…urges muslim to defend religious freedom, respect rights of others

…Muslim children need both Islamic, Western education, Oloyede says

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said no one should be forced to embrace Islam, stressing that the religion does not support coercion in matters of faith.

The Sultan made the declaration on Thursday while speaking at the General Assembly of the NSCIA, held at the Conference Room of the National Mosque, Abuja.

He said Muslims should be allowed to practise their religion without hindrance, while respecting the rights and freedoms of people of other faiths.

“What we need in this country and anywhere else is for us, as Muslims, to be allowed to practise our religion without hindrance,” he said.

The Sultan stressed that Muslims had no intention of forcing anyone to convert to Islam, saying those who embrace the religion should do so willingly.

“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,” he said.

He urged Muslims to support those who voluntarily embrace Islam and assist them in practising their faith.

The Sultan also called on Muslims to remain united and conscious of their responsibilities, given the challenges confronting Nigeria and the wider world.

He said the General Assembly, coming about seven years after the council’s last such meeting, provided an opportunity for Muslim leaders from across the country to exchange ideas and strengthen their bonds as “one big family of Islam”.

He explained that although the council had continued to hold expanded General Purpose Committee meetings, certain decisions and engagements could only be undertaken through a properly constituted General Assembly.

“All of you are aware why we didn’t hold General Assembly for some few years. But we’ve been holding expanded General Purpose Committee meetings,” he said.

The Sultan attributed the prolonged absence of the assembly partly to financial constraints, saying the council had sought assistance to enable it to continue fulfilling its responsibilities to the Muslim Ummah.

He said the current assembly was particularly important given the prevailing situation in the country and around the world.

“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 Muslims not to remain passive when issues affecting their faith and welfare arise, but to engage constructively in protecting their religious interests.

He also called for humility and equality among Muslims, stressing that all people were equal before Almighty Allah and that piety remained the true measure of a person’s worth.

“The best amongst us is he who is most pious,” he said.

He urged Muslim leaders and members of the Ummah to continue serving humanity, whether publicly or quietly, noting that acts of service did not have to be publicised to be valuable.

According to him, some of the most meaningful contributions to Islam and society were carried out quietly without seeking recognition or praise.

The Sultan commended Muslim leaders and members of the Ummah for their contributions to the development of Islam and society, saying their efforts, whether publicly acknowledged or carried out privately, were known to Almighty Allah.

Speaking, Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, urged Muslim leaders and parents to ensure that children receive both Islamic and Western education, saying the two forms of learning were important to preparing the younger generation for contemporary society.

Oloyede made the call yesterday while speaking at the NSCIA General Assembly held at the National Mosque, Abuja.

He said the Muslim community needed to pay greater attention to education, particularly in states where educational disadvantage remained pronounced.

“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states. The current generation must be sound in both Islamic and Western education,” he said.

Oloyede also called for greater Muslim representation in the media, urging the community to establish platforms and institutions capable of presenting its perspectives and contributing to national discourse.

He said Muslims were also underrepresented in employment and urged Muslim political leaders to ensure that qualified members of the community were considered for key positions.

The former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said Muslims must demonstrate excellence and competence in whatever responsibilities they were entrusted with, in order to contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

On Hajj, Oloyede questioned the continued involvement of government in organising the pilgrimage, arguing that the government should concentrate on facilitating the exercise.

He stressed that Hajj was not compulsory for anyone who lacked the financial means to undertake the pilgrimage, cautioning against situations where people were sponsored to Hajj only to return to economic hardship.

Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, also called on Muslims to unite and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

Shehu, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the General Assembly, said Muslims could only contribute effectively to national development when they were united and committed to their responsibilities.

He urged Muslims occupying positions of responsibility to demonstrate excellence, prudence and commitment, saying their conduct should reflect the values taught by Islam.

Shehu cited Oloyede’s service at JAMB as an example of the excellence and responsibility Muslims should strive to demonstrate in public service.

He said Oloyede’s conduct at the institution had not only made Muslims proud but also demonstrated that Nigerians could excel when entrusted with responsibility.

He urged Muslims in positions of authority to emulate such standards and demonstrate the values of Islam through their work.

According to him, if Nigerians performed their responsibilities diligently and responsibly in their respective positions, the country would be better for all.