Activist Mahdi Shehu has criticised Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Jingir over his recent description of Christians as infidels, calling the statement reckless and contrary to Islamic teachings.
Shehu made the comments in a post on X, where he accused Jingir of making “unguarded, inciting and reckless statements.”
He said Jingir’s description of Christians as infidels was not only un-Islamic but also irresponsible.
“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.
He warned that the cleric’s comments could further damage efforts to promote peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
“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 also urged Christians who were offended by the comments not to direct their anger at Muslims generally.
“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.
He further accused Jingir of making the comments to attract attention and political support.
“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 added: “Jingir should be ashamed of himself for willingly and deliberately discarding his age into the dustbin of ignorance.”
He said Christians had the right to be angry over the comments but urged them to direct their anger at Jingir and those who supported his position.
“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.
