true Muslim believers. Allah (SWT) says:
“Those who invoke not, with Allah, any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication; and anyone that does this meets punishment.” [Al-Quran, 25:68]
The, eeffective protection of lives and properties hinges on collaborative efforts between communities and law enforcement agencies. This synergy fosters trust, enhances vigilance, and promotes collective responsibility for security.
When trust is established, communities are more likely to engage, collaborate, and collectively work towards shared goals of safety and security. By partnering together, communities and authorities can reduce crime, improve quality of life, and create safer environments for all.
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