According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Sheikh Imran AbdulMajeed Eleha, Chief Imam of the DaaruNaim Central Mosque in Lagos, has addressed concerns about insecurity in the northern region, the misunderstanding of Islamic teachings, and the actions of groups that use violence while claiming religious motives.
He spoke on the misuse of Islamic expressions during criminal acts and the impact such behavior has on public perception of Muslims.
He said that the misuse of a religious phrase during violence does not represent the teachings of Islam or the conduct expected from its followers, forming the basis of ongoing concerns among citizens.
Sheikh Eleha noted that individuals who carry out attacks while shouting religious phrases do so without any connection to Islamic principles.
He stated that criminals often hide behind such expressions to create fear and to mislead the public about their true intentions.
He emphasized that Islamic teachings do not support violence against innocent people and that such acts cannot be linked to the religion under any condition.
He maintained that people must understand the difference between genuine religious practice and criminal behavior disguised with religious language.
Sheikh Eleha explained that the phrase commonly shouted during these attacks has a clear meaning within the Islamic faith and is used in daily worship by Muslims.
He said its use during crimes does not transform the criminals into representatives of the religion.
According to him, the problem lies in the actions of the individuals, not in the phrase or in the religion.
He warned that drawing a connection between the two only deepens misunderstanding and increases tension among communities.
Sheikh Eleha also addressed the belief held by some people that Sharia law encourages violence.
He stated that Sharia does not give any individual the authority to take a life.
He made it clear that lawful punishment, when necessary, remains the responsibility of the government and cannot be carried out by private citizens.
He stressed that criminals acting on their own cannot claim any religious or legal justification for their actions.
He said that misinterpretations of Sharia have contributed to confusion among the public.
He said: “Those who shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ while committing crimes are not Muslims but criminals. Sharia does not empower anyone to kill; it does not give any individual the right to take a life. Even when a criminal is sentenced to death, only the government carries out the punishment—not private individuals.”
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