The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday said there was no plan by the Muslims in Nigeria to Islamise the country by force.
Abubakar made the statement in Abuja at the 2012 national symposium of Nasrul-lahil-l- fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), saying the insinuations about the issue were not true.
The symposium has as its theme, “Islam and Peaceful Co-existence in a Contemporary Multi- Religious Society ‘’.
He reiterated that Islam was for peace and not a religion spread by force, but by conviction as contained both in the Qur’an and the sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“Let me emphasise here that Muslims are not having any plan to Islamise Nigerians by force. What Islam stands for is peace and nothing more.”
Abubakar, who was the chairman of the occasion, said Muslims would continue to relate with non-Muslims with love and good deeds as preached by the religion.
The Islamic leader advised religious leaders to stop inflammatory comments capable of causing disunity among the adherents of the various religions in the country.
“I must tell you that there is no such agenda to Islamise Nigeria. Leaders should stop such comments. It heats up the polity and hurts the sensibility of Muslims.”
“As a soldier, I know the meaning of plan, all the Muslim leaders in this country are seated here and if there is any of such plan, we should know about it.”
He said there had been misconception and misinterpretation of the concept of Jihad in Islam as fighting or killing people who refused to accept Islam.
The Sultan said it was wrong to attribute Jihad to war.
Abubakar, who condemned the activities of those who indulged in violence, urged the Federal Government to ensure adequate protection of Nigerians. ?
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