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| Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, at a news briefing in Ilorin, Kwara State...Thursday |
PRESS STATEMENT
REPEL EVIL WITH A BETTER ATTITUDE
The
Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the
leadership of the President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji
Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, notes with distress the unfortunate
and unprovoked attacks on Muslims and the Central Mosque of Onitsha,
Anambra State, yesterday, Wednesday, December 2, 2015.
The
perpetrators of the dastardly acts, which culminated in the loss of
lives and burning of trucks owned by a prominent Muslim businessman
only sought to provoke inter-religious crises and thereby get Nigeria
further embroiled in needless bloodletting. Muslims, must as a matter of
principle, resist the temptation of being drawn to retaliation. They
should consider the perpetrators as criminals and not representative of
any ethnic or religious group.
The
NSCIA is fully aware of the development and is working round the clock
to put the situation under control. Muslims are warned against the
antics of those who seek to whip up religious sentiments to further
their clandestine political motives. Vengeance is for Allah and Muslims
should exercise maximum restraint in these trying times.
We
call on Muslim brothers and sisters not to embark on reprisals attacks
on Christians and their places of worship in any part of Nigeria. We are
already engaged in discussions with various security and relevant
government agencies to forestall further aggravation of the situation.
We
also call on all religious and interfaith organizations across the
country to step-up their peace-building initiatives in order to support
the government and strengthen the enabling climate peace and good
relationships.
In addition, we want to request all Imams and
Muslim scholars to cooperate with the Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs in dowsing the tension created by the unfortunate
incidence.
Meanwhile, we
wish to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the relevant
security agencies to take urgent and appropriate steps to safeguard the
lives of Muslims brothers and sisters and any other vulnerable community
living in any part of the country.
In
line with our religious injunctions, preserving a single life is
similar to preserving the lives of the whole of humanity. We should not
allow the current unfortunate development to negatively affect
interfaith relationship between Muslims and Christians in this country
which is needed for the achievement of peace and development of our
nation.
In the same vein, we want to appeal to various groups
and organisations to always resort to the use the appropriate channels
provided by the constitution, the law and our democratic structure for
resolving any grievances.
We
also call on the government to investigate the incidences surrounding
the killings and wanton destruction of the mosque in Onitsha and bring
the perpetrators to justice.
We
pray for God’s continued guidance and support of our leaders and the
citizens of Nigeria in the effort towards building a nation where peace
and justice shall reign.
Importantly,
Muslims are enjoined to heed the call of Allah by upholding the virtues
that guard against the demolition of “monasteries, synagogues and
mosques in which Allah is much mentioned” (Q 22:40). They should
remember that the position of Islam is that the unsavoury development
requires reflection. The consequences of swallowing the bait of drawing
Muslims into the hideous agenda would only be disastrous. Therefore, the
key words are patience, steadfastness, discipline, restrain and
prayers.
Allah says in
the Glorious Quran, “The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal.
Repel the evil with one which is better. Then, verily, he between whom
and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was a close friend.”
(Q41: 34). Allah thus commands the believers to be patient when they
feel angry, be forbearing when confronted with ignorance and to forgive
when they are ill-treated. It is by doing these that Allah will stand by
them.
The NSCIA calls on all Chief Imams to utilise the
Minbar tomorrow to preach, peace, justice and restraints. Two wrongs do
not make a right. Innocent persons should not be made to suffer as a
result of the act of few misguided individuals.
The NSCIA is
confident of the capacity of the state to put the situation under
control. As Prophet Muhammad (SAW), said, “There is no better punishment
for one who has disobeyed Allah with regard to you than your obeying
Allah with regard to him.”
Prof. Is-haq O.Oloyede, OFR,
Secretary-General, NSCIA
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