As the Muslim community prepares for the holy month of Ramadan, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called for greater unity and integrity among Islamic scholars.
Speaking at the annual pre-Ramadan meeting in Kaduna on Monday, the President-General of JNI, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, appealed for cohesion within the Muslim community.
The meeting, themed “Social Media and Islamic Scholarship: Causes of Conflict among Muslim Scholars”, addressed issues surrounding the role of scholars in today’s digital age.
The Sultan urged Muslims to unite under one banner, despite differing views and interpretations of Islam.
He emphasized the need for Muslims to work together in the service of Islam, stressing, “We must not allow our differences to divide us to the point of insulting each other.”
He further noted that no one person holds a monopoly on knowledge, stating, “Whatever you think or know, someone else knows better than you.”
The Sultan highlighted the importance of adhering to proper ethical guidelines, ensuring that Islamic scholarship remains constructive and that the Ramadan experience is positive for all.
Earlier, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, the Secretary-General of JNI, underscored the critical role of scholars in promoting unity and understanding within the Muslim community.
He urged scholars to follow proper scholarly ethics, avoid personal biases, and refrain from spreading sectarian ideologies.
Prof. Aliyu also addressed the impact of social media, which, while providing scholars with a platform to share teachings widely, has also facilitated the spread of misinformation and divisive views.
He emphasized that JNI has implemented guidelines for Tafsir sessions to ensure adherence to ethical standards and prevent sectarianism. He called on scholars to prioritize wisdom, humility, and avoid public disputes, focusing instead on spreading a positive and uplifting message.
The importance of unity and integrity among Muslim scholars, according to Aliyu, cannot be overstated. The meeting was attended by several prominent Emirs, Islamic scholars, and academics from across the country.
NAN
