Burkina Faso / Religion: “The best believers do not harm others,” explains historian Dr. Boukaré Gansonré

“The majority of the African population, formerly followers of traditional religions, have now largely converted to universal religions, particularly Islam,” Dr. Bukare Gansore thus laid the foundation for his communication entitled “The Contextualization of Islam”. This, he said, raises questions about acculturation. He argued that despite the promise of hope and salvation conveyed by universal religions, Africa today seems to be facing many social challenges. Dr. Gansore stressed that the encounter with these religions has disrupted traditional African societies and forced many Africans into a “human adventure” without clear benchmarks, torn between their own ancestral culture and other cultures. Faced with this situation, he continued, pan-Africanist voices call for a return to traditional worship and a true African renaissance, questioning the responsibility of Islam in the current situation in Africa.

The foundations of Islamic faith

Dr. Gansonglei explained that the Muslim faith is based on the belief in One God, Allah, and Muhammad as his messenger. The five pillars of Islam, namely the confession of faith (shahada), daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, lawful charity (zakat) and pilgrimage to Mecca, and the six articles of faith, form the basis of the religion.

“The basis of Muslim faith is the commitment not to associate any other deity or any other supernatural power with the latter. In other words, the acceptance that there is no other entity other than the will of Allah that can have a positive or negative influence on our existence, and therefore, the invocation of any other entity other than Allah is not favored,” he commented. The Ujik historian also recalled a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, saying that there are more than 70 levels of faith, the highest being the declaration that there is no God but Allah, and the lowest being the removal of obstacles from the path.

“The best believers do not hurt others”

Dr. Boukaré Gansonré stressed that the issue of cooperation with followers of other religions is a core issue in Islam, as evidenced by the Quran and the Sunnah. He quoted the 49th chapter of the Quran, verse 13: “O people! We created you from a male and a female, and created for you nations and tribes, that you may know one another. The noblest among you is the most pious in the sight of Allah.” He believed that this passage encourages mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between nations and tribes. To further support his remarks, the UJKZ historian also introduced the 5th chapter, verse 48, which emphasizes the diversity desired by God: “Had God willed, He would have made you a single community”.

According to Dr. Gansore’s interpretation of these passages in the Quran, humanity is considered as a single family, and the Hadith mentions that “all humans are the family of Allah, and the best of humans is the one who is useful to others.”

It also recalls the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad who describes the best believers as those who do not harm others. Dr. Gansonglei therefore insisted on the right and duty of non-Muslims to exist and stressed that Islam advocates peaceful coexistence and community cooperation in important areas such as education, health and fighting inequality.

The Importance of Separating Islamization from Arabization

For Dr. Gansore, contextualization of Islam involves adapting Islamic practices to specific cultural and geographical contexts. He argues that from the earliest centuries of Islam, Muslims had to resort to ijtihad, a reflective effort based on the Quran and the Sunnah, to cope with new situations encountered during the expansion of Islam. He emphasizes the importance of separating Islamization from Arabization, allowing converts to retain their cultural identity while embracing Islam.

Dr. Gansoure cited examples of the contextualization of Islam in Africa, such as the Islamization of traditional funeral rites of Dua after death, the integration of certain aspects of traditional and religious marriages, and the adaptation of Quranic schools to local realities. He noted that Islam has a static dimension, where its teachings remain unchanged, and an evolving dimension, which adapts to life conditions and cultural contexts.

Comments and suggestions

Dr. Gansonre offered some recommendations to Muslim authorities, the State and the advocates of ancestral religions on how to live better together in Burkina Faso. He called for the education of believers, for a healthy use of social networks, for a better understanding of secularism and for avoiding the use of religion for political purposes. He also advised the promoters of ancestral worship to rise above religious passions and not to foster a spirit of victimization or revenge.

“Looking back at the specific case of the decree establishing Customs and Traditions Day on March 6, 2024, we believe that the decree will not necessarily help strengthen secularism and is unlikely to attract support from everyone, given some aspects of its provisions,” he questioned.

In conclusion, Dr. Gansoure affirmed that the pursuit of African authenticity is laudable but must be critical and not complacent. He warned against retreat and stressed that Africa’s development cannot be achieved in isolation. He called on Africans to work to eliminate corruption, ethnic conflict and political manipulation rather than demonizing universal religions. He believed that the harmony between Islamic practices and the preservation of African cultural identity is an opportunity to be seized for a harmonious and prosperous future.

Also read: Burkina Faso/Customs and traditions: a living human treasure Konomba Traoré shares his experience with his ancestors

Hamid Nanema

Lefaso.net