The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said conversion to Islam must be voluntary, stressing that the religion does not permit coercion in matters of faith.
Abubakar, who is President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, made the declaration at the council’s General Assembly at the National Mosque in Abuja.
He said many people had accepted Islam by choice and cited the Islamic teaching that there should be no compulsion in religion.
The Sultan also urged Muslims and Christians to treat one another with respect and avoid insults capable of deepening religious tensions.
Speaking at a separate International Conference on National Security for Socio-economic Development, he said adherents of both faiths had a responsibility to promote peaceful relations.
Jama’atu Izalatil Bidiah wa Iqamatis Sunnah organised the conference in collaboration with the Muslim World League of Saudi Arabia.
Abubakar urged both sides to abandon claims of superiority and recognise the dignity of every person before God.
Meanwhile, NSCIA Secretary-General Prof. Ishaq Oloyede called on Muslim parents to provide their children with both Islamic and Western education.
He expressed concern that several Muslim-majority states remained educationally disadvantaged and said young people needed the knowledge and skills required to contribute to national development.
Oloyede also urged greater participation by qualified Muslims in the media and other professional sectors, calling on leaders to promote competent candidates for important positions.
On Hajj administration, he questioned the extent of government involvement in organising the pilgrimage and argued that public authorities should concentrate largely on facilitation.
He also cautioned against government sponsorship of individuals who lacked the financial means to undertake the pilgrimage.
