The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said Muslims should not force anyone to embrace Islam, stressing the need to respect the rights and religious freedoms of people of other faiths.
The Sultan made the statement on Thursday while speaking at the NSCIA General Assembly held at the National Mosque in Abuja.
He spoke against the backdrop of challenges facing Nigeria and other parts of the world, urging Muslims to remain united, responsible and committed to contributing positively to national development.
“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam. But we have seen how many people have been joining Islam on their own free will because Almighty Allah said there is no compulsion in religion,” the Sultan said.
Sultan calls for unity among Muslims
The General Assembly, which was held about seven years after the council’s previous gathering of this nature, provided an opportunity for Muslim leaders from different parts of Nigeria to deliberate on issues affecting the community.
The Sultan said the gathering was also important for strengthening unity and relationships among Muslim leaders.
He urged Muslims to remain particularly attentive to developments in Nigeria and around the world, saying the community had an important role to play in addressing national challenges.
“It is coming at a time when we should be attentive; we should be a little more conscious because we all know the situation in the country, the situation in the world, and we Muslims have a lot of roles to play,” he said.
Oloyede urges Muslims to prioritise education
The Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, focused on education, calling on Muslim parents to ensure their children receive both Islamic and Western education.
Oloyede expressed concern over educational disadvantage in predominantly Muslim states and said the situation required urgent attention.
“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states. The current generation must be sound in both Islamic and Western education,” he said.
He also called for greater participation of qualified Muslims in the media and employment sectors.
Oloyede urged Muslim leaders to ensure that competent members of the community are given opportunities to occupy important positions based on their qualifications.
NSCIA questions government role in Hajj
Oloyede also raised questions about the continued involvement of government in the organisation of Hajj.
He argued that government’s responsibility should primarily be to facilitate the pilgrimage rather than directly organising it.
He also cautioned against using public resources to sponsor people who cannot independently afford to undertake the pilgrimage.
Shehu urges Muslims to show excellence
The Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Salisu Shehu, called on Muslims to remain united and demonstrate excellence, prudence and dedication whenever they are entrusted with responsibilities.
Shehu pointed to Oloyede’s service at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board as an example of the level of performance he said Muslims should strive to demonstrate.
He argued that Nigerians who diligently perform their responsibilities in different sectors can contribute to making the country better for everyone.
The assembly therefore ended with renewed calls for unity, education, responsible leadership and greater contributions to national development, alongside the Sultan’s message that religious belief should remain a matter of personal choice rather than coercion.
