The World Organization of al-Azhar Graduates Branch in Nigeria held a lecture entitled “Citizenship and love of homeland as protection against extremist ideas” at the Mohammad Ghoni College of Sharia and Islamic Studies hall in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Omar Mohammad, Head of the Organization’s Branch in Borno, Nigeria, who emphasized the importance of the land we live on, contrary to what some extremist thinkers imagine when they deny the concept of belonging to one’s homeland or land.
Moreover, he explained that land holds great significance, as humans live on it, and it is where their birth, upbringing, education, and relationships take place. Therefore, its people must protect it from those who fundamentally deny the concept of belonging to one’s homeland. For this reason, Islam obligated us as people of one country, despite our different lineages or religions, to stand together in good times and bad, to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and to respect each other’s rights.
He added that the concept of citizenship exists in Islam, as evidenced in the noble Prophetic Sirah where Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) recognized citizenship among the inhabitants of Medina – including Muslims, emigrants (Muhajirun), supporters (Ansar), and Jews – despite their different tribes. He considered citizenship the foundation of coexistence and mutual solidarity in peace and war between Muslims and their Jewish neighbors, regarding them all as citizens of the new state of Medina, despite the different religions and ethnicities they belonged to, but rather based on the homeland to which they all belonged.
