ISLAM IN GHANA AND THE ROLE OF

GHANAIAN MUSLIMS IN PEACE BUILDING

MOHAMMED M. ALI,
December 2020.
This article may be quoted in any academic work in situations of referencing and
orally. All rights reserved to the author solely.
In case of citing:
Mohammed M. Ali, ‘Islam In Ghana And The Role of Ghanaian Muslims In Peace
Building’, 2020.
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 DEDICATION

To my teacher and grandfather, Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Salis Shaban, and my father, Imam Al-
Hajj Aliou Traorè, whom with their support and inspiration this work became a success.
 APPRECIATION

Special appreciation to Al-Hajj Abdulsalam Mohammed Daaru (Consultant

Daaru), Director of Yaa Salam Opportunity Centre, for his motivation and immense
contribution to this work. He had been very fruitful to this particular course, an
inspiration, and a Lancelot of this production and so many others under the
Mohammed Ali brand. Gratitude to my teachers Sayyid Muhammad el-Amin Ibn
Ishaq (Paapa Lameen), Ustaz Muhammad Bashir, Sayyid Amir Abdul-Qadir
Shaban, and Sayyid Ibrahim Abul-Mawahib Shaban, for their continuous efforts in
instilling in me the knowledge of Islam through their tutelage. Not to forget my
dearly beloved, Sayyid Abu-Bakr Shaban of Medina-Baye, Senegal. Special
mention and applause to all Mohammed Ali’s (my siblings) as well. It is a prayer,
Allah would replenish for you the resources you sacrifice in upholding
#theMohammed_Ali agenda.
Sincere gratitude, appreciation, and thanksgiving remain a franchise of the
Ever-Living God, in whose grace we wine and dine.

Mohammed M. Ali,
December 2020.
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful.
 PREFACE

I begin this work in the holy name of Allah, who has ordained and prescribed its penning
from the period in which He was the only Existent (Al-Awwal). He who had made a divine
proclamation in His holy Book, ‘and do not kill any person Allah has made inviolate’1 and said,
‘any of you who kills a person against proper grounds then it is as if he had killed entire humanity.
And anyone who upholds it, then it is as if he had upheld entire humanity.’2
Glory be showered unto his praiseworthy name in abundance. I ask for His peace and
salutations unto the most beloved in His sight, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his
entire household of blessed progeny. He whose life and activities were in complete enjoinment of
peace and whose personality depicted patience. I seek an extension of such felicitation also to his
companions, and all of us who follow his tradition till the day righteousness would be rewarded
and evil will be punished in its similitude.
‘Peace, be unto those who follow the right path through performance of the permitted
(Halal) and prevention of the prohibited (Haram), and doing both devoid of extremism.’
The subject of Peace has been discussed in many academic spectra cutting across religion,
reconciliatory sciences, racial studies, gender activism and so on. It had been that, most of these
studies based on the writer's point of view in appeal to the sensory nature of his reader. In this
particular publication, I have made it a point to discuss Peace in the Islamic context, taking into
account historical facts into details, the vast message of Islam with respect to the promotion of
Peace, the contributions of notable Islamic clergies to worldwide, continental and structural peace
orientation, and finally and most importantly, the role of the Muslim in peace building,
particularly, the Ghanaian youth.
Sitting in the Yaa Salam Opportunity Centre, I realized how far Zongo had been left behind
in upholding the name of the country in high esteem and contributing to national courses. I watched
from the window of the office on the third floor of the Afro-Arab building at 26 Cotton Avenue –
Kokomlemle, and thought to myself. Do I not owe a responsibility of creating an awareness
towards contributing to a national course ? If Zongo had been left behind then there should be a
group that are ready to stand at the frontlines and pull the rest with them collectively. Then I
decided for any other reason, I would opt for the former and make an impact than stand aside idly.
Therein I started preparation towards this particular achievement in that regard, and I'm thankful
to God for it’s manifestation.

1 Quran 6: 151.
2 Quran 5: 32.
 By the time this article would be published, my country - Ghana, would have been left
with a few days leading to one of the toughest elections in the Fourth Republic, where a previous
Head of State is contesting the current president for the seat of presidency. The scenario depicted
points out the election in question as one of the toughest if not the most because of the heated
atmosphere of campaigning towards the election, the erstwhile performances and new promises of
the two logger-head candidates, and the reactions of the supporters from both sides across the
country. Contributing to the already existing tension borne from the nature of this election is the
activities of political parties in attempt to reprehend and repulse the actions of one another. There
was then the need to raise a voice, make a contribution and relay an information related to the long
religious imposition of maintenance of peace by the Islamic adherent. This had been the situation,
main reason that merited my seclusion of the Ghanaian Muslim as the main stem of the subject
matter although the several accounts and presentations may be equally useful to any Muslim in
any part of the world.
The article is also presented in as simple language as possible for the easy understanding
of the various submissions on the subject matter. I have also decided not to make too usual my use
of Arabic phonetics in this dispensation in order to guide every other reader to a better
understanding of the Islamic philosophy of peace and its dimensions. Of course except in situations
where it can definitely not be avoided. In such situations as name calling and the rest, the words
are presented in italics to create a differentiation between them and English phonetics in the text.
It is my fervent hope that this work serves its purpose and guides the Muslim to the
realization of the importance of peace to our very existence and the result of it on our livelihoods.
 INTRODUCTION: ISLAM AND MUSLIMS

Islam has been one of the most influential world religions and continues to be till date, with
the ever-increasing number of converts and children born into it. As most scholars of comparative
religion had tried to point out, Islam means Peace although contextually and intense grammatical
and semantic analysis of the word might prove to mean more than just peace. As such, it has been
the call of many scholars of the Sunni creed to all adherents of the Islamic faith to uphold peace
as their most valued principle, the basis of which is the denouncement of conflicts and extremism.
Since its advent about fourteen centuries ago, the religion has been known to be one of the
most peaceful if not the most. Thinking of its leader and originator - Prophet Muhammad (Peace
be upon him), considering his lifetime admonishment and incessant warnings against wars and
bloodshed, also tagged as one of the most influential people in the history of the world, being
supremely successful both in religious and secular realms 3 , there could be a derivative
understanding of the fact that his religion - Islam, was indeed a religion of Peace.
Several developments in the early years of Islam in the Arabian peninsula confirm the
position of Islam in the above respect. Widely read and understood under this subject, is the Treaty
of Hudaybiyya that was signed between Prophet Muhammad as leader and ruler of the Islamic
State of Medina, and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. The agreement and commitment to that treaty
was supposed to last ten years and although it favored most the Quraysh, the Prophet did
compromise for peace to prevail over the two previously highly tensioned states.4
Several of such occurrences marked the character of Muslims and consolidated the
teachings of Islam that was long established with the revelation of the Quran (Holy Book of Islam)
within the twenty-three years of Muhammad's prophethood. In it is a commandment of Allah to
the Prophet (peace be upon him) and all Muslims who follow diligently his religion of peace.
'Uphold tolerance, enjoin righteousness, and turn away from the ignorant/ rebellious' 5
It would also be important to note that the most enjoining feature of the Islamic faith has
been patience. Times without number, Allah has ordered Muslims in the Quran to be patient, for
it is of the most rewarding actions.

3 Michael H. Hart, “The 100; A Ranking of Most Influential Persons In History”, 1992, p. 15.
4 Al-Qadi Yusuf b. Isma’il an-Nabahani, Al-Anwār al-Muhammadiyya Fī Mawāhib al-Ladunniyya, 1312 AH.
5 Quran 7: 199
 And for anyone who cared to know, it would have been realized that Islam is best explained
in the Holy Book - Quran, and Muslims are just as imperfect as any other human being, religious
and non-religious alike. And therefore, even though we expect to relate the teachings of Islam in
the lives and living of Muslims, we would need to attach clemency to our judgement as to what
Islam represents to an extent, at the bleak of affairs, we would be able to point out who is a Muslim
by action, and the other, by word.
The stereotypical claims by some unlettered people that Muslims are terrorists and several
other blasphemous proclamations are only because they have not been committed to the study of
Islam into context but rather resort to the usage of foul actions of some people who probably might
just be bearing ‘Islamic’ names and are not necessarily Muslims. It is rather unfortunate we are
faced with this particular problem to bear with, nevertheless, it does not cease to be our
responsibility of reshaping the narrative and setting things right, against all odds.
When Allah commanded the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to spread the message of Islam,
He said ‘Call unto the path of your Lord with wisdom and good admonishment.’6
The display of peace and the enjoinment of patience by the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
was so extreme that, when the Muslims finally conquered Mecca, what was referred to as Fathul-
Makkah, after the breach of the Treaty of Hudaybiyya by the Quraysh who were the second party
to the treaty, the obvious revenge would have been bloodshed. Contradictorily, the Prophet (Peace
be upon him) had emphasized to his army on refraining from fighting until the Quraysh attacked
first. The Muslim army then had outnumbered the Quraysh army by a ratio of 5:1, but war was the
last option that was resorted to. And when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had asked the
perpetrators of Mecca what they thought would be his obvious reaction, they answered by saying
‘if you are still the Muhammad who we lived with for more than forty years on this soil, then we
are most hopeful for your forgiveness!’ And then, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had ordered
all Muslims to not raise a sword at any of them until they had first attacked, based on the
commandment of Allah ‘Do not fight them in the Sacred Mosque (Ka'bah) until they fight you
there. And whence they fight you, kill them. Indeed that is the reward of non-believers’7 . That
was the extent to which the Prophet of Islam had been peaceful and tolerant even towards people
who had hurt him and sought his misfortune and death!

6 Quran 16:125.
7 Quran 2: 191.
 ISLAM IN GHANA

Africa was a second home to the early Muslims. During the lifetime of the Prophet (Peace
be upon him), Bilal had been the first black-skinned African to accept the Islamic faith 8. The
migration of the early Muslims to Abyssinia, Ethiopia, in search of salvation and maintenance of
peace between them and the Quraysh polytheists of Mecca, laid grounds for the spread of Islam
across the African Continent. By then, the repercussion of denouncing the existence of the idols in
the Ka'bah as gods was punishment by death, slowly, with the severity of extreme desolation. The
only way to solve this problem was to wage war in request for freedom of worship in the Arabian
territories. The Muslims under the leadership of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) opted for the
path of peace and hence, made plans to prevent future frictions between the two parties involved.
This was subsequently followed by the migration of almost all Muslims to Yathrib9. In Medina,
the Prophet (Peace be upon him) made commandment with peace-making, between the Muhajirun
and Ansar10, and the Jewish inhabitants of the City. These were instances when war and conflicts
were clear options but the Prophet chose to embrace the path of Peace at the highest display of
tolerance. Ideally, the Muslims had the strength and support and they could have managed to get
things done through coercion, incessant conflicts and bloodshed.
As early as the seventh century, Islam had fast spread in Africa, particularly in the North,
through the activities of Muslim traders, intermarriages, holy wars (described by Muslims as
Jihad- in Arabic to mean striving in the cause of Allah), and Islamic scholarship. The nature of
Islam is also such that, it attracted people who sincerely felt it was the best religion for humanity
haven examined its laws (Islamically referred to as Sharia), teachings (based on the Quran and
Sunnah-traditions of the Prophet), and most importantly its belief system of oneness of Allah - the
Supreme Being from whom they seek sustenance.

8 Michael A. Gomez, African Dominion: A New History of Empire In Early and Medieval West Africa , p. 70.
9 Former name of the Islamic State of Medina, before the arrival of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and Muslims.
10 The Muhajirun were Meccans who migrated to Medina after the Prophet, and the Ansar were the Muslims who

received them in Medina.

 Most Muslims in Ghana are counted as Sunni, 51% actually, while approximately 16% and
8% are seen as followers of the Ahmadi sect and Shia respectively 11. Between the period of its
invention and eighteenth century, Islam saw the activities of various Islamic scholars and jihadists
such as Shaykh Usman Bin Fodio; founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, Al-Hajj Umar Tal who was
mainly an adherent and jihadist of the Tijani sect in West Africa, et al.
From Ghana, there were scholars like Shaykh Umar Karki, and latter-day recorded the likes
of Shaykh Harun Tijani and Ustaz Tawfiq al-Bakri both of Kumasi, Mu'allim Dantani of Bawku,
Shaykh Umar Imam of Bolga, Imam Abbas of Accra, Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Shaban of
Asamankese and so many to mention. They undertook the jihad of spreading the gospel of Islam
across the regions and were prosperous in appealing to the people and disseminating the prime
message, Tawhid. Senegal also saw the emergence of the Mujaddid of the twentieth century,
Shaykh Al-Hajj Ibrahim Niasse who took completely after his father - Al-Hajj Abdullah Niasse in
Islamic scholarship 12. Across Burkina Faso was also Al-Hajj Muhammad Marhaba. All the above
of blessed memories. By the end of the twentieth century, Africa was a notable centre of Islamic
scholarship and literacy, with very heavy concentrations on countries such us Egypt, Nigeria,
Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco and Mali.
Recently, 45% of Africa's population have been accounted for as Muslims and followers
of Prophet Muhammad, almost representing one-third of the population of Muslims worldwide. 13.
With the emergence of Islam in Ghana through the then Northern Territories (now Northern
Regions of Ghana) around the fifteenth century, the religion has grown to be the second major
religion in the country, after Christianity. It was ushered in by commercial traders that travelled in
caravans from Northern Africa - Maghreb, through Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) to trade in
commodities such as cotton, silk, and slaves of course. Then, there was the established belief that
African slaves had the strength and could work harder. As explained in the earlier paragraph, Islam
effected the lives of many West Africans through different means, some still inherent till date.

11Pew Research Report, 2012.

12Ousmane Oumar Kane, ‘Beyond Timbuktu: An Intellectual History of Muslim West Africa’, 2016, p. 4.
13 Achebe, Nwando, Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, Joe Alie, Hassoum Ceesay, Toby Green, Vincent

Hiribarren, Ben Kye-Ampadu, History Textbook: West African Senior School Certificate
Examination (2018), https://wasscehistorytextbook.com/
 THE ROLE OF THE GHANAIAN MUSLIM IN PEACE BUILDING

To the average Ghanaian Muslim, preaching and admonishment remain a duty

and responsibility of the clerical population of the religion across the country, which
of course, does not include the youth. Consideration of the above unenticing thought
has lead to the adamancy of many young Muslims in preaching the gospel of Islam,
calling for peace and living by the principle upon which the religion is built. As
explained in the introductory section of this article, Islam has widely been portrayed
as peace, and Muslims, peaceful. Except a few who have proven to be lieutenants of
disgrace and meiosis to the religion to the extent of creating the impression that the
word Islam is directly synonymous to terrorism. Those are extremists engaged in
extremism! Even the Quran warns against raising arms at even non-Muslims despite
their sheer disbelief in the message of Allah. The very obvious reason for such
occurrence may include ignorance and lack of understanding of the basic principles
of the religion. There might be a rising question in the mind of the reader as to how
Islam portrays peace but was spread through sword-action. The least and most
convenient explanation I can give in this publication is that, Islam in Africa did not
spread to a large extent with the use of sword or armory. A detailed answer might
follow in another publication if the need arises. Therefore, being oblivious of the
fact that Islam has played a role since time immemorial in the maintenance of peace
and stability does not mean it did not occur so.
Often, especially close to where I was raised in Ghana, there has been several
instances of unrest even amongst Muslims. Cases of Muslims fighting one another
on the basis of difference of creed. Thus, it became a major contributor to the general
thought that Islam had not made provision for peacemaking. But nay, it is never so.
In the words of Sheikh Mohammed Salis Shaban, a Sunni scholar of the
Tijani sect in Ghana, he explains being a Muslim as bearing the characteristic of
being peaceful to all other Muslims and humanity as a whole. He made a point
worth mentioning, that should you appear coercive in any of your dealings with the
tag of 'I am a Muslim', non-Muslims are going to read it as you living the 'Islamic
way' and following the 'Islamic teaching' since they haven't made it a point to read
about it from the books rather than judging from the behaviors of some rogue
Muslims. He concluded his statement with the rhetoric question, "If everyone
knows you have a family and you are seen outside begging, the closest conclusion
is that you are from a poor family that cannot cater for itself! So what would be
thought of Muslims who engage in chaotic adventures possibly endangering the
lives of others?" The obvious answer is that, that is the teaching of our religion and
we remain committed to it!
The highest Islamic office in Ghana is the Office of the National Chief
Imam, and the officeholder, His Eminence Shaykh Dr. Usman Nuhu Sharubutu
who also serves as the Grand Mufti of the Republic. The successful stir of affairs to
peaceful coexistence between Muslims and other religions by the National Chief
Imam has been unmatched since the inception of the office in the late twentieth
century. Through the distinct eras of different Heads of State, the Imam has
worked with every government towards the realization of development through
peace-keeping and religious tolerance. Quite recently, his tireless effort won him
the title of ‘Man of Peace' by which he is widely referred by Muslims and non-
Muslims alike. He has also been a ranking member of the National Peace Council,
representing the Muslim population of the country. A more recent documentary of
the life of the Imam by JoyNews Media, and a documentation of his legacy titled
‘A Gift to A Nation’ explains more of what I categorize as an Embodiment of
Peace.
Once when I was kid, at the age of 10 or so, I remember haven heard
directly from him the importance of what it means to be peaceful and tolerant. And
anytime I raise a hand to do something, it resonates in my mind and ‘forces' me to
do it the peaceful way. It is true the African proverb, ‘it is when a mosquito rests
on your testicles that you fully understand there are several ways of settling issues
without conflict’.
And more for people like me who grew up in a strictly Islamic home where
the first form of education you are exposed to is that of the religion, I understand
from a point of view what the Quran mentions as ‘Indeed in the Messenger of
Allah is a good example for you who seek goodness from Allah and on the day of
judgement and remember Allah abundantly'.14 And since we seek salvation on the
day of judgement, we would obviously have to uphold the ideals of the Prophet
which encompasses peace, patience and tolerance. That is the whole idea of what
behooves on a Muslim to participate in peace building.

14 Quran 33: 21.

 It is therefore a misunderstanding and misrepresentation to actually think
that being a Muslim only has to do with praying five times a day, fasting during
Ramadan15, giving out compulsory alms (zakah) and probably going on a
pilgrimage when one is exposed to the opportunity. No! Being a Muslims also has
to do with maintaining good relations with people, meeting a brother with a smile,
overlooking the harm done you and showing forgiveness, to as low as even taking
of obstacles from a road so it does not hurt wayfarers. That is Islam. And that is the
role of Muslims. Symbolizing peace and stability even at the expense of your own
advantage.
The Ghanaian Muslim owes it to the society to be more of a promoter of
peace than an instigator of riots. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says and I
quote, ‘Loving the motherland is part of Iman’. The Sunnah is not only limited to
keeping the beard and telling people what is haram and halal. It also means
spreading peace.
Considering the presentation of the immediate paragraph, now let us talk
about the Islamic greeting As-Salam Alaykum, ‘Peace be upon you’. Why would
one even think the major and widely accepted phrase out of the entire Arabic
lexicon for greeting is reserved to these few words? Because it is meant to be as it
is said!. And to understand it better, the Quran states, ‘the slaves of Ar-Rahman
(Allah) are those who walk the surface of the earth with tranquility, and when the
ignorant (rebellious) speak ill to them they say Peace!’16 Those are the true slaves
of Allah who seek His pleasure in all their dealings.

‘Analysis in the heat of the action is never easy, especially as events unfold
and their causes—and the future itself—remain clouded with uncertainty.’17

15 The ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims observe compulsory fast to fulfill the fourth pillar of
Islam.
16 Quran 25: 63.
17 Tariq Ramadan, Introduction, ‘Islam And The Arab Awakening’, 2012, p. 1.
‘The maintenance of Peace remains a worldwide agenda, and we as humanity
upholds it’s sanctity.’

MOHAMMED M. ALI.