Respect other faiths, Sultan urges Muslims
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said nobody should be forced to embrace Islam, urging Muslims to respect the rights and freedoms of people of other faiths.
The Sultan spoke on Thursday at the NSCIA General Assembly held at the National Mosque, Abuja, against the backdrop of the security, social and economic challenges confronting Nigeria and the wider world.
He said Muslims had a responsibility to contribute to national development while respecting the freedom of others to practise their respective religions.
“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.
He described the assembly, which was held about seven years after the council’s last general meeting, as an opportunity for Muslim leaders from across the country to exchange ideas and strengthen their unity.
“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.
The Sultan urged Muslim leaders to remain united and conscious of their responsibilities to the country, stressing the need for Muslims to contribute positively to national development.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, called on Muslim parents to prioritise the education of their children in both Islamic and Western education.
Oloyede said the educational disadvantage in many predominantly Muslim states remained a concern, urging the current generation to address the challenge.
“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states. The current generation must be sound in both Islamic and Western education,” he said.
He also advocated greater representation of qualified Muslims in the media and employment, urging Muslim leaders to support competent members of the community for key positions.
On the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Oloyede questioned the continued involvement of government in organising the exercise, saying its role should largely be limited to facilitating the pilgrimage.
He also cautioned against government sponsorship of individuals who could not afford to undertake the pilgrimage.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, urged Muslims to promote unity, excellence, prudence and commitment while serving in positions of responsibility.
Shehu cited Oloyede’s tenure at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board as an example of the standard of service Muslims should strive to achieve.
He said Nigerians who performed their duties diligently in their respective positions would contribute to making the country better for everyone.
Credit – punch
