Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has denied claims that he harbours hostility towards Christians, insisting that controversial remarks attributed to him following a mass wedding ceremony in Kano were misinterpreted.
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Jingir, who had come under criticism over comments made at a Kano State Government-organised mass wedding involving 1,500 couples, said his remarks were never intended to express hatred towards Christians or adherents of other religions.
He spoke on Sunday in Jos at a one-day national symposium themed “Enhanced Political Participation and Social Justice as a Panacea for Unity and Development in Nigeria.”
The Islamic cleric said reports portraying him as hostile to Christians were false.
“A lot of people are saying I dislike Christians. I didn’t say I dislike Christians. It is a lie. My remarks were misinterpreted,” Jingir said.
According to him, Islamic teachings do not permit leaders to discriminate against or cheat people on account of their religious beliefs.
“Leadership in Islam is not about cheating people of different faiths. Islam teaches us to share love with people of different faiths or sects,” he stated.
Jingir further argued that Islam places a duty of fairness on Muslims in their dealings with non-Muslims, saying a Muslim who cheats a non-Muslim would be answerable before God.
He also cited the example of Prophet Muhammad, saying the Prophet lived peacefully with non-Muslims and demonstrated coexistence and fairness in his dealings with people of different faiths.
Extending the message to political leadership, Jingir called on President Bola Tinubu, state governors and other public office holders to govern Nigerians fairly irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
“I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to cheat non-Muslims and Muslims alike,” he said.
“I also call on you not to cheat those who are not in the same political party with you. You should lead with justice and fairness to all Nigerians.”
The cleric maintained that political differences should not become a basis for discrimination and that citizens should be free to make electoral choices according to their conscience.
“Everyone has the right to vote for whoever he feels is okay with him to vote for during an election,” he said.
Jingir also appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace, unity and peaceful coexistence, warning that meaningful development would be impossible in an atmosphere of religious or political division.
According to him, national progress depends on people of different backgrounds living together peacefully and respecting one another’s rights.
His clarification comes after his remarks at the Kano mass wedding generated criticism from some quarters, with commentators interpreting them as divisive along religious lines.
Jingir, however, maintained that such interpretations did not reflect his intention, insisting that his message was consistent with Islamic teachings on justice, fairness and peaceful coexistence.
He urged Nigerians to avoid allowing religious, ethnic or political differences to undermine national unity, stressing that peace remained fundamental to development.
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