Sultan of Sokoto and President General Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muhammad Sa’ad Thursday advised Muslims across the country not to allow themselves to be provoked into taking up arms on any issue.
The Sultan gave the plea while speaking at the formal opening ceremony of the 108th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) B zone Km 30, Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.
Sa’ad said there was need for peace and unity to continue to reign supreme in and across the country at this particular period.
In an apparent reference to comments by some Nigerians and groups on the remarks by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed on the need to improve the status of Islamic law by amending the relevant provisions of Islamic law, the monarch said there was no basis for Muslims to be provoked with such comments.
What CJN said
Speaking recently at the 20th annual judges’ conference at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the CJN said there was need for the amendment of the constitution to accommodate more aspects of the Shari’a law.
He spoke on the theme: ‘Documentation of contracts in Islamic Law: Procedure, sample precedents and practice.’
Represented by Niger state Grand Khadi Muhammad Danjuma, the CJN urged academics to champion the cause of redesigning the methods of teaching Shari’a law.
“As we all know, there are sections of the constitution that allow the implementation of Shari’a personal law and apart from that, we cannot do more.
“However, we have the number to amend the constitution to suit our own position as Muslims,” the CJN had said.
His position drew mixed reactions from some interest groups.
For instance, while the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called for his resignation, major Muslim groups insisted the CJN’s position was in order.
Sultan cautions
Speaking for the first time on the controversy, Sultan Sa’ad said: “I want to urge every Muslims not to allow themselves to be provoked by any statement from anyone to the extent of taking arms against fellow human beings. I want us all to at all times, abide by the laws of the land.” he said.
Sultan Sa’ad called on Muslims across the country to, at all times, abide by the laws of the land even while agitating for their rights.
Also speaking, Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi underscored the need for unity to reign supreme among Muslims across the country for a purposeful course.
He said time had come for Muslims in Nigeria to understand one another and be together, saying “unity gives strength.”
The royal father lamented the level of poverty in the country, especially as it affects some of the northern parts of country.
He, however, frowned at a situation whereby some parents failed at providing adequate care for their children by marrying many wives and having many children which they cannot take good care of.
In his remarks, Oyo state Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan charged Muslim leaders across the state to ensure the return of at least 10 school age Muslim children in their areas back to the public school in the state.
Earlier in his address, Amir/Coordinator of the MSSN B zone, Mr. Quasim Odedeji, said there were areas of the Islamic law that required improvement in the nation’s constitution. “One of the areas that need improvement as rightly stated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria is the provision for appointment of minimum of three Justices of the Court of Appeal that are learned in Islamic law to handle cases where issues of Islamic law is raised.”
