Sultan: No Nigerian Should Be Forced Into Islam, Says Religious Freedom Must Be Respected

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared that nobody should be forced to embrace Islam, stressing that Muslims must respect the rights and freedoms of adherents of other faiths.

The Sultan made the declaration on Thursday while speaking at the NSCIA General Assembly held at the National Mosque in Abuja.

He said Islam should be embraced voluntarily, stressing that there was no compulsion in religion.

“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam,” the Sultan said.

He added, “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.”

The Sultan’s position comes against the backdrop of recurring concerns over religious intolerance and tensions between adherents of different faiths in parts of the country.

He urged Muslims to uphold religious freedom while respecting the rights of people who profess other religions.

The monarch had also recently called on Christians and Muslims to end mutual insults and embrace tolerance as a pathway to peaceful coexistence.

Speaking in Abuja at an International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah, in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia, the Sultan said religious tolerance was essential to maintaining peace in Nigeria.

According to him, adherents of both religions should refrain from actions capable of deepening religious divisions.

“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.

Meanwhile, the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has called for greater investment in the education of Muslim children, urging parents to ensure that their children acquire both Islamic and Western education.

Oloyede said the current generation must be equipped with knowledge capable of preparing them for contemporary challenges while remaining grounded in Islamic teachings.

“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states,” he said.

“The current generation must be sound in both Islamic and Western education.”

The former Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board registrar also called for stronger Muslim representation in the media and employment, urging Muslim leaders to ensure that qualified members of the community were considered for appropriate positions.

He, however, stressed the importance of qualification, saying the Muslim community needed educated and competent people capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.

Oloyede also questioned the continued involvement of government in the organisation of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.