Terrorism has no place in Islam, says cleric

THE director of the Insight Institute for Islamic and Technical Studies, Dr Afees Musa, has reaffirmed that Islam is a religion of peace and has nothing to do with terrorism.

Musa, at the maiden convocation of the school in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said Islam does not promote anything that could endanger the lives of others, regardless of their religious affiliations.

“To be a religious person, you have to be conversant with Islamic studies, what we try to do is to focus on Arabic and other areas of technical knowledge which can aid the practice of Islam and help the students in what they want to do.

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“Islam is a religion of peace and what it teaches is peace, peaceful engagement with non-Muslims, peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims. Whoever understands Islam will never engage in any activities that could endanger the lives of the people. Whoever understands Islam will find it easy to get along with people, regardless of their religious conviction.

“I will encourage people to learn more about Islam. The more you know of Islam, the more you see the beauty of it,” he said.

Similarly, the principal of the institute, Taofik Shittu, said Islam forbids the act of killing fellow human beings and as such, the activities of Boko Haram had nothing to do with the religion.

Shittu said about 40 basic, intermediate, advance and diploma students were graduating at the event.

One of the graduands, a 63-year-old retired Permanent Secretary, AbdulFatah Opebiyi, said he attended the institute to further his knowledge of Islam.