Sharia law no threat to Christians – Bauchi traditional leader

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A Bauchi traditional leader and custodian of the Danmalikin Bauchi title, Aminu Danmaliki, has dismissed claims that the practice of Sharia law in Northern Nigerian states poses a threat to Christians or Christianity.

While  briefing journalists on Sunday, Danmaliki said those interpreting Sharia as a danger to non-Muslims “are either misinformed or ignorant of its true concept,” insisting that the Islamic legal system has no jurisdiction over individuals who are not Muslims.

According to him, a recent attempt by a group of Christian activists to discredit Sharia before a joint session of the American Congress has “revived an old, unfounded debate driven mostly by fear, misinformation, and political motives.”

He said, “Not too long ago, the same individuals went to the US Congress and falsely alleged that genocide was being carried out against Christians in Nigeria. While they failed in that attempt to turn the world against Nigerian Muslims, they would also fail in this renewed crusade against Islam and Sharia law.”

Danmaliki stressed that Sharia law is constitutionally protected and remains an integral part of governance that Muslims desire.

“Let it be known that we Muslims shall never accept a governance system in Nigeria without Sharia, which has nothing to do with Christians and is fully recognised by the Nigerian Constitution,” he insisted.

The traditional leader argued that Sharia is neither foreign nor extreme, adding that its influence can be traced in the development of Western legal traditions.

Citing the works of legal scholars such as John Makdisi, Danmaliki noted that several English common-law institutions were adapted from Islamic jurisprudence through Norman interactions with Muslim Sicily.

“These parallels do not exist in Roman law, Canon law, or Anglo-Saxon traditions. Their closest match is Islamic law.

“If Sharia were inherently unjust, why would medieval England adopt some of its principles?” he stressed.

Danmaliki also referenced early American scholarships that regarded Sharia as a sophisticated legal system.

He cited the 1894 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Addams, where the court referenced legal scholars who described Islamic law as rational, humane, and protective of civil liberties.

He added that 19th- and early 20th-century U.S. congressional publications acknowledged Islamic law’s contributions to the protection of minorities, contractual rights, constraints on arbitrary rule, and judicial integrity.

“In short, the United States once regarded Sharia not as a threat but as a respected legal civilisation,” he said.

Speaking in Nigeria’s context, Danmaliki insisted that Sharia is not imposed on Christians and has no legal force over them.

“Sharia in Nigeria applies only to Muslims. This is guaranteed by the Constitution and by state legislation,” he observed.

The Danmaliki title custodian added that non-Muslims can not be tried under Sharia criminal law, non-Muslims can not be compelled to appear in Sharia courts, and non-Muslims have full access to secular courts.”

He pointed out that many Christians voluntarily subscribe to Sharia courts in cases involving Muslims because the process is faster and perceived to be less corrupt, maintaining that, “Sharia strengthens—not weakens—Nigeria’s unity.”

Danmaliki argued further that Nigeria already operates a multi-legal system—common law, customary law, and Sharia—and that each serves the communities that believe in them.

“This is multiculturalism, not division,” he said, adding that Sharia continues to thrive because it delivers justice, not because it is imposed.

He concluded that the enduring value of Sharia lies in its foundational principles of justice, equity, due process, protection of life and property, accountability for leaders, and fairness in commercial dealings.

“These values shaped civilisations. They shaped English law. They shaped American legal thought. And they continue to shape millions of lives in Nigeria,” he posited.

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