The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said nobody should be forced to embrace Islam, stressing the importance of respecting the religious freedom of people of other faiths.
The Sultan stated this while addressing the NSCIA General Assembly at the National Mosque in Abuja.
He said Islam does not support compulsion in matters of faith, adding that people should be allowed to make their religious choices freely.
“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam,” the Sultan said.
“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.”
Also speaking at the gathering, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, called on Muslim parents to ensure their children receive both Islamic and Western education.
Oloyede also advocated greater participation of Muslims in the media and employment sectors, urging Muslim leaders to ensure that qualified members of the community are considered for key positions.
“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states,” he said, stressing the need for the current generation to be adequately educated in both Islamic and Western education.
The NSCIA Secretary-General also questioned the continued involvement of government in organising the annual Hajj pilgrimage, arguing that the government’s role should be limited to facilitating the exercise.
He cautioned against the use of public resources to sponsor people who could not afford to undertake the pilgrimage.
The Sultan’s latest comments on religious freedom came weeks after he appealed to Christians and Muslims to avoid provocative or insulting remarks against one another.
Speaking in Abuja at the International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development, organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia, the Sultan called for mutual respect between adherents of both faiths.
“We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims,” he said.
“Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we live in peace.”
The Sultan further said neither Christians nor Muslims should regard themselves as superior to one another, maintaining that all people are equal before God.
