Jama’atu Nasril Islam
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Arabic: Society for the Support of Islam, www.jninigeria.org) is an umbrella group for the Muslim community in Nigeria.[1] The organisation is based in the city of Kaduna, and its president is the Sultan of Sokoto. The organisation conducts Islamic education and missionary work in the region, and has had particular success amongst recent converts from the Igbo tribe.[2]
Jama'atu Nasril Islam, acronym JNI, is the umbrella under which all Islamic Organizations in Nigeria rally around. Its name, which in English is "Society for the Support of Islam", signifies why the society was first conceptualized and formed; basically to work, through peaceful ways, including 'wisdom and good preaching' in projecting the good image of Islam and defending the legitimate rights and interest of Muslims throughout Nigeria. The idea for the formation of JNI came up in 1962 after the return of the then Premier of northern Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto) from pilgrimage in Makkah. The Sardauna, who after making contacts with Muslims from other parts of the world, and having contemplated for some time on the need to have some organized efforts to propagate the teachings of Islam in Nigeria decided to form an organization through which that goal can be achieved. Sardauna had discussed extensively on the matter with Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, a renowned Islamic Scholar and the then Acting Grand Khadi of northern Nigeria......