“Some of the participants who spoke on the programme, described it as a welcome development that would assist in handling extremist and propagation of the peaceful nature of Islam. They pointed out that Prophet Muhammad cherished peaceful coexistence among and between Muslims and non-muslims and viewed non-Muslims as people who should be attracted to Islam instead of being terrorized.”
This is not going to work. Why? Because the “peaceful nature of Islam” is not all that…peaceful.
“The peaceful nature of Islam”: See here.
“Prophet Muhammad cherished peaceful coexistence among and between Muslims and non-muslims”: A hadith has Muhammad saying, “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.” (Sahih Muslim 19.4366) And Qur’an 9:29 says: “Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not practice the religion of truth, even if they are of the People of the Book — until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.”
“Prophet Muhammad…viewed non-Muslims as people who should be attracted to Islam instead of being terrorized”: Qur’an 8:60: “Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to strike terror thereby into the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; Allah knows them. And whatsoever you expend in the way of Allah shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged.”
“BOKO HARAM: 200 Islamic clerics on counter-radicalization training in N-East,” by Umar Yusuf, Vanguard, November 14, 2016:
No fewer than 200 Islamic clerics, comprising local Almajiri teachers from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, have commenced training on how to counter radicalization message of the followers of the dreaded sect.
The training with the theme: De-Radicalization, counter Terrorism and migration in Northern Nigerian, is put together by the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, and sponsored by the Japanese government.
Speaking to newsmen at the training for some of the clerics in Adamawa weekend, the Project Coordinator, Mr Ikponmwosa Omoigiade, said the training, which is part of a bigger project on de-radicalization, counter-terrorism and migration in Northern Nigeria, had already been conducted for some of the clerics in Borno and Yobe states.
He said the clerics, who comprised imams, scholars and proprietors of Almajiri schools, were trained on how to identify and contain Boko Haram ideologies and extremism in their areas with the aid of manuals by clerics from Islamic Da’awah Centre and Arabic teachers from Ahmadu Bello University.
The coordinator lauded the commitment shown by the clerics, adding that the centre would do an assessment on the impact of the project in the affected states. Some of the participants who spoke on the programme, described it as a welcome development that would assist in handling extremist and propagation of the peaceful nature of Islam. They pointed out that Prophet Muhammad cherished peaceful coexistence among and between Muslims and non-muslims and viewed non-Muslims as people who should be attracted to Islam instead of being terrorized.