Some Islamic preachers who are in the habit of using social media to bully or abuse one another and other religious faithful have been cautioned to desist from the act.
An Islamic cleric, Alhaji AbdulRofiu Muhammed-Jamiu gave the advise on Thursday in Ibadan.
He cautioned that such preachers needed to shun the habit in order not to cause disharmony in Nigeria.
The cleric made the call during a National Conference organised by the Supreme Council for Islamic Preachers South-West Nigeria.
The theme of the conference is “Exploring the Misuse of Social Media in the Context of Islamic Values and the Contemporary Devastation Between Palestine and Israel”.
Muhammed-Jamiu said such Islamic preachers now use the social media to abuse one another.
”They also misinterpret the teachings of the Quran for their selfish gains in order to attract more followers and make money,” he said.
The cleric said such habit contradict the teachings of Islam and could create disunity, cause religious disharmony and portray the image of Islam in bad light.
“As preachers, we must fear God in whatever we do. We should use the social media to right the wrongs in the society, promote the beauty of Islam, encourage religious tolerance.
“A lot of Muslims are now confused as a result of some messages we spread on the social media, we must be careful and watch whatever we say in order not to misinterpret the Quran for our selfish gains and mislead the people,” he said.
Muhammed-Jamiu said Muslims needed to wake up, and unite in doing the right things.
’We should condemn what is wrong in the society and adhere to the teachings of the holy Quran and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammed in whatever we say and do,” he said.
Muhammed-Jamiu urged Islamic preachers to be steadfast in interpreting the Quran correctly.
”We should preach to people with wisdom, in a way that will not create religious disharmony among Muslim groups as well as other religions.”
Earlier, the Council’s National Chairman, Alhaji Taofiq Akeugbagold, had said the aim of the conference was to address the issue of bullying among Islamic preachers, especially on the internet.
He pointed out that such an act of bullying had cause ridicule to Islam to an extent.
“Islam teaches modesty, and this conference will critically look at the problem of the misuse of social media and peacefully find lasting solution to it without causing any rancour.
“Muslims have to unite and collaborate in order to address the problem confronting Muslims in the society, so as to build a better world for generations to come,” Akeugbagold said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Bayo Lawal, called on all preachers, irrespective of religion, to be just in whatever they say.
Lawal, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, urged preachers not to be sentimental in the way their preach in the society.
On his part, another Guest Lecturer, Dr Ibrahim Adelani, urged media organisations to report accurately the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
”Many of the happenings in Palestine are under-reported by the media,” he said.
Highlights of the conference included the presentation of awards to some Muslims who have contributed to the progress of Islam in one way or the other.
Among them was the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, Senator Monsurat Sumonu and the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, among others.
(NAN)
