JIHAD IN ISLAM NOT MEANT TO KILL NON-MUSLIMS, SULTAN DISPELS MISCONCEPTIONS
By: Sefiu Ajape
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has clarified that Jihad in Islam is not about killing non-Muslims but about striving for excellence in all aspects of life.
Speaking in Abuja at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), the Sultan said the concept had been grossly misinterpreted.
“Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim by a Muslim. Jihad means to strive, and in whatever you do in life, you strive to be the best you can be.
“You strive to be a good Muslim, you strive to be a good Christian, you strive to be a good farmer, or a good engineer.
“So, Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim; that’s a wrong notion people have been airing out for decades,” he stated.
As Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, the Sultan warned against extremism, stressing that Islam is guided by clear codes.
“We have a code of conduct; we have ways and means of life; the Holy Quran and the Hadith of our most noble Prophet (SA), and the consensus of the Ulama, that is, the clerics.
“These are the three things guiding us. Anybody coming outside these to say things that he really doesn’t know about is not for Islam because Islam abhors extremism.
“You cannot be an extremist and then claim to be a good Muslim,” he said.
He further noted that Islamism was not about capturing political power.
“Islamism is not aimed at seizing power at any particular forum. Islam is after good governance in society,” he said.
Recalling past controversies, the monarch explained that his comments on Islam and leadership had sometimes been wrongly interpreted as political.
“In September 2019, I gave a talk on Islam and good governance in Nigeria. President Buhari was just going for his second term.
“After giving my talk, the following day, the papers carried it [that] I was aiming at President Buhari’s second term because I said things that a good Muslim should do as a leader and what he should not do,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to exercise caution in their remarks on religion and insecurity, stressing the need for unity.
“So, let’s come closer as one big family with different backgrounds to forge ahead to make this country a better country, because there is nothing anybody can do,” he added.
The Sultan also commended Gen. Irabor for sharing his experiences as a military officer who played a key role in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
