Buhari's Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has expressed sadness over what he described as 'Needless Clashes' over issues of Hijab in the country, particularly in the educational institution.
Adamu who made his concerns known during a Hijab Day lecture organised by the Coalition of Nigeria Muslim Women at the Conference Hall of the National Mosque, Abuja, said there is a lot the country can gain by dialoguing on matters of religious differences rather than resorting to violence.
He noted that all citizens are constitutionally allowed to practise their religions as long as no harm or inconvenience is caused to other people.
The minister said: “The wearing of hijab by Muslim women is a Sunna as recommended in the Holy Qur’an (Q 33 V 59).”
“Our children will remain citizens of Nigeria irrespective of their faith. They will live and interact in the world outside school where no boundary exists between the religions.
“We should understand that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. This, by implication, means that all citizens are allowed to practice their religions according to the teachings of their faith as long as no harm or inconvenience is caused to other people.”
Also speaking at the event, which bears the theme, ‘Hijab is our Crown, not our Crime’, wife of former vice president, Dr Amina Namadi Sambo, said while it's true that some bad elements use hijab to commit crimes, it is however, not enough reason to stop the good ones from obeying Allah.
“It is true that very few others, who do not represent Islam have used the Hijab to perpetrate evil but that should not be used to stereotype Muslim women and also not deter us from obeying Allah SWT,” she noted.
She called on the participants, particularly young Muslim women who are faced with peer pressure not to be influenced by the “so-called modernisation,” adding: “Some modes of dressing in the name of fashion are indecent and immoral. They are in direct conflict with our religion, just as the Prophet of Islam (SAW) cautioned in different hadiths.”