The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed the widespread belief that Islam encourages the killing of non-Muslims in the name of Jihad.

Speaking in Abuja at the public presentation of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor (retd.), the monarch said the concept of Jihad has long been misinterpreted.

“Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim by a Muslim. Jihad means to strive, and in whatever you do in life, you strive to be the best you can be. You strive to be a good Muslim, a good Christian, a good farmer, or a good engineer. So, Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim; that’s a wrong notion people have been airing out for decades,” he said.

The Sultan further clarified that Islamism is not about seizing political power but about promoting justice and good governance. Citing the example of former President Goodluck Jonathan, he said Muslims gave his administration full support, showing that Islam does not seek domination but fairness in leadership.

He warned against extremism, stressing that Islam has a clear code of conduct rooted in the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the consensus of scholars (Ulama). “Islam abhors extremism. You cannot be an extremist and then claim to be a good Muslim,” he stated.

The monarch also urged Nigerians to be cautious in their choice of words when discussing insecurity, noting that reckless speech can deepen divisions. He recalled how his lecture on Islam and leadership in 2019 was misinterpreted as an attack on former President Muhammadu Buhari’s second-term bid.

Calling for unity across religious and ethnic lines, the Sultan appealed to Nigerians to see themselves as “one big family” working together to build a better nation.

He also commended Gen Irabor for his service to the country and for documenting his experiences in tackling insecurity, describing the book as a valuable contribution to Nigeria’s history.