Islam forbids killing, bombings – Cleric

Jos – Lt. Col Ishaq Rano, Assistant Director, Islamic Affairs of the Nigerian Army, says that killing and bombing of Churches by the Boko Haram sect is forbidden in Islam.

Rano, who spoke during the special Juma’at prayer to commemorate the 2012 Nigerian army day celebration in Jos, said Boko Haram members were not “good Muslims” and termed their actions as “haram”.

“We are praying to God to touch Boko Haram to stop killing innocent people, to stop killing Christians and to stop killing security personnel.

“In Islam, killing is not allowed, it is forbidden in Islam to kill anybody.”

Rano emphasised that nobody had the right to kill anybody, adding that only a court of law could condemn a person.

“Even if a person commits a crime in your presence, you can’t kill him or her, but you can take him or her to the law court.

“If Boko Haram members claim to be Muslims, then they are not good Muslims. They are only bearing Muslim names, they do not know Islam.”

Rano, who is also the Chief Imam of 3 Division of the Nigerian army, lamented the current security challenge facing the country.

“The Armed Forces and the country are no longer in peace. So this special Juma’at prayer is to pray for peace, stability and religious tolerance in the armed forces and in our dear country.

“We are praying for the Almighty God to continue to keep Nigeria as one country. We are also praying to God to destroy anybody or group within or outside the country causing trouble.”