The Chief Imam of the DaaruNaim Central Mosque in Lagos, Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, spoke with The Punch about insecurity in the North, misconceptions surrounding Islam, and the motivations behind violent groups.
When questioned about the fact that some terrorists shout “Allahu Akbar” while committing acts of violence, and how that could be reconciled with Islam, he referenced historical precedents. He explained that, throughout history, there have always been extremist groups; such as the Khawarij mentioned by the Prophet; who misrepresent the faith. He recounted an incident in which a man falsely accused the Prophet of being unjust in distributing resources.
Although one of the Prophet’s companions, Umar, was ready to retaliate against the accuser, the Prophet intervened, cautioning restraint and demonstrating that wrongdoing by individuals should not be confused with the principles of Islam.
Further talking, he said, “The Prophet then said, ‘A time will come when the descendants of this man will pretend to be Muslims and will kill fellow Muslims and others.’ He added that they are from Hellfire and are not Muslims.”
He stressed that individuals who invoke “Allahu Akbar” while perpetrating violence are not acting as Muslims but as criminals. He explained that Islamic law does not grant anyone the authority to take another person’s life on their own. Even in cases where a death sentence is legally pronounced, he noted, only the state has the mandate to carry out such punishment.
According to him, anyone who kills in the name of Islam aligns with the historical Khawarij—those who unjustly rebelled against legitimate authority and attacked innocent people. He added that the Prophet himself directed that such elements should be dealt with decisively when apprehended. For that reason, he maintained that any terrorist captured by the government ought to be subjected to full legal consequences. View, More,
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