LAGOS: Nigeria's military imam Colonel Ishaq Rano said that the killing and bombing of Christian churches in the country is forbidden under Islam. He said in comments during a Friday sermon that the killing of civilians is “un-Islamic.” It comes as the militant Islamic group Boko Haram continues to attack Christians in the country, in attacks aimed at pushing the government to create an Islamic state and push Christians away from areas controlled by the rebel group. Rano, who was speaking during the special Juma'at prayer to commemorate the 2012 Nigerian army day celebration in Jos, said Boko Haram members were not “good Muslims” and termed their actions as “haram,” or “forbidden.” “We are praying to God to touch Boko Haram to stop killing innocent people, to stop killing Christians and to stop killing security personnel. “In Islam, killing is not allowed, it is forbidden in Islam to kill anybody,” he was quoted as saying. Rano emphasized that nobody had the right to kill anybody, adding that “only a court of law could condemn a person. “Even if a person commits a crime in your presence, you can't kill him or her, but you can take him or her to the law court. “If Boko Haram members claim to be Muslims, then they are not good Muslims. They are only bearing the Muslim names and they don't know Islam," he argued. Rano, who is also the Chief Imam of 3 Division of the Nigerian army, said he was saddened by the current security challenge facing the country. “The Armed Forces and the country are no longer in peace. So this special Juma'at prayer is to pray for peace, stability and religious tolerance in the armed forces and in our dear country. “We are praying for the Almighty God to continue to keep Nigeria as one country. We are also praying to God to destroy anybody or group within or outside the country causing trouble."
