Nigeria: Borderlines Between Religion, Politics

opinion

Despite many claims to the contrary by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Islamic religion and Islamic politics are not the same thing. Islam as a religion is a message from Allah Almighty to all mankind. "Islamic politics" are attempts by groups of Muslims to apply Islam in public/political life one way or another.

Islam is a way of life that an individual chooses. This is a fact. It is also a fact that when a society-of individuals-adopts a certain way of life, this way of life will definitely affect that society's decision-making and leadership, or in other words, politics. So, in that sense, Islam has a lot to do with politics within Muslim societies. In my view, saying that "Islam has nothing to do with politics" is a denial of the very nature of Islam as a comprehensive way of life, not just a system of spiritual rituals performed in a place or time specified for worship, in the traditional sense.

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