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Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala
On June 25, 2026, I had the opportunity to read a short but deeply impactful article written by Ahmed Sagaff. The piece, which thoughtfully reflected on Tanzania’s political and social climate in 2025/2026, impressed me so much that I was compelled to translate it into Kiswahili and reflect on it further.
At the heart of the article was a famous statement attributed to Imam Hussein (AS):
“If you do not believe in any religion, then at least be a free man.”
This is no ordinary statement. It is a call to conscience—a call to liberate the human being intellectually and morally from the chains of blind obedience.
In a broader sense, this message transcends religion, sects, and ideologies. It directly challenges a growing tendency in many societies, including Tanzania—the tendency to tie political loyalty to religious identity.
In recent years, there has been an argument that Muslims should support Muslim leaders simply because they share the same faith. Under this view, criticism is framed as betrayal, while support is presented as a religious obligation.
But is this truly the lesson of Islamic history?
The answer lies in Karbala.
Imam Hussein did not stand against Yazid because of religious differences—far from it. Yazid himself was a Muslim ruler. What drove Hussein was the question of justice, legitimacy, and moral governance.
This is where the core lesson begins: having the “right” religion does not guarantee having the right leadership.
Hussein taught us that leadership must be measured by justice and accountability, not by names or religious labels.
If merely being Muslim were enough to legitimize leadership, then the tragedy of Karbala would never have occurred. Yet it did—and because of that, it remains an eternal symbol of resistance against injustice.
Today, similar patterns appear in different forms.
In Tanzania, there are those who attempt to turn political criticism into a religious issue. Criticism of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership is sometimes portrayed as hostility toward Islam or toward a Muslim leader.
This is a dangerous argument.
It seeks to silence legitimate political debate by appealing to religious sentiment. It suggests that citizens should close their eyes to shortcomings in leadership—whether related to political freedoms, civil rights, or electoral integrity—simply because of the leader’s identity.
But as Imam Hussein taught, a free person does not do that.
A free person judges leaders by their actions. They ask whether justice is upheld, whether power is accountable, and whether citizens are protected.
Above all, a free person does not surrender their conscience for the sake of religious, ethnic, or political solidarity.
History makes this clear: blind loyalty to rulers has been one of the greatest sources of human suffering. Time and again, oppressive leaders hide behind identity—religion, ethnicity, or nationality—to shield themselves from criticism.
Their message is always the same:
“Support me because I am one of you.”
But Hussein rejected that logic.
He stood firm and established a higher standard of political ethics: truth first, justice first, and conscience first.
In today’s Tanzanian context, the question is not whether a leader is Muslim or Christian. The real question is whether citizens are free enough to speak the truth. Can they criticize without fear? Can they place principles above political loyalties?
In reinforcing this point, it is worth recalling the words of former Arusha Urban MP, Godbless Lema, who once said:
“It is the duty of sheikhs and bishops to speak the truth, even if that truth may cost them their lives…”
In its own way, this statement echoes the very message of Imam Hussein—that speaking the truth and standing for justice is a duty, not a choice.
Ultimately, the lesson remains unchanged from 680 CE to this day:
“If you do not believe in any religion, then at least be a free man.”
And if you do believe in religion, then that freedom—the freedom to think, to question, and to stand for justice—is where true moral responsibility begins.
Thank you, Ahmed Sagaff.
Imam Hussein and the Lesson Against Blind Loyalty is not just a story of the past; it is a mirror of today’s politics.
Mwanakwetu
Mbagala – Dar es Salaam
Phone: 0717 649 257
Email: makwadeladius@gmail.com
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