The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has clarified that jihad in Islam does not mean killing non-Muslims, but striving to excel in one’s chosen endeavor.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd).
The Sultan, Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, said the concept of jihad has been widely misrepresented.
“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 said.
He stressed that Islam, guided by the Qur’an, Hadith, and scholarly consensus, rejects all forms of extremism. “You cannot be an extremist and claim to be a good Muslim,” he added.
The Sultan also dismissed claims that Islam is about seizing political power, saying its true essence lies in promoting good governance, justice, and accountability. He urged Nigerians to avoid divisive comments on religion and insecurity, emphasizing the importance of unity.
“We must come together as one family with different backgrounds to forge ahead and make this country better,” he said.
He commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experiences in the fight against insecurity, describing the book as a valuable contribution to Nigeria’s security discourse.
