Murder, Blasphemy and Vigilantism: An Islamic Perspective
By Imam Murtadha Gusau-Okene
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, Who guided us to Islam, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the best of all Prophets and Messengers, our beloved Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family members and Companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! A female food vendor named Ammaye has been lynched at Kasuwar Garba, in Mariga local government area of Niger State by angry youths over alleged blasphemy against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The incident which took place on Friday 29 August 2025.
According to eyewitnesses, the face-off began at a nearby community of Igwama where the woman, who is also a Muslim and well known by residents as a food vendor, reportedly exchanged words with a young man said to be her nephew.
It was gathered that the young man jokingly told her that he wanted to marry her to “fulfil the Sunnah” and that made the woman to make comments considered blasphemous, causing outrage among the locals.
The matter was said to have been taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwar Garba, where the woman was interrogated and she reportedly repeated what she said earlier.
The development made the District Head to hand her over to security operatives for further investigation, but a crowd of agitated youths insisted on her immediate execution.
It was further gathered that despite attempts by security personnel to protect her, the mob overpowered them and stoned her to death.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Mariga Local Government area, Alhaji Abbas Adamu said calm has since been restored to the area.
Dear servants of Allah! As you all knows, In Islam, blasphemy is the insult, mocking, or showing contempt for Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, or any of the fundamental beliefs of Islam, such as the Qur’an or other sacred tenets. The application and punishment for blasphemy vary, though some interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence, derived from certain Hadiths rather than the Qur’an itself, prescribe severe penalties, potentially including death. However, the Qur’an does not prescribe physical penalties for blasphemy in this life, instead detailing the punishments from Allah in the afterlife and urging patience with those who insult the religion.
Blasphemy in Islam encompasses several forms of impious expression and actions, including:
● Insulting Allah the Almighty or the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
● Direct mockery or contemptuous words towards Allah or the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
● Denying Core Beliefs.
● Rejecting fundamental tenets of Islam, such as the oneness of Allah (Tawhid) or the divinity of the Qur’an.
● Desecrating Sacred Texts.
● Throwing the Qur’an into the trash or defacing it.
● Worshipping Idols or Other Creations.
● Prostrating to anything other than Allah with the intention of worship.
The Qur’an itself does not specify a death penalty for blasphemy. It encourages a response of patience and logical refutation to those who insult the religion.
Some interpretations, primarily from certain Hadiths, have led to the belief that blasphemy is a capital offense.
Different Islamic schools of thought hold varying views, with some prescribing severe punishments, including the death penalty, while others advocate for repentance and forgiveness.
Even in cases where severe consequences are considered, the initial step often involves offering the blasphemer a chance to repent.
Islamic scholars emphasise that blasphemy is deliberate and spiteful, distinct from innocent questioning or debate.
Respected brothers and sisters! Allah’s blessings and graces are endless and magnificent, and the ever greatest of them is Islam, the utmost grace that Allah has favoured us with. Under intensive media invasion and with mild religiosity in people’s hearts, however, something so outrageous, detestable, and detrimental started to circulate among some people: Blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Imam Ibn Taimiyyah defines blasphemy as using words that show a lack of respect and are perceived by all people, regardless of their beliefs, to be profane, exactly like cursing, condemnation, etc.
There is no doubt that blasphemy is the direst and most abominable verbal nullifier of faith. If disparagement of Allah entails de-Islamisation, whether the disparager accepts to be de-Islamised or not, it is more logical that cursing Allah also de-Islamises.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) has great reverence in the hearts of the people of faith. He conveyed the message with which he was entrusted, he guided the Ummah for what is the best, and he made the noblest jihad for the Sake of Allah. We love the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) as he told us, and our love to him does never go beyond to over praise or any unacceptable invented practices, which were censured and prohibited by the Messenger himself. With his sublime and lofty status, we should do whatever he instructed us to do and shun whatever he instructed us not to do.
We should beware of blaspheming against the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), as this is one of the nullifiers of faith and entails outward and inward disbelief, whether the blasphemer believes that this is halal or not.
Imam Ibn Taimiyyah said: “Blasphemy against Allah or His Messenger (Peace be upon him) is an act that nullifies faith, both outwardly and inwardly, whether the blasphemer knows that this is haram, deems it halal, or is not aware of the ruling at all.”
This ruling is applicable even in relation to criticising or blaming the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as regards any of his deeds, sayings, etc. Ibn Taimiyyah (may Allah confer mercy upon him) clarified: “If someone criticises a judgment or instruction by the Prophet (Peace be upon him), he should be executed, as the Prophet told us to do in his life and after his death.”
So, be careful, O my Muslim brothers and sisters, not to fall in this dangerous way, and avoid whatever causes the Wrath of Allah, the Almighty.
Fellow brothers and sisters! Blasphemy is an offence under Shari’ah (Islamic law). And Shari’ah law operates in most northern states of Nigeria.
Blasphemy is also an offence under Nigeria’s criminal law in states that put it on their statute books. This is true for states in both the north and the south.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria operates two court systems. Both systems can punish blasphemy (an insult that shows contempt, disrespect or lack of reverence concerning a deity, an object considered sacred or something considered inviolable). The Constitution provides a customary (irreligious) system and a system that incorporates Shari’ah. The customary system prohibits blasphemy by section 204 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code.
Dear brothers and sisters! Also, Islamic teachings strictly prohibit taking the law into one’s own hands, which is considered unjust, a form of sin, and a deviation from established legal and moral frameworks, including provisions for self-defense and justice within proper legal channels, as outlined in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Instead, the Islamic religion emphasises relying on Allah, seeking justice through legitimate means, and maintaining patience and perseverance, with Allah providing a way out for those who fear Him.
Taking the law into one’s own hands is seen as an act of injustice and is categorised with other major sins, such as murder, theft, and consuming the property of an orphan, as listed in the Qur’an.
The Islamic concept of justice, or ‘Adl’, involves acting fairly and impartially, a process that is directly contradicted by arbitrary self-enforcement of law.
The Qur’an and Sunnah guide individuals to follow established legal processes for resolving disputes and seeking justice, rather than resorting to vigilantism.
Islamic law has always emphasised the protection of victims and ensuring they receive respectful and humane treatment.
Even in conflict, Islamic law sets strict limits to protect civilians and civilian facilities, underscoring the importance of adhering to established rules rather than individual action.
When facing adversity or injustice, a Muslim should rely on Allah, who is sufficient and will make a way out for those who fear Him.
The emphasis is on perseverance and patience in the face of difficulties, with the assurance that Allah will reward those who strive for good and endure with faith.
True success is found in fearing Allah and acting justly, and this fear should guide all actions and decisions.
Therefore it is not allowed for an individual Muslim to take it upon himself to execute a ruling which is not under the jurisdiction of individuals but rather that of the leaders, and if the leaders fall short—as, unfortunately, is the case in this time—in carrying out this obligation, then that does not permit an individual Muslim to go and carry it out.
Islam has given certain individuals specific commandments. For example, a female is commanded not to fast and pray when she experiences her periods. A man cannot practice on this when he is in an impure state.
Likewise, the laws of implementing and executing Islamic laws have been vested with the government. It is their duty to take action against one who turned renegade, or commited other crimes, likes blasphemy, stealing, drinking alcohol etc. If they do not fulfill those laws, then we cannot take the law into our own hands and implement the law. Rather, we should write letters to the government, and continue to make Du’a for the leaders.
Since we cannot execute the law ourselves, if someone apostate or left the fold of Islam, our duty will be to invite him back to this wonderful religion, and clear any misconceptions which he may have had.
And finally, in Islamic law, murder is a severely prohibited act against the sanctity of life, punishable by divine wrath and severe torment in the afterlife for the offender. Under the principle of Qisas, the victim’s heirs have the right to seek retribution against the killer, which can be execution, the Diyyah (blood money), or forgiveness. The Qur’an and Sunnah emphasises the gravity of killing a believer, and the Farewell Hajj’s address prohibited the unlawful taking of lives and property.
Homicide is a grave sin, and in Islam, considered one of the greatest transgressions against Allah.
The Qur’an states that anyone who kills a believer deliberately will receive eternal hellfire, divine anger, and a curse.
The Farewell Hajj address by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) declared the lives and properties of Muslims forbidden to one another until the Day of Resurrection.
Retribution and Compensation (Qisas) is the principle of “an eye for an eye” and allows for equal retaliation in cases of intentional homicide.
If the court approves, the victim’s nearest relative (Wali) can choose to execute the killer.
Alternatively, the heirs can forgive the offender.
They can also accept Diyyah, a predetermined compensation, often in the form of “blood money.”
The only exception to the prohibition of homicide is when the killing is done in the “due process of law” (Bil-Haqq), decided by a court of law.
The first murder in history, as mentioned in the Qur’an, was when Qabil (Cain) killed his brother Habil (Abel) out of jealousy.
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
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