The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the significant role of the Arabic language and Islamic studies in advancing peace and unity in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised and thus should be explored.
He made the call on Tuesday at the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) stakeholders national conference in Abuja.
The programme had as its theme: “The Role of Arabic and Islamic Education in advancing Peace and Harmony in Nigeria”.
The Speaker, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Sanusi Rikiji, said the conference is timely in this critical time of nationhood where extremism in religion among the youth become rampant and which often bred violent conflicts.
He said at the event organised by NBAIS and Al-Ansar foundation, that this underscored the need to look inward for an avenue that would bring about better understanding of the role of Arabic and Islamic Education in advancing peace and harmony in Nigeria.
“The significant role of the Arabic language and indeed Islamic studies in advancing peace and unity in Nigeria cannot be overemphasis. Arabic language which by virtue of Islam, has been well-known to be as the language of administration, literacy, education, history and legislation especially in the northern Nigeria in the past. Therefore, relevance of Arabic language in the development of Nigeria exceeds the religious sphere.
“As regulator and developer of curriculum for Arabic and Islamic Institutions in Nigeria, NBAIS has vital role to play in inculcating the spirit of trust, tolerance, patience and religious cautiousness to our teaming students/youths for peace and harmony in multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria. With this kind of conference, I am optimistic, that the vision of bridging the gap between Islamic and Western education will be achieved in no distant time.
“There is no doubt that, the current realities in Nigeria call for better understanding among ourselves especially among young people of school age and beyond regardless of ethnic or religious inclinations,” he said.
He assured that the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will continue to provide legislative frameworks that will promote good governance peace and harmony in Nigeria.
Also, a lecturer with the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Afis Oladosu, said any Muslims who understand Islam and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad would neither promote nor engage in violence capable of disrupting the peace of the society.
His paper was titled, “Arabic and Islamic knowledge systems and the search for peace and harmony in Nigeria”.
According to him, the most hated person in the sight of Allah was the most quarrelsome person, while a true believer was, he from whom people’s lives and wealth were safe.
He said education should aim at the balanced growth of the total personality of a man through the training of man’s spirit, intellect, rational feelings and bodily senses.
“Peace and harmony would be guaranteed when basic necessities of life are provided for the masses when the citizens become responsible and responsive to their obligations to themselves and their families when we stop playing politics with our faiths and we stop conflating the criminal with his tribe,” Oladosu said.
Also, the Vice Chancellor, Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State, Prof. Salisu Shehu, spoke on the “The Role of Arabic and Islamic Education in Advancing Peace and Harmony in Nigeria” and Prof. Bashir Galadanci of the Department of Software Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, spoke on “The Role of Traditional Islamiyyah and Quránic Schools in Promoting Societal Peace and Harmony”.
He stressed the importance of abiding by the injunction of Allah for the nation to overcome its socio-economic challenges.
Daily Trust.
