As the Muslim community prepares for the holy month of Ramadan, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam has emphasised the need for unity and integrity among Islamic scholars.

JNI’s president-general, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made the appeal at the annual pre-Ramadan meeting on Monday in Kaduna.

The Sultan said, “We must unite as Muslims under one umbrella. We may have our differences, how we see things and how we understand things.”

He, however, urged that Muslims must speak and work for Islam, saying, “This is imperative in this part of the world. We must not allow our differences and level of understanding of Islam to divide us to the point that we insult one another.”

According to him, nobody has a monopoly on knowledge, adding, “Whatever you think or you know, somebody knows better than you.”

The Sultan said by adhering to proper guidelines and ethics, the scholars can promote a positive and uplifting Ramadan experience for all.

Khalid  Aliyu, the JNI secretary-general, highlighted the importance of responsible scholarship and the need for scholars to adhere to proper guidelines and ethics.

Mr Aliyu stated that Muslim scholars have a critical role in promoting unity and understanding within the Muslim community. However, he said this can only be achieved if the scholars adhere to proper scholarly ethics and avoid personal opinions and sectarian propaganda.

Mr Aliyu also urged the scholars to be responsible for using social media.

He said, “With the rise of social media, it has become easier for scholars to share their teachings and connect with a wider audience. However, this has also led to the spread of misinformation and the promotion of divisive ideologies.”

Mr Aliyu said JNI had established guidelines for Tafsir sessions, which emphasised the need for the scholars to adhere to proper scholarly ethics and avoid sectarian propaganda.

He also called on the scholars to prioritise wisdom and humility in their teachings.

(NAN)