Activist and social commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Jingir over his recent description of Christians as infidels, saying the statement was irresponsible and contrary to Islamic teachings.
Shehu, in a post on X, accused the cleric of making what he described as “unguarded, inciting and reckless statements” capable of worsening relations between Christians and Muslims.
He said Jingir’s description of Christians as infidels was not only wrong but also inconsistent with references to Christians in the Quran.
According to Shehu, Christians are recognised as “Ahlil-Kitab”, meaning “People of the Book”, in the Quran.
“His venomous statement is contrary to the dignified name of AHLIL-KITAB given to Christians in the Quran by Allah himself as can be found in various verses of the Quran, such as in Sura Al-Ma’ida 5:19, 5:59 and 5:68 and many other places,” Shehu said.
The activist expressed concern that comments of such nature could further strain relations between people of different faiths, especially in Northern Nigeria, where religious and communal tensions have caused conflicts in the past.
He warned that Jingir’s statement could undermine efforts by religious and community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence.
“Jingir’s unschooled statement has triggered another circle of reversing efforts of building peaceful co-existence between people of different faith, particularly in Northern Nigeria where peace is fragile,” he said.
Shehu’s reaction comes against the background of long-standing religious tensions in parts of Northern Nigeria, where disputes involving religion, ethnicity, politics, land and other social issues have sometimes resulted in violence.
For years, religious leaders, civil society groups and governments have called for greater tolerance and dialogue between Christians and Muslims as part of efforts to prevent conflict.
Northern Nigeria is home to large populations of both Christians and Muslims, with many communities having lived together for generations. However, disagreements and inflammatory comments by influential figures can sometimes deepen mistrust between the two groups.
Shehu therefore urged Christians who were offended by Jingir’s remarks not to generalise the statement or direct their anger towards Muslims as a whole.
He said millions of Muslims did not share Jingir’s position and should not be held responsible for the cleric’s comments.
“Christians should take note that Jingir’s irresponsible and senile statement of referring to Christians as Infidels is unislamic, cruel and insensitive and does represent the views of millions of peace loving Muslims,” he said.
The activist maintained that the comments should be viewed as the position of the individual who made them rather than that of the wider Muslim community.
He also called on Christians to avoid retaliatory statements or actions that could further increase tension.
According to him, while Christians had every right to be offended by the remark, their response should be directed at Jingir and those who supported his position rather than at Muslims generally.
“Christians have the right to feel pained and react harshly. But their anger should be directed to Jingir and his cohorts and not to millions of Muslims who don’t share Jingir’s mental derailment,” he added.
Shehu also accused Jingir of making the comments to attract public attention and secure political support.
He described the cleric’s statement as an attempt to remain relevant and gain patronage, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
“His psychotic like statement is nothing but an invitation to be noticed and solicitation for continued political patronage so as to continue living in fake and undeserving temporary comfort,” Shehu said.
He further criticised Jingir personally, saying the cleric should be ashamed of making the comments.
“Jingir should be ashamed of himself for willingly and deliberately discarding his age into the dustbin of ignorance,” he said.
The exchange has once again drawn attention to the role of religious leaders in promoting peace in a country where Christians and Muslims make up the majority of the population.
Religious leaders wield considerable influence in many Nigerian communities, particularly in the North, where their statements can shape public opinion and affect relations between communities.
Because of this influence, statements made by prominent clerics and Christian leaders on sensitive religious matters are often closely watched.
Nigeria has experienced several incidents of religious violence over the years, although such conflicts are often linked to a combination of religious, political, economic and social factors. Religious identity can become a major factor in such disputes, making responsible public communication important.
Calls for religious tolerance have therefore remained a major part of peace-building efforts by governments, traditional rulers, religious bodies and civil society organisations.
Interfaith dialogue has also been used in several parts of the country to encourage Christians and Muslims to address disagreements through discussion rather than confrontation.
Shehu’s comments reflect this wider concern, particularly his appeal to Christians not to regard the statement attributed to Jingir as representing the views of all Muslims.
The activist stressed that there are many Muslims who support peaceful relations with Christians and reject statements capable of creating hostility between the two faiths.
His position also highlights the importance of distinguishing between criticism of an individual religious leader and general condemnation of an entire religious community.
As of the time of filing this report, Jingir’s response to Shehu’s criticism was not included in the material available for the report.
The controversy, however, has renewed debate over the responsibility of religious leaders and public figures when speaking on sensitive matters of faith.
With religious tensions remaining a concern in parts of the country, stakeholders have repeatedly stressed the need for restraint and dialogue.