ISLAM AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Freedom of faith, which encompasses the protection and preservation of religion as reflected in International Law and the Nigerian Constitution, is one of the Maqasid ash-Shari’ah (Objectives of the Islamic Law). Previous studies have focused more on the Nigerian constitution, Al-Huquq al-Insaniyyah (Human Rights) in Islam, Islam in Yorubaland and application of Shari`ah in Osun State without giving an appraisal of the concept and practice of freedom of religion in Osun State. This study, therefore, investigated the relationship between Muslims and adherents of other religions in Osun State, with a view to examining implementation of the principle of freedom of religion in Islam.

John Burton’s theory provided the framework. A questionnaire was administered to 1,050 respondents: 350 Muslim leaders, 350 Christian leaders and 350 adherents of African Traditional Religion (ATR) in 10 Local Government Areas of Osun State, namely Ede North, Ejigbo, Iwo, Ola-Oluwa, Ifelodun, Ife Central, Ilesa-West, Irepodun, Ila and Osogbo, which were purposively selected based on geographical spread. Key-Informant interviews were also conducted with 10 religious leaders from each religion, aged between 40 and 78. Scriptural data were sourced from the Qur’an and Hadith. Data were subjected to descriptive and content analyses.

The residents of Osun State enjoyed freedom of religion, affirmed by 65.0% of the respondents. In some private secondary schools (59.0%), Muslim students were compelled to offer Christian Religious Studies and attend Christian morning devotion against Q.2:256’s advocacy of freedom of worship, while in Muslim oriented schools (65.0%), Christian students were disallowed from conducting Christian morning devotions separately, but they offered Christian Religious Studies. Religious leaders (69.0%) confirmed that there were inter-marriages between Muslims and Christians with the exclusion of adherents of ATR. Conversion of Christians and adherents of ATR to Islam (58.0%) was due to their awareness of their being no intermediary between them and their Lord, contrasted with Muslims conversion to Christianity (55.0%) because of social problems and fear of polygamy. Muslim leaders (63.0%) confirmed that Muslim students in some Christian oriented schools were disallowed from observing early afternoon prayer, female students were prevented from wearing hijab, but female Christian students in Muslim oriented schools were allowed to wear beret. Adherents of ATR used masquerades to disturb Muslims and Christians during their religious devotions without inter-faith conflict. Some adherents of ATR submitted that there is religious tolerance in Osun State and that the State government does not favour any religion.

There is relatively low freedom of religion in Osun State secondary schools despite the fact that the Qur’an and hadith make provision for protection and preservation of every faith. Therefore, there is need for the state government and religious groups to form an inter-religious council where encroachment on the religious right of people would be addressed.

Keywords: Freedom of religion in Islam, Al-Huquq-Al-Insaniyyah, Muslim-Christian-ATR Adherents, Osun State

Word count: 455