Murtadha Gusau delivered a Friday sermon urging Nigerians to embrace peace and reject violence. He cited the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who defined strength not by physical dominance but by self-control in anger. The sermon emphasized that Islam, derived from the root "s-l-m" related to "salam" or peace, is inherently a religion of peace. Gusau highlighted Qur'anic verses such as 10:25 — "And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path" — to underscore divine encouragement toward peaceful living. He referenced the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, where the Prophet accepted seemingly unfair terms to prevent bloodshed, as a model of principled peacemaking. The sermon also recalled Prophet Yusuf (AS), who forgave his brothers despite their betrayal. Gusau stressed that peace in Islam extends beyond absence of conflict to include justice, compassion, and spiritual tranquillity. He quoted the Prophet: "He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not secure from his evil," underscoring personal responsibility in fostering harmony. Peace, according to the sermon, must begin internally and radiate outward into families, communities, and nations.
Murtadha Gusau's invocation of the Prophet's self-restraint in anger stands in sharp contrast to the rhetoric often echoed by religious and political figures in Nigeria. When leaders routinely inflame tensions for influence, a sermon on peace becomes less a celebration of principle and more a quiet rebuke of current conduct. For ordinary Nigerians enduring violence and division, such messages matter only if those in power model restraint — not just preach it.
