The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, at the weekend said Muslims were not terrorists, insisting that Islam “is a religion of peace.”
The Sultan stated this while speaking at the commissioning of Bodija Estate and Environs Mosque and the Islamic Centre in Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
He said it would be wrong for anyone to be linking act of terrorism such as those of the Boko Haram sect with Islam as a religion because there was no basis for such insinuations, adding that “terrorism is anti-Islam hence terrorists should simply be so tagged without any reference of them to the religion of Islam.”
He emphasised that there was the need for Muslims to do whatever they could to change the misconceptions about Islam and violence by continuing to live peacefully with non-Muslims in their respective domains as well as preaching the religion in peaceful ways as stated in the holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.
He said: “We cannot force anybody to accept Islam. Our behaviour will make people want to come to us and emulate what we do. Therefore, as Muslims, we must live above board and do the right things in our political and private offices.”
The Sultan pleaded for justice and peaceful co-existence amongst Nigerians, irrespective of their religious or political leaning, adding that Nigerians should no longer allow ethnic rivalries to cause division amongst them.
He urged Muslims to always emulate the act of Prophet Mohammed in their daily activities, stressing that government at all levels in the country should make justice their watchwords for “Nigeria as a country to continue to witness the much-needed peace and unity.”
“In this part of the world, our revered leaders should place high premium on justice and transparency because justice is the foundation of any government. A nation cannot endure on injustice. We have to live by example by adhering strictly to the tenets of Islam. We have to act what we say as people are looking at us.”
The Sultan then expressed his readiness towards ensuring promotion of peace and stability in Nigeria as well as his commitment to freedom of religion as enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.
