‘JIHAD IS TO STRIVE, NOT TO KILL’ — SULTAN OF SOKOTO
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By Sunmisola Shodayo
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has elucidated that jihad in Islam does not entail the killing of non-Muslims, but rather the pursuit of excellence in one’s selected vocation.
He articulated these observations on Thursday in Abuja during the public unveiling of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,’ authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd).
The Sultan, who serves as Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, indicated that the interpretation of jihad has been extensively mischaracterized.
“Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim. Jihad means to strive, to be a good Muslim, a good Christian, a good farmer, or a good engineer. The notion that it means killing non-Muslims has been wrongly propagated for decades,” he stated.
He emphasized that Islam, as dictated by the Qur’an, Hadith, and the consensus of scholars, repudiates any forms of extremism. “You cannot be an extremist and claim to be a good Muslim,” he remarked.
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The Sultan also refuted assertions that Islam is focused on acquiring political power, asserting that its true essence resides in the promotion of good governance, justice, and accountability. He urged Nigerians to refrain from divisive statements regarding religion and insecurity, highlighting the necessity of unity.
“We must come together as one family with different backgrounds to forge ahead and make this country better,” he stated.
He applauded Gen. Irabor for chronicling his experiences in the battle against insecurity, describing the book as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s security dialogue.
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