Let me firstly state unequivocally (like I did in the article, “RE: AISHA YESUFU”) that this article is not to debate the permissibilty of protest by a Muslim or Muslimah in Islam. Rather, I am putting this into writing for the sake of education and information.
In the article, “RE: AISHA YESUFU” which can be read here: https://knowislam.com.ng/re-aisha-yesufu-by-bashir-lucas-samson-lukman/”, I pointed out that Jinadu Abiola’s conferment of the Heroine of this Ummah and Mujaddid of this generation of Aisha Yusufu was thoughtless, misleading and erroneous.
While many did understood and appreciate my analysis in that article, there are some who do understand and have mistaken it for an attack on Aisha Yesufu. Therefore, I hope to make things easier in this article.
I decided to title this piece, “Martin is not Luther” in a bid to explain the lives of two Martin Luthers to make it easier for people to understand who differentiates a religious hero from a political activist.
Martin Luther, (10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) popularly known for the Ninety Five Thesis was a German professor of theology, priest, author, composer, Augustinian monk and a seminal figure in the reformation that led to the splitting of protestanism from Catholicism.
His refusal to renounce all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.
Summarily, he was a reformer who spoke and wrote against the Roman Catholic Church and her excesses.
Now, we have another Martin Luther popularly known as Martin Luther King Jnr. The first President of Southethern Christian Leadership Conference , Martin was an American Christian minister activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
He is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. He led protests and made speeches fight for Blacks.
Can we now please compare the first Martin Luther to the second. The first is exclusive to the Christians, Protestants most importantly while the second, even though he was a Christian Minster died not necessarily for the Church but for Human Rights which can be argued to be a Christian Value. However, it doesn’t qualify him to be a Christian Matryr.
Aisha Yesufu is like Martin Luther King Jr. She is a Civil Rights and Political Activist not a religious heroine that merits Mujaddid of our generation. My friend and brother, Badmus Awwal Tunde is a Human Rights activists, that would not earn him the title, “The ‘Umar of the 21st Century”.
I have tried and made it simpler enough in simple terms and clear language. The permissibilty of her activism is another subject left to those who are discussing it.
Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman
English 
