Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), says nobody should be forced to embrace Islam.
He added that Muslims should respect the rights and freedoms of people of other faiths.
Abubakar spoke at the NSCIA general assembly at the National Mosque in Abuja.
“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam,” he said.
“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.”
Ishaq Oloyede, secretary-general of the NSCIA, urged Muslim parents to ensure their children receive both Islamic and Western education.
He also called for greater Muslim representation in the media and employment, urging Muslim leaders to ensure qualified members of the community are considered for key positions.
“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states,” he said.
“The current generation must be sound in both Islamic and Western education.”
Oloyede also questioned the continued involvement of the government in organising hajj, saying its role should be limited to facilitating the pilgrimage.
He cautioned against sponsoring people who cannot afford the journey.
The Sultan’s remarks come weeks after he urged Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to stop insulting one another, saying religious tolerance is essential to peaceful coexistence.
He spoke in Abuja at the International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development, organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia.
“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 said Muslims and Christians should not consider themselves superior to the other, noting that all people are equal before God.
