WHEN EXTREMISM IS MISTAKEN FOR ISLAM: AGUNBIADE RESPONDS TO DEJI YESUFU
10th September, 2026
By Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade
agunbiadeib@gmail.com
I have read with keen interest the write-up titled “Islam: An Open Letter to Edmund Obilo” authored by Mr Deji Yesufu. I appreciate the call for dialogue and peaceful coexistence, but I strongly disagree with the attempt to explain Islam primarily through the actions of Boko Haram and other violent organisations.
As a student of knowledge and a member of the Rabwa Islamic Propagation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I consider it necessary to state this plainly: Boko Haram does not represent Islam, and terrorism cannot be used as the standard by which Islam is judged.
BOKO HARAM AND THE FIRST COMMAND OF ISLAM
There is a fundamental contradiction in presenting Boko Haram as the authentic representation of Islam.
The first revelation given to Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, began with the command:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
Iqra’ bismi rabbika alladhi khalaq.
“Read in the name of your Lord who created.”
Qur’an 96:1
The first revealed word was Iqra, meaning “Read”. Islam therefore began by directing humanity towards reading, knowledge and learning. Allah further says:
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?”
Qur’an 39:9
Whatever debate may exist concerning the linguistic interpretation of the name Boko Haram, its ideology has been widely associated with hostility towards Western education. How, then, can an organisation associated with attacking schools, teachers and education be presented as the authentic Islam whose first revealed command was Iqra?
Islam began with Iqra, not ignorance. It began with knowledge, not the destruction of schools. Boko Haram must therefore be understood for what it is: a violent extremist organisation that has tragically abused the name of Islam.
THE QUR’AN MUST BE READ WITH CONTEXT
The attempt to present Qur’an 5:51, 9:29 and other verses as blanket instructions for Muslims to hate or kill Christians and Jews is intellectually and religiously unsustainable.
The Qur’an itself says:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ
“There is no compulsion in religion.”
Qur’an 2:256
Allah also commands Muslims to deal justly and kindly with those who do not fight them because of their religion:
لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ
“Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and justly with those who did not fight you because of your religion.”
Qur’an 60:8
Therefore, isolated quotations from the Qur’an without historical, linguistic and textual context can easily produce a meaning that the Qur’an itself does not teach.
The same applies to the hadith cited concerning Jews and Christians. A hadith dealing with a particular historical circumstance, territory or conflict cannot simply be transformed into a universal command to Muslims living peacefully with Christians and Jews in Nigeria.
TAQIYYAH IS NOT A LICENCE FOR MUSLIMS TO LIE
The claim that Muslims practise taqiyyah as a general religious licence to deceive non-Muslims is another serious misrepresentation.
Taqiyyah has a specific theological and historical context, particularly within Shi’a thought, concerning concealment of faith under persecution. It cannot honestly be presented as a universal Islamic instruction authorising Muslims to lie to Christians.
MUSLIMS AND THE QUESTION OF MODERATION
I also reject the assertion that there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim.
Millions of Muslims live peacefully with Christians and adherents of other faiths across Nigeria. Muslims work with Christians, trade with Christians, attend the same schools and institutions and share communities with people of different religions.
To label all Muslims as potential extremists because some criminals claim Islamic justification for their crimes is no more reasonable than judging Christianity by the actions of every violent person who claims to be a Christian.
IRAN, HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH AND THE HOUTHIS
Iran cannot simply be equated with Islam. The Muslim world contains different schools of thought, political systems, cultures and movements.
Likewise, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis have distinct histories, political objectives, sectarian identities and circumstances. Their actions should be assessed individually rather than lumped together as a single representation of Islam.
Most importantly, deliberate attacks on innocent civilians cannot be justified by Islamic principles, regardless of who commits them.
SHARI’A IS NOT NEW TO OYO STATE
The warning that Oyo State must resist the “introduction” of Shari’a also requires clarification.
Shari’a is not new to Oyo State. Muslims have practised aspects of Islamic law peacefully for decades.
There is already a Shari’a arbitration panel at Oja’Oba Central Mosque in Ibadan, where Muslims voluntarily bring issues affecting them for resolution according to Islamic principles.
This is not Boko Haram. It is not terrorism. It is peaceful religious dispute resolution.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Constitution itself recognises the place of Shari’a within the Nigerian legal framework, including provision for a Shari’a Court of Appeal under Section 275 of the 1999 Constitution.
Therefore, discussing Shari’a should not automatically become a discussion about terrorism. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, and Muslims are entitled to practise their religion within the law, just as Christians are entitled to practise theirs.
NIGERIA BELONGS TO ALL OF US
I equally disagree with the suggestion that Nigeria’s progress should be attributed to one religious community.
Nigeria was built by Nigerians. Muslims and Christians have contributed immensely to the development of this country in education, medicine, law, politics, business, science, agriculture, security and public service.
The solution to Nigeria’s problems is not to set Muslims against Christians. It is to confront corruption, insecurity, poor governance, poverty, injustice and religious extremism wherever they occur.
MY POSITION IS SIMPLE
Let us condemn Boko Haram without condemning Islam.
Let us oppose terrorism without demonising Muslims.
Let us defend Christians without portraying Muslims as their enemies.
Let us defend Muslims without excusing criminals who misuse the name of Islam.
And above all, let us read religious texts with knowledge, context and intellectual honesty.
The first command of the final revelation was Iqra. Read. Let that command guide our discussion of Islam.
Nigeria needs knowledge, justice, dialogue and mutual respect. It does not need religious caricature.
Dialogue, not violence.
Signed
MALLAM IBRAHIM AGUNBIADE
Member
Rabwa Islamic Propagation
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
agunbiadeib@gmail.com
10th September 2026
