Author:Mas'ud Jibril Sahban
Date: 05/07/2026
Religious diversity in Northern Nigeria has historically oscillated between peaceful coexistence and violent conflict, often driven by misinterpretations of religious teachings, politicisation of faith identities, and socio-economic inequalities. This study explores the revival and interpretation of authentic Islamic ethics of tolerance as a framework for addressing these challenges. Drawing upon Qur’anic injunctions, Prophetic traditions, and classical as well as modern scholarly perspectives, the research emphasises justice, compassion, coexistence, and respect for diversity as central ethical imperatives in Islam. Beyond revival, the study highlights the importance of interpretive clarity, showing how inclusive tafsir and contextual readings of Islamic texts can counter exclusivist narratives and sectarian divides. A qualitative research design with thematic analysis is adopted, employing documentary review of primary Islamic sources (Qur’an and Hadith), classical works (Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali), and contemporary scholarship (Sachedina, Aderibigbe, Kukah). Through thematic coding, recurring values such as freedom of belief, pluralism, mercy, and justice were identified, while gaps in current scholarship and practice were highlighted, particularly the lack of operational and interpretive frameworks for applying these ethics within Nigeria’s pluralistic and politically charged environment. The objectives of the study are threefold: (1) to examine how authentic Islamic ethics of tolerance, derived from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and classical scholarship, can be applied to address religious diversity and conflict in Northern Nigeria; (2) to identify specific gaps between Islamic ethical imperatives of tolerance and their current application in interfaith relations; and (3) to propose a framework that revives and interprets Islamic principles of justice, compassion, and coexistence as tools for peace building. Findings suggest that reviving and correctly interpreting these ethics can provide practical strategies for reconciliation and coexistence. The study recommends curriculum integration of interfaith ethics, clerical training in inclusive tafsir and peace building, media engagement to promote tolerant narratives, government enforcement of equal rights, and grassroots community initiatives to foster dialogue and cooperation.
Keywords: Islamic tolerance, Interfaith dialogue, Qur’an, Northern Nigeria, Peace building
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