The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said nobody should be forced to embrace Islam.
The Sultan made the statement during the NSCIA General Assembly at the National Mosque in Abuja. He also urged Muslims to respect the rights and freedoms of people who practise other religions.
The Sultan said conversion to Islam should happen through an individual’s free will. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
Sultan Speaks on Forced Conversion to Islam
The Sultan said Muslims should not use force to make people accept Islam. He added that many people have chosen to embrace the religion willingly.
“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam,” the Sultan said. He added that people have been joining Islam based on their own free will.
The Sultan also referenced the Islamic principle that there is no compulsion in religion. He stressed that Muslims should respect the rights and freedoms of people from other faiths.
The comments come as religious tolerance remains an important issue in Nigeria. The country has experienced recurring tensions involving people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
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Sultan Calls for Respect Between Christians and Muslims
The Sultan has also recently called on Christians and Muslims to avoid insulting one another. He made the appeal at an International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development in Abuja.
The conference was organised by Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS Nigeria) in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia. During the event, the Sultan urged followers of both religions to promote mutual respect.
“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.”
He also said neither Christians nor Muslims should consider themselves superior to the other. According to the Sultan, all people are equal before God.
His earlier comments also focused on the need for Nigerians to care for their neighbours regardless of religion or ethnicity. He urged citizens to focus on peaceful coexistence rather than deepening religious divisions.
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Oloyede Calls for Islamic and Western Education
The NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, also spoke at the general assembly. He called on Muslim parents to ensure their children receive both Islamic and Western education.
Oloyede said the combination of both forms of education would help prepare young people for contemporary society. He also highlighted educational disadvantages in several Muslim-majority states.
“The most educationally disadvantaged states are Muslim states,” Oloyede said. He added that the current generation must become sound in both Islamic and Western education.
Oloyede’s comments placed education among the major issues discussed at the NSCIA gathering. He also urged Muslim leaders to pay greater attention to educational development.
The NSCIA secretary-general further called for stronger participation by qualified Muslims in the media and employment sectors. He urged community leaders to ensure competent people receive consideration for important positions.
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Oloyede Questions Government Role in Hajj
Oloyede also raised questions about the government’s continued involvement in organising Hajj. He argued that government involvement should mainly focus on facilitating the pilgrimage.
He also cautioned against government sponsorship of people who cannot afford the pilgrimage. According to him, Muslims who lack the financial means to undertake Hajj should not be placed under pressure to make the journey.
Oloyede’s comments form part of the wider discussion about the role of government in religious affairs. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that religious activities do not push people into financial hardship.
The discussion comes as religious leaders continue to address issues affecting Muslims and the wider Nigerian society. The NSCIA leadership also used the assembly to highlight education, representation and peaceful coexistence.
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Sultan’s Message Comes Amid Religious Tensions
The Sultan’s latest remarks come amid recurring concerns about religious intolerance in Nigeria. Religious leaders have continued to call for greater understanding between different faith communities.
His recent appeal for Christians and Muslims to stop insulting one another also reflects this concern. The Sultan said mutual respect remains important to maintaining peace.
He has also spoken against religious superiority. His position is that neither Muslims nor Christians should regard themselves as better than others.
Nigeria’s religious diversity makes interfaith relations an important part of national discussions. Calls for tolerance have therefore featured regularly in conversations about peace and national unity.
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Sultan Urges Muslims to Respect Other Faiths
The Sultan’s statement at the NSCIA assembly focused on freedom of religious choice. He said Muslims should not force people from other faiths to embrace Islam.
He also pointed to voluntary conversion as the basis for people who choose to become Muslims. His comments placed individual choice at the centre of religious conversion.
The Sultan’s remarks have been reported by several Nigerian news organisations following the NSCIA gathering. The reports consistently quoted him as saying that nobody should be forced to join Islam.
The statement also adds to the Sultan’s recent public calls for religious tolerance. He has repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid actions that could worsen tensions between religious communities.
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NSCIA Highlights Muslim Participation in National Affairs
Beyond religious tolerance, Oloyede called for greater participation by qualified Muslims in national institutions. He specifically mentioned the media and employment sectors.
He urged Muslim leaders to ensure competent members of the community are considered for important roles. He also stressed that Muslims should demonstrate competence in positions they occupy.
The call for stronger participation came alongside his emphasis on education. Oloyede linked sound education with the ability of young Muslims to contribute effectively to national development.
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The NSCIA leadership’s comments therefore covered several areas beyond religious conversion. They included interfaith relations, education, employment, media representation and Hajj administration.
Religious Tolerance Remains a Key Issue
The Sultan’s comments highlight the importance of respecting religious freedom in a diverse country like Nigeria. His call against forced conversion was made alongside appeals for mutual respect between Christians and Muslims.
He also urged both groups to avoid insulting one another. According to his earlier remarks, peaceful coexistence requires people to respect their neighbours regardless of their faith.
The NSCIA general assembly also addressed the educational needs of Muslim communities. Oloyede called for young people to receive both Islamic and Western education.
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The assembly also featured discussions about Muslim representation in national institutions. Oloyede urged leaders to promote qualified members based on competence.
He also questioned the continued government role in organising Hajj. He said government should mainly facilitate the pilgrimage rather than sponsor people who cannot afford it.
Sultan Islam Conversion Message
The Sultan’s position is that nobody should be forced to convert to Islam. He said those who embrace the religion should do so through their own free will.
His comments also fit into his broader calls for peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims. He has urged both communities to avoid insults and reject claims of religious superiority.
The NSCIA leadership also used the Abuja gathering to discuss education and participation in national affairs. Oloyede urged Muslim parents to combine Islamic education with Western education while calling for greater representation of qualified Muslims in media and employment.
The remarks come as Nigerian religious leaders continue to discuss ways to strengthen tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The Sultan’s latest message places freedom of religious choice and mutual respect at the centre of that discussion.
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