(died 1980), best known by his
nickname Maitatsine, a Hausa word
meaning "the one who damns" and
refers to his curse-laden public speeches
against the Nigerian state.
Maitatsine was originally from Mawra
in north eastern Nigeria at one time part
of Cameroon. He moved to Kano, Nigeria
in about 1945, where he became known
for his controversial teachings on the
Qur'an. He claimed to be a prophet, and
a mujaddid in the image of Sheikh
Usman dan Fodio. He rejected the
hadith and the sunnah and regarded the
reading of any other book but the Quran
as kufr. He rejected Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w) and projected himself as a
Prophet. He spoke again the use of
modern electronic gadgets as well as
means of transportation such as bicycle
etc.
Boko Haramis want to establish a sharia
state in Nigeria. It wants to eliminate the
influence of the Western world in the
country and the region.
The group does not interact with other
Muslims in general and are ready to kill
anyone who is opposed to them. The
group believes that it is a saved sect. As
a privileged group it is prohibited to
study western education.
It is against the establishment of schools
especially girls’ schools. Even though
the group is opposed to Saudi Arabia for
its westernization, it accepts the edicts
of scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah to
promote their use of violence. Salafis are
opposed to the group.
Little is known about the group’s
finances.
Who gives them resources to buy arms
and ammunition? Who supports them
financially?
Why are able to use modern electronic
gadgets to communicate with different
groups in the world?
What is the literature they circulate
among them and who prints them?
What is clear is that their understanding
of Islam is built on two notions: selfreligious superiority and male
chauvinism.
Since, they believe that they are already
a saved sect, they can do whatever they
want without being questioned by the
divine either here or on the Day of
Judgment. They believe that nonMuslims have no rights and they
deserve to be killed for preaching their
faith. They believe that modernization is
in fact westernization and both are bad
for Muslims. They want to live in a
world where they as men can dictate
their terms upon all others and where
women and children serve as their
slaves. They describe all other Muslim
sects as either kafir or murtad
(apostates) whose murder is part of
their religious duty.
They believe in slavery, subjugation of
woman, destruction of place of worship
belonging to non-Muslims as well as
Muslim deviant sects. They believe in
having multiple wives and concubines.
In their view such women can be
obtained through armed jihad against
deviant Muslim groups. They believe in
marrying their daughters at an early
age. They quote the verses of the Quran
and ahadith to justify their position on