Chairman of Abuja Muslims Forum has said the rise of extremism and insurgency is as a result of wrongful practice of Islam and application of its tenets.
According to a statement credited to Chairman Investment Committee of Abuja Muslim Forum (AMF), Zulqarnain Abdul-Rahim, the cause of Boko Haram extremism is as a result of half knowledge and wrongful practice of Islam.
Abdul-Rahim made the disclosure during a visit to Leadership Group Corporate Headquarters in Abuja to commemorate the new Islamic year. He said that half knowledge of Islam and the wrong application of tenet of Islam is behind extremism in the country. He decried the lack of institutions for Islamic education in Nigeria capable of impacting Islamic knowledge on followers.
Abdul-Rahim observed that knowledge about Islam goes beyond acquiring a degree in Islamic studies. “Those who studied Islamic Studies as a degree, if checked the quantum of their knowledge is very little and also they are not exposed to leadership and management. They know only about religious teaching,” he said.
Adding his voice earlier, the assistant secretary general of the organisation, Muhammad Said their visit was part of preparation to the celebration of the Hijrah calendar which starts on Saturday. Shehu reminded Muslims that the Al-Muharram (the first month of Islam) is important to all Muslims because it marks the beginning of Islamic year in relation to the setting of modern government in history.
He urged all Muslims to be law abiding citizens of Nigeria and to live in peace with others to form a better and peaceful Nigeria. Shehu called on all Muslims to use the celebration as a time for togetherness, self-reflection and nation-building.