Fight those who try to stop you from practising Islam – Sultan of Sokoto charges Muslims

The President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims to fight any body or group that attempts to stop them from performing their religious obligations. This is as he cautioned Muslims in the country against forcefully converting people into Islam.

Sultan of  Sokoto addressing the press

He made the statement while speaking at a conference organised by Da’wah Co-ordination Council of Nigeria. The Sultan also warned Muslim clerics against preaching hate messages.

According to him, “When somebody or a group or some other nations decide to stop us from performing our religious obligations, we must never take laws into our hands. We must not be law officers. We do not do that in Islam. “We do not force anybody to join Islam. There is no compulsion in Islam.

“Our good deeds, good actions and good interactions as Muslims will give that very bright light to everybody what Islam is and that is what brings people to join us.

“Those who do not want to come as Muslims are free to stay with us and continue working with us to make this country a much better place.

“Whoever wants to fight you, do not fight him; leave him alone. Be very patient.

“The only thing that will make me to act or ask you to act is only when somebody or a group or some other nations decide to stop us from performing our religious obligations. That is the only way we can fight somebody.

“But if I am allowed to pursue my religious obligations, say my prayers and pay my zakat and so many other things, I have no problem with anybody. To you, your religion and to me, my religion.”