Sultan of Sokoto and President – Generation of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has weighed in on the lingering controversy over Hijab. A Muslim female law graduate, Firdau Amasa, was turned back from the venue of the Call to Bar ceremony that took place last Wednesday because she was wearing a hijab. This has generated a lot of debate with many people condemning her for attempting to flout the laws of the legal profession while others are of the opinion that she should have been allowed into the venue.

Reacting to the controversy, the Sultan of Sokoto said he is yet to understand why the issue of Hijab would be so controversial to the extent that female Muslims who wear Hijab would be ‘molested’. According to the monarch, Hijab simply means decent dressing for Muslim women and it is mandatory in Islam. The Sultan said this yesterday at the fifth National Convention of Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) with the theme, “Public Trust and Accountability” where he was represented by a member of NSCIA and Wazirin of Katsina, Prof. Sanni Abubakar Lugga

“His eminence wonders while Hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing, decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? The Hijab is just an Arabic word. In English it means decent dressing. His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of dressing. It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public. Secondly, in Nigerian constitution it is absolutely clear. Why should Nigerian Muslims be molested and even denied their own right? The Appeal Court ruling in Ilorin is there, the Appeal Court in Lagos and also the High Court all delivered judgement in favour of Hijab. Justice Alooma, the former CJN, Justice Bukalchuwa and other Senior Justices in Nigeria wear their Hijab and then the wig on top of it. The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), the Highest body in the judiciary has not said, ‘no, they should stop’ which means the Nigerian constitution allows the Hijab, the Nigerian Courts through these three judgements have allowed the Hijab and the NJC through these senior judges has allowed the Hijab. Why will a legal school refuse our sister’s induction into the judiciary simply because she is wearing Hijab? Is the law school saying they are above the NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, they are above these three senior courts?” the monarch said