Prominent Islamic scholars who attended the 12th Annual International Conference organised by Daaru-Naim Academy for Sharia Sciences in Nigeria have called on Muslims in Nigeria to consider their involvement in politics as religious devotion.
In a communique at the end of the conference, made available to Muslim News on Friday, Muslim scholars are also urged to expand discussions over the Islamic perspective of governance in a bid to achieve political orientation and give Muslims proper awareness of new trends in politics.
The theme of the conference, held in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd January 2022, was “The Islamic System of Governance: Insight and Dynamics in the Nigerian Milieu.’’
Muslim News gathered that no fewer than twelve thousand participants attended the conference, which focused on the Islamic perspective of politics and discourse of its theoretical framework within the variables and peculiarities of the Nigerian environment.
Daaru-Naim in the communiqué, rendered into English by Dr. Nafiu Ahmad Al-Jawhari, Department of Islamic Studies, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin-Nigeria, affirmed that the concept of politics in Islam includes all juristic efforts aimed at regulating the administration of the state and bringing welfare to the masses, provided that such efforts do not clash with the principles of Islam.
Read the full communique below:
Communiqué of the International Conference themed: ‘The Islamic System of Governance: Insight and Dynamics in the Nigerian Milieu’’ organized by Daaru-Naim Academy for Sharia Sciences in Nigeria, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd January 2022
All praise is due to Allah; the Lord of the Worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the best among mankind, his household and companions.
Daaru-Naim Academy for Sharia Sciences in Nigeria organized an international academic conference with the theme: “The Islamic System of Governance: Insight and Dynamics in the Nigerian Milieu’ ” in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd January 2022. The conference was attended by His Excellency, the Honorable Minister of Interior in Nigeria, Mr Abdul Rauf Aregbesola and the representative of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Mr Abdul-Gani Ayub. Other eminent guests were distinguished and high-profiled international scholars from Arab and African countries such as Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt, in addition to several scholars, imams, academicians, leaders of Islamic organizations and state officials. The number of participants at the conference was approximately Twelve Thousand.
The conference focused on the Islamic perspective of politics and discourse of its theoretical framework within the variables and peculiarities of the Nigerian environment. The activities of the conference included four sessions and a panel discussion. It also discussed the most prominent problems and challenges that impede the effective participation of Muslim scholars in particular, and Muslims in general, in the politics of Nigeria and other neighbouring African countries.
Among the most important recommendations which the conference arrived at are the following:
1. The conference affirms that the concept of politics in Islam includes all juristic efforts aimed at regulating the administration of the state and bringing welfare to the masses, provided that such efforts do not clash with the principles of Islam.
2. The conference urges Muslim scholars to expand discussions over the Islamic perspective of governance in a bid to achieve political orientation and give Muslims proper awareness of new trends in politics.
3. The conference calls on Muslims in Nigeria to give consideration to all the means of propagating their faith, including politics and state administration, and to regard their involvement in politics as a religious devotion.
4. The conference demands for the official recognition of Muslim scholars and students of Shari’ah as prominent stakeholders in the state with guaranteed rights and duties; being specialists in Shari’ah does not discredit their relevance in the political terrain.
5. The conference affirms that correct creed and belief is the only means to sound religiosity; while a patriotic citizen is a child-birth of sound religiosity.
6. The conference requests for special appreciation by the Nigerian authority of the vital role played by Muslim scholars, most especially the graduates of Arab and Islamic universities, in the maintenance of security, community stability, orientating the next generation and guiding the youths. These are in exclusion to the roles being played by other Muslim preachers in correcting misconceptions and galvanizing the masses towards supporting the policies and projects of the government.
7. The conference advocates for the establishment of a local body consisting of Muslim scholars and experienced politicians with the mandate of monitoring the status of Muslims’ political participation and related issues.
8. The conference advocates for the specification of the mandate of the recommended local body mentioned above; such that will include screening the Muslim candidates vying for elective positions and preparing a guiding framework for Muslim politicians.
9. The conference stresses the need for Muslims in Nigeria to have a national body that oversees religious affairs under government supervision.
10. The conference calls on the Nigerian authorities to protect basic human freedom rights, especially the right to wear the Hijab and the face-veil for Muslim women in all state parastatals.
11. The conference urges the constituted authorities and politicians to adopt an open-door and transparent policy which make the government accessible to the masses.
12. The conference calls on Muslim preachers and propagators to strongly improve on their sermon and communication approach and to refrain from insulting and cursing the constituted authorities and politicians.
13. The conference calls on the constituted authorities and political bodies to give more recognition to Muslim clerics and students of Shariah through the adoption of building capacity programmes aimed at efficient employment of their services in society.
14. The conferees extend their appreciation to His Excellency, the Honourable Minister of Interior in Nigeria, Mr Abdul Rauf Aregbesola for his support and presence at the conference, and also to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State for honouring the gathering with inaugurating the activities of the conference.
15. The conferees also express their deep gratitude and appreciation to Daaru-Naim Academy for Sharia Sciences, under the auspices of its President and General Coordinator of the conference, Sheikh Imran Abdul Majeed Eleha, and to all those who assisted him and participated in planning and organizing the conference. May Allah crown their efforts with success.
– Rendered into English by Dr Nafiu Ahmad Al-Jawhari, Department of Islamic Studies, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin-Nigeria
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