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From the Mimbar: Chief Imam Clarifies Islamic Teachings on Jihad
Muzzammil Rafiu
October 25, 2026Professor Ibrahim Uthman has clarified that jihad is not synonymous with fighting, debunking the common fallacy that the term refers to warfare and outlining the conditions under which defensive action is permitted in Islam.
The Chief Imam made this known while delivering the Jumu’ah sermon at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque on Friday, 23rd October, 2026.
He emphasised that Jihad takes many forms, extending far beyond physical combat. While addressing the aspect of Jihad that involves combat, he noted that Islamic principles prescribe a balanced response; that is, it is acceptable to respond in the exact manner one is approached.
The Chief Imam added a crucial warning regarding armed combat, noting that negotiations should always be prioritised, especially in small-scale disputes.
“The instruction is only to fight when the first approach is fighting,” he said, pointing out that many issues that are often unnecessarily escalated can instead be resolved through strategic and peaceful approaches.
To illustrate how strategic diplomacy can yield better results than aggression, the Chief Imam shared a real-life incident involving the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He recounted an episode in which a former Ameerah of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, University of Ibadan (MSSN UI), who later served as the Ameerah of a certain NYSC orientation camp, was ordered by the camp Commandant to either remove her hijab or face dismissal from the programme.
According to the Chief Imam, when the matter was brought before the Muslim executive body, some members reacted emotionally, suggesting extreme measures such as kidnapping and beating the commandant.
However, cooler heads prevailed. Rejecting violence, the group decided on another strategic and diplomatic approach, choosing to engage and liaise directly with the commandant. Through sustained dialogue, they successfully persuaded him to permit the use of hijab, resolving the crisis peacefully.