The misuse of taxpayer’s money, a form of theft, by many in the Somali community and others who masterminded fraudulent diversions of public funds, is a Minnesota governance scandal and abuse of private power. Guilt belongs on those who wrongfully diverted the public monies and those in government who stood by in silence and apathy while the theft continued.
A moral question has been raised, asking if it is uncalled for racism or malign bias, based on nationality or religion, to ask that culpable immigrants be called to public account for their actions?
If those asked to account for their behavior in the misuse of public funds are Somali Muslims, the answer is clear: such theft violated Qur’anic standards for righteous conduct on the part of faithful Muslims.
First, let’s consider the Qur’anic prohibition of “corruption.”
“Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor use it to bribe authorities to sinfully consume part of others’ wealth.” (2:188)
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah.” (4:135)
“Allah does not love those who spread corruption (2:205) and promises severe retribution for the unjust.” (2:279)
“Who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.” (2:27)
“O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent.” (4:29)
“Give just measure and defraud none … do not cheat your fellow men of what is rightly theirs; nor shall you corrupt the land with evil.” (26:183)
In the Qur’an, the word usually translated as “corruption” is fasād, which comes from a root word meaning to spoil, ruin, decay, become disordered, go bad or act wickedly. Depending on context, fasād can refer to: moral corruption – wrongdoing, injustice, oppression, spreading vice; social and political disorder – destabilizing society, rebellion, civil strife, breaking public order. Environmental destruction – harming the earth, wasting resources, causing ecological imbalance; economic injustice – cheating, fraud, usury, exploitation.
Thus, in the Qur’an, “corruption” (fasād) is a comprehensive term meaning: any act that damages moral integrity, social harmony, justice or the natural world. Those who commit fasād, no matter their race, ethnicity or gender, are culpable of wrongdoing and may be justifiably called out in public to account for their transgressions. If they are Muslim, their claim that others owe them acquiescence with regard to their wrongdoing is absurd.
The Qur’anic standard of rectitude derives from Abrahamic religious values. Thus, the Ten Commandments demand that “thou shall not steal.” Jesus said: “You know the commandments: You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal…” (Mark 10:19 (cf. Matthew 19:18) “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15) “For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: theft, murder, adultery…” (Mark 7:21–23)
Secular American law has always criminalized theft.
Thus, Qur’anic guidance for Somali Muslim immigrants to America largely tracks American standards of virtue, making it quite easy for Somali immigrants to assimilate to traditional American standards of justice and fairplay, even though those standards were originally more Christian and secular than Islamic.
In addition, Qur’an records that Allah created all human persons – men and women equally – to be his stewards in creation – khalifa. Thus, from a Muslim standpoint, every person born has fiduciary responsibilities to do right in benefiting God’s creation, just as God has instructed.
Those who steal, commit fraud and/or pervert the laws and the course of justice are not stewards, but rather self-seeking abusers of their God-given powers and talents.
For me, it is the solemn responsibility of Somali imams to conscientiously instruct their community in the correct behaviors expected of khalifas, just as I expect rabbis, Catholic priests and Protestant pastors to instruct those of their respective religions in the teachings of the Ten Commandments and Jesus.