Things To Know About Kano Cleric Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Blasphemy

He is the son of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, a former leader of the West African Qadiriyya sect, and the younger brother of Karibullah Nasiru Kabara, their late father’s successor.

He attended ATC Gwale in Kano before moving to Iraq to further his studies in Islamic theology, though he always claimed that he received the majority of his education from his father for nearly 25 years.

Abduljabbar was well-known in Nigerian Muslim communities as a Qadiriyya follower and Sunni scholar, following in the footsteps of his father.

In an interview with the BBC in 2020, he expressed his preference for the Shia sect, saying, “After a thoroughly long time research which I have made by myself, I realized that Shi’a has more scriptural evidence than Sunni,” adding, “I will not bother myself if you call me a Shi’a, but I will be concerned if you call me a Sunni.”

Through his teachings and public utterances, Abduljabbar was accused several times of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad and some of the Prophet’s companions.

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Some hadiths (teachings of Prophet Muhammed) narrated by prominent Islamic scholars such as Anas Ibn Malik, Bukhari, and Muslim, according to Abduljabbar, are accusations against Muhammad, which he (Abduljabbar) refers to as either false or fabricated.

Abduljabbar was held captive by Kano State Government after the Kano State Islamic scholars from Izala, Salafiyya, Tijaniyyah and Qadiriyya sects reported him to the state government.

They stated that they had brought “nine blasphemy cases which were stated by Abduljabbar in his preaching towards Prophet Muhammed in video and audio formats, which will serve as a reference that Abduljabbar is making blasphemy towards Prophet Muhammed, and that if care is not taken, the blasphemy will lead to bloodshed and chaos in the State.”

The Kano state government, led by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, decided to intervene in the matter by organizing a debate between Abduljabbar and his accusers, so he could present his scriptural justification for what he preached.

On July 10, 2021, the Kano State government officially scheduled a debate between him and four other Islamic scholars who represented Izala, Salafiyya, Tijjaniyya, and Qadiriyya, respectively.

Professor Salisu Shehu of Bayero University Kano presided over the debate, which was overseen by the Kano State Ministry of Religious Affairs.

After the debate, the debate’s chairman, Professor Shehu, declared that Abduljabbar had not answered a single question posed by the other scholars.

He said, “Abduljabbar dodged questions by giving irrelevant information or saying there’s no time to make references from the over five hundred books he brought to the debate, although he has assistants to his aid, while the other scholars have given references and answers to Abduljabbar’s questions directly.”

On July 17, 2021, Abduljabbar was remanded in custody on a pending blasphemy charge against the Prophet.

Credit: Daily Trust