Killing for blasphemy is not permitted in Islam, according to Yorubaland’s Waziri Muminina Ustaz Abdul-Lateef Adekilekun.
Adekilekun described Islam as a religion of peace rather than violence while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Ede.
The butcher, Usman Buda, was stoned to death on Sunday in Sokoto State after he allegedly blasphemed against the Holy Prophet Muhammad during a dispute with another trader in a marketplace. The butcher’s death was a result of his alleged words.
The butcher’s killing was taking place against the backdrop of Usman Buda’s murder.
The cleric claims that even though Islam forbids blasphemy, there are established procedures to deal with a blasphemer rather than killing them.
Adekilekun emphasized the need for increased awareness and education about how Islam wanted a blasphemer to be treated and noted that ignorance was one of the causes of people killing others for blasphemy.
“I recall reading a book and learning in class exactly 61 years ago that anyone who accused Prophet Muhammad should be executed”.
But that book is neither a hadith nor the Qur’an. It is merely a book written by a purported jurist. Ignorance is a problem in Nigeria.
“Ignorance is the root cause of blasphemy in Nigeria, which is primarily from the north of the country”.
In the south, where enlightenment and awareness are more pronounced, you hardly ever hear of such things, the man said.
Adekilekun, however, applauded the Federal Government for its efforts in fusing Islamic-oriented education with Western education through the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies for proper understanding of religion.
According to the cleric, the government is making every effort to streamline Arabic schools in accordance with the 6-3-3-4 system of education in an effort to lower the number of children who are not enrolled in school.
“Prime Minister Muhammadu Buhari signed a bill into law that would have established a commission to assist Almajiri and out-of-school children before he left office. I want to suggest to the current administration to promote awareness of this.
“Islam is a very wealthy religion that promotes peace. Islam teaches history and mathematics among other things, but those who don’t know enough about Islam always rely on hearsay when making decisions”, he said.
The installation of a second Waziri of Yorubaland by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, was deemed unlawful by Adekilekun, who is also the Grand Mufassir of Edeland.
The League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest Nigeria, he claimed, had installed and recognized him as the Waziri of Yorubaland.
