“Ahbash”, Ethiopia and the West: Can They Win Their Deal at Minimum Cost?

By Ubah Abdusalam Seid, an independent Writer
The Ethiopian government broke the heart of its Muslim citizens by allowing the Lebanon
originated “Ahbash” group to control the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of the country.
(The group calls itself “Association of Islamic charitable Projects” but others call it simply
“Ahbash” because of the Ethiopian origin of its founder called Sheikh Abdullah ibn Muhammad
Al-Harari Al-Habshi). By doing so, it went against its promise of abstaining from religious affairs
(as stated in the federal constitution of the republic). But why the government of Ethiopia
decided to foster this controversial group and enabled it to indoctrinate its beliefs which most
of the Muslims see as heretical? I think the following is the reason.
We know that government of Ethiopia (or its state officials) doesn’t have deep know how on
Islam and the different Muslims views prevailing around the world. So it is unlikely to think this
government by itself initiated the program of fostering “Ahbash”. And it seems that the main
motive came from external influence. For this, we can speculate two sources. One is USA and
the West. As their primary agenda of the last ten years was the so called “War on Terror”, they
were influencing all countries of the world to accept their policy of combating “Militant
Islamism’” (This is a rude word to use. But it is they, not me who says so). Therefore, it’s likely
to suppose that they were breeding and nursing the version of “Islam” they want in Ethiopia.
Second is Israel and its allies. This unhealthy and skeptical state has never stopped to follow up
the life and moves of the Muslims through out its existence. Its usual claim is “Islamists are
dangerous for the very existence of the Hebrews”. So it’s also likely to assume that “the Zionist
state is behind the veil”.
All what is needed by the three forces (Ethiopian government, USA and Israel) is to set back the
growing influence of Ethiopian Muslims in the socio-economic realm. And this demand seems
to me the long existing one. For this, I can mention the directives prepared to “secularize the
Ethiopian schools and colleges” (formulated before 4 years). But due to high opposition from
the Muslim citizens, the former leaders of the council of Islamic affairs and different scholars,
the Ethiopian government decreased the speed at which the plan was to be implemented.
I feel that the government had many studies on the issue latter on. And it consulted its
collaborators repeatedly. Advisers were selected from those who had a big experience on the
Ethiopian affairs (like Hagai Erlich of Tel Aviv University, David Shin of George Washington
University and Paul B. Henze of CIA). And at last, all parties concluded that rather than applying
different rules at different times, cultivating and promoting “Anti- Ismalism” groups can satisfy
their need. For this to happen, they selected the aforementioned “Ahbash”. And before going
to the full application of their plan, they were doing many pre-application works. “Ahbash”
appeared with its full energy following those pre-application works. (The pre- application works
include “the iftar”/fast breaking programs hosted by the Embassy of USA in Addis Ababa, in the
Ramadan months starting from 2008. Only the supporters of “Ahbash” were allowed to
participate on those programs).
The forces behind “Ahbash” don’t care about the theological dogma or the doctrinal validity of
“Ahbash”. What they need is, as I see, its readiness to satisfy their demand. To understand this,
I list few points about the group’s features in relation to the western’s and Ethiopian
government’s demands.
1. The group officially says it doesn’t fight to build Islamic state. And it condemns those
who organize themselves to found Islamic state (either through gradual political system
or military combats).
2. It officially condemned and gave the label “Kaffir” for some outstanding Muslim writers
and teachers hated by the westerns such as Sayyid Qutb, Fathi Yakun, Abul A’ila
Mawdudi for their promoting Muslims to achieve Political independence from westerns
and building their self reliance. (The westerns call this writers as “the doctrinal fathers
of the Islamists” ).
3. The group’s chief enemies are “Wahhabiya” whom the westerns blindly accuse of
nursing “Militant Islamism”. (Whenever you attend “Ahbash” lectures, you hear the
word “Wahhabiya” more than any other word. They make most of their comparisons
with “Wahabiyya” than any other religious group).
4. The group’s due emphasize on “Haqiqa” and “Batinya” (in the field the group calls
“Sufism” which is practically too different from the traditional “Sufism” we know ) than
the “Islamic Shari’a” which governs a day to day life of a Muslim. (We can assume that
the westerns like this stand because it paves a free way for the secularism they want to
happen in the Muslim world.)
Here is a critical question: Can the Ethiopian government and westerns achieve their demand
by fostering “Ahbash” as a representative of Ethiopian Muslims? It is difficult to answer. But I
boldly say for myself “this will be a short existing deal”. I have three reasons to say so. One is
that “Ahbash” is intolerant of others by its nature. Its easily issued “fatwas” which label a
Muslim “infidel” can’t allow it to live long in its current state. Second, the world wide “fatwas”
issued on the “doctrines” and movements of “Ahbash” can’t make the path easy for the group.
We know that “Ahbash” is declared “Non- Islamic” and “a deviant group” by both Sunni and
Shi’a scholars. Third is its controversial nature which alarmed many Muslims to be suspicious of
its activities. For example, the group has strong collaboration history with non-Muslims than
the Muslims (many Ethiopian Muslims already went on saying “it’s a Jewish driven faction”).
Accordingly, it seems to me that by selecting “Ahbash” as a representative of all Muslims, the
Ethiopian government and its western allies can not achieve their objective of “checking back
Militant Islamism in Ethiopia” at a minimum cost. We will see the validity of my claim in the
next few years.
Ubah A. Seid