The misapplication of the context of Islamic religious teaching toward jihad and insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Islamic religion is arguably the most misunderstood and misinterpreted contemporarily even by the followers of the religion. Several Quranic injunctions and Prophetic Hadiths were misconstrued, misperceived and misutilised by especially the youth with little knowledge of the religion towards revolutionary and extremists’ activities such as insurgency and terrorism. This work is an attempt in examining how the Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad (popularly known as Boko Haram) in Northeastern Nigeria misperceived the concept of Jihad from the Islamic point of view which led to the dangerous movement that metamorphosed into a full-blown insurgency and terrorism. The work adopted both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary source is the consultation of scriptures such as the Holy Quran, Holy Bible and Prophetic Hadith which are direct sources of Islamic law. The secondary sources include books, journals, newspapers, reports and internet sources. The data obtained were analysed and discussed using content analysis. The research discovered that the youth are misguided and misdirected with wrong notions of the real meaning and approaches to Jihad and interpretations of Jihad in Nigerian society in consideration with the current Fatwas (injunctions) on its context and application which led them towards extremism in taking weapons to embark on insurgency and terrorism. The work recommends that there is a need for monitoring of religious activities by the state and censorship through strict monitoring of religious movements and activities for preaching and there is a need for proper teaching religious provisions which is necessary to avert such movements in future.