BADER External Relationships

External Relationships
Guiding Policies and Principles


Based on its value and guiding principles incorporated in Bedir vision and objectives, Bedir can develop written policies and procedures guiding its relationships with other Ethiopian Muslims organizations, Ethiopian government and non-Muslim religious organization. Following is my ideas and suggestions for further discussion.

Relationship with the Majlis

“Shaykh Al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah gave a very strong opinion on the permissibility of assuming some public offices in an unjust state, if the occupant of such office would seek to alleviate some of the injustice or reduce the level and corruption.” Priorities of the Islamic Movement in the Coming Phase by Shaykh Yuseuf Al- Qardawi. Page 53.


Regarding this relationship I opine that Bedir has to keep the status quo and work towards reforming this organization instead of alienating them. We have to recognize this is legally recognized organization by the government. As much as possible we have to avoid confrontational and intolerant relationship. We appreciate and encourage them when they do well and oppose or criticize in respectful way with facts and based on generally accepted Islamic value and principles. We provide our support and advise specially in policy formulation and technical administrative matters. As we all know the Majlis, is under the grip of the government. To take out of the government control and to make it financially and operationally independent organization we have to be very tactical and take strategic actions in dealing with them and the government in power.

We shouldn’t have a hatred attitude towards the people who are in power. I believe we can clean up the house no matter how long it takes instead of demolishing the house and built a new one. I believe this is a viable alternative considering the current situations. Our objective should be to reform the organization step by step not to completely change it at one time. Achieving this objective takes time, needs courage, tolerance and understanding. We have to remember that we are dealing with very complex political and religious issues prevailing in our country. There is unstable political environment and controversial/ polarized religious issues. Generally we have very challenging and accumulated problems of establishing an independent Muslim organization in Ethiopia.




Relationship with the government

I propose very liberal policy regarding what kind of relationship should Bedir has with the government of Ethiopia either currently in power or whoever is coming to power. I just quote from a classical writing and you know what kind of policy I want Bedir to follow.

“We don't accept any rebellion against our leaders or the administrators of our public affairs, even if they are oppressive.  We also don't pray for evil to befall any of them or withdraw our allegiance from them. We consider our civic duty to them concordant with our duty to God, the Sublime and Exalted, and legally binding on us, unless they command us to the immoral.  We pray for their probity, success, and welfare.” The Creed of Imam Al-Tahawi, Translated by Hamza Yusuf, page 70.


As a religious organization we are neither against nor in favor of their political agendas unless these political decisions, policies or laws affect our very basic Islamic, belief, values and principles. In other words we accept the secular relationship between a government and religious organizations in principle and in practice- I don’t mingle in your affairs don’t mingle in me. However, we respect individual Muslims rights to have their own political beliefs or allegiance to one party or the other and still participate in Bedir’s activities provided that they don’t mix up their political views with Bedir’s objectives, values and principles and provided that they don’t participate in any sort of violent activities.


Policy guidelines regarding this relationship can be:

To recognize the government in power,

To condemn any kind of civil disobedience, rebelliousness or violent activities,

To solve our grievances in peaceful dialogue, civility and legal means available,

To affirm both in principle and in practice the secular relationship between a government and religious organizations.





Relationship with other non-Muslim religious organizations.


We are living in a country where there are major and different kinds of religions. Whether we like it or not we have to live together. If we can’t live peacefully respecting and tolerating each other, we all fight there. Nether they immigrate to Jerusalem/Europe nor we to Mecca and live there. This is a country we all belong to. As a matter of fact the religions immigrated to Ethiopia not the people. Our ancestors were there before Christianity and Islam.

Current inter-faith conflicts should be the concern of every religious organizations as well as the government. If these sporadic situations get unattended, there might be a blow out situation that can have dire consequences. We don’t want to see in our country what is happening in other countries as a result of religious conflicts.


Suggested solutions and guiding principles:

Work towards the establishment of Religious Affairs Department/ministry (this is already proposed by Bedir) and interfaith conflict avoidance resolution standing committee.

In matters of common interest work together and collaborate with other religious organizations.

Try to solve conflicts in peaceful dialogue instead of pointing fingers and accusing each other’s.


Abdi Al-Winnipeg
Abdiseid@hotmail.com