Islam & politics

Their quest for power is driven by religious belief.  We must differentiate between Islam as a religion and  political Islam.

Every Muslim is necessarily Islamic. If you're a Muslim, then certainly you want to implement the teachings of Islam in every aspect of your life.

Political aspects of Islam are derived from the Qur'an, the Sunna (the sayings and living habits of   Prophet Muhammad) (SAW)

Traditional political concepts in Islam include leadership by successors to the Prophet known as Caliphs, 

Islamists claim that the origins of Islam as a political movement are to be found in the life and times of Islam's prophet, Muhammad (SAW) and his successors, In 622 CE, in recognition of his claims to prophet hood; Muhammad (SAW) was invited to rule the city of Medina.

 At the time the local Arab tribes of Aus and Khazraj dominated the city, and were in constant conflict. Medinans saw in Muhammad (SAW)  an impartial outsider who could resolve the conflict. Muhammad (SAW) and his followers thus moved to Medina, where Muhammad (SAW) drafted the Medina Charter.

This document made Muhammad (SAW) the ruler, and recognized him as the Prophet of Allah.

 The laws  Muhammad (SAW) established during his rule, based on the revelations of the Quran and doing of Muhammad, (SAW) are considered by Muslims to be Sharia or Islamic law, which Islamic movements seek to replicate in the present day.

Muhammad (SAW) gained a widespread following and an army, and his rule expanded  first to the city of Mecca and then spread through the Arabian peninsula through a combination of diplomacy and military conquest.

Islam and politics in Nigeria

Nigeria has one of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the world, and Islam has played a leading role in its politics. Nigeria is not an Islamic state, as it is under a democratic government with a secular constitution and the rule of law. Nevertheless, Islam is important in Nigeria, with impacts on politics and social life. Islam is a religion, with millions converting to the faith. In many historical periods, Islam has served as a source of unifying force (as in the case of the Sokoto  Caliphate during the nineteenth century). Islam has also contributed in many ways to Nigeria’s development, notably in providing the sources to organize politics and society, fostering community cohesion, and creating an ideology of change.

Nigeria cannot be understood without Islam. The areas of intersection between Islam and politics are significant. First, the government’s failure to promote development or enhance living standards will continue to make Islam an alternative “ideology” to organize change and seek better or alternative solutions to a myriad of problems.