Christian groups oppose the establishment of Islamic Banking
Antara Pemeriksaan JAIS dan Kelemahan Institusi Zakat
August 9, 2011Nukilan Ramadhan
August 15, 2011ECWA says no to Islamic Banking
By SAM Eyoboka & OLAYINKA LATONA Available at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/ecwa-says-no-to-islamic-banking/
EVANGELICAL Church Winning All (ECWA) has joined other Christian groups in the country to oppose the establishment of Islamic Banking in Nigeria.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, national president of ECWA, Pastor Anthony Farinto dismissed the proposal as “a poison mixed with honey”.
Arguing that nothing is free of interest in the true sense anywhere in the world, Farinto said the real intention of the proposed Islamic Banking is the Islamisation of the country.
The ECWA president also accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of working for the Islamisation of Nigeria, pointing out: “There is nothing free of interest or profit anywhere in the world. This project is all about the islamisation of Nigeria. I believe it is a poison mixed with honey”.
Farinto further alleged that the recent crisis in some commercial banks might have been orchestrated to give Islamic Banking a boost, arguing:: “How come there are crises in some banks? Could it be that someone somewhere is behind it so that we can have what looks like a viable option?”
He said Islamic Banking will discriminate against Christians if it becomes functional.
Farinto wondered: “Will they give loans to build churches and cathedrals? Will they give loans for pilgrims to Jerusalem? Will they also allow Christian ventures like piggery and others to enjoy such facilities?
“These are the issues involved and we say a capital NO to Islamic Banking under any guise”, he maintained. He also called on the Federal Government to arrest the Boko Haram menace up North to save Nigeria from disintegration, stating that the group is up in arms against Christians.
“What they are fighting for really is Islamisation of Nigeria. If they are against Western education, why target churches and Christians? The group is a terrorist organisation that must be stopped now,” he said.
Regards
ZULKIFLI HASAN
0 Comments
“Will they give loans to build churches and cathedrals? Will they give loans for pilgrims to Jerusalem? Will they also allow Christian ventures like piggery and others to enjoy such facilities?
These are relevant questions to answer IF that proposed Islamic Banking is set up to REPLACE the existing conventional banking system.As it is, Islamic banking is an ALTERNATIVE to Muslims who do not wish to associate themselves with interest banking.The analogy would be setting halal eating sections for Muslim workers ,say in a factory.Non Muslim workers can also eat but no pork will be served and all meat will be slaughtered according to Muslim rites.In other words, the eating section will operate according to Muslim rules and all patrons are to follow that rules.
By the same token,an Islamic Bank provides banking alternative to Nigerian Muslims,That bank will operate according to Muslim rules and customers whether Muslims or non Muslims will transact with the bank according to the Islamic rules not unlike the halal eating section in the factory aforementioned.Muslim rules dictate that deposits must be from halal sources not from gambling or haram food business proceeds and their mobilisations must be in accordance to Muslim rule methods; this include where to place the deposit or invest in .As such , non sanctioned activities like pig rearing or related to other religions’s activities are considered NOT approved activities.
The gist of it is simple;– Islamic Banks for Muslims or/and non Muslims–operations–deposit sources or applications to be according to Muslim rules.They are alternatives and DO not in any way jeopardise the existence of interest transaction banks.Is this Islamic Banking as with that halal eating section in the factory quoted as example DISCRIMINATING non Muslims ? It’s like talking about oranges but holding an apple, really.