Islamic scholars and clerics have declared that Islam and terrorism have no connection, urging Nigerians to reject narratives that associate criminal violence with the religion. They said banditry, terrorism, and other violent crimes contradict the core teachings of Islam.
The scholars spoke at the 17th Annual Islamic International Conference organised by Daaru Na’im Academy for Shariah Sciences in Lagos. At the event, they unanimously condemned attempts to portray Islam as a source of crime, injustice, or evil.
Islam and terrorism debate addressed at major conference
The four-day conference, themed “The Jurisprudence of the Sound Creed and Contemporary Challenges,” attracted over 20,000 participants from Nigeria and other countries. Clerics, academics, and religious leaders gathered to examine challenges confronting Muslim communities in modern society.
Discussions focused on strengthening sound Islamic beliefs while addressing issues such as extremism, moral decay, and social vices. Speakers stressed that false associations between Islam and terrorism damage national cohesion and deepen religious mistrust.
Participants warned that linking Islam to violent crimes fuels prejudice and intolerance. According to them, such narratives harm peaceful coexistence and distract from addressing the real causes of insecurity in Nigeria.
Islamic leaders call for tolerance and unity
The conference convener, Dr Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, said the gathering aimed to reinforce authentic Islamic teachings amid changing social behaviours. He warned against groups that claim Islamic identity but act contrary to its principles.
“This challenge is further compounded by discourses hostile to the sound creed, propagated by groups that claim affiliation with Islam and the qiblah, yet remain far removed from the true methodology of Islam in belief and actions,” Eleha said.
Guest speakers, including Professor Abdul Mojeed Alaro and the Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Kamaldeen Abdulateef, urged Nigerians of all faiths to embrace tolerance and mutual respect. They said unity remains critical in tackling insecurity nationwide.
Islam founded on peace, scholars stress
Also speaking, Dr Hamad Al-Wuhaybi, representing Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, alongside Uganda’s Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Mohammad Ali Wahiso, reaffirmed that Islam stands for peace, justice, and the sanctity of human life.
They stressed that terrorism and banditry violate Islamic teachings and should never be linked to the religion. According to them, addressing insecurity requires cooperation, understanding, and rejection of religious stereotyping.
