It baffles me whenever I see extremist Christians—yes, I mean Christian fundamentalists, whom we have in abundance in our midst—standing on the pulpit peddling incendiary sermons and lies, with no fear of God in their hearts. Muslim clerics are not absolved from such inflammatory sermons too.
The fabricated story of a nonexistent Zainab Muhammad, falsely condemned to death by a Sharia court in Zamfara State for converting to Christianity, has exposed the deepening chasm and hatred between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. If Zainab Muhammad is a fiction, why did clerics propagate her story so fervently? What evidence exists to substantiate her alleged trial?
The viral photo accompanying the headline “22-year-old Zainab faces death sentence in Zamfara for choosing Christ” is actually of Aaliar Reeves, a U.S.-based model and social media influencer who has built a following across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Ironically, Aaliar is a proud convert to Islam, not Christianity. Her life and actions are guided by the tenets of her new faith, as she revealed in a December 23, 2023, TikTok post: “I took my Shahada so long ago, it feels like I’ve been Muslim my entire life… All I ask is dua. Dua to protect me from evil eye, dua to keep me steadfast in my deen and knowledge, and the ability to continue to feel everything as much as I do.”
If I may ask, what motivates our brethren—Pastor Muhammad Muhammad, Pastor Azzaman Azzaman, Assemblies of God Mission, Pastor Garba Lazarus, and other Christian clerics—to fabricate such lies? Who benefits from inventing a martyr like Zainab Muhammad?
In a Facebook post, Pastor Garba Lazarus called for legal experts, human rights organizations, and Christian institutions to rally against the jurisdiction of Sharia courts, warning of its potential expansion into regions like Yorubaland. He claimed there is “growing anxiety that such moves could lead to enforced religious conformity or an attempt to Islamize the entire nation.”
To entertain Lazarus’ baseless assertion that Sharia law is a tool to “Islamize Nigeria” and undermine Christianity is to embrace absurdity. Sharia, by design, applies exclusively to Muslims in personal and civil matters. Where is the evidence of its imposition on non-Muslims? Lazarus cannot name a single Christian prosecuted under Sharia in its more than 20-year history—because no such case exists. How many non-Muslims have been subjected to Sharia rulings? What legal frameworks ensure Sharia remains confined to consenting Muslims? If the system poses no threat to non-Muslims, why stoke fear of nationwide Islamization?
This fear-mongering ignores Nigeria’s constitutional safeguards. The secular judiciary coexists with Sharia courts, which operate under strict jurisdictional limits. When have Sharia authorities overstepped to target Christians? Who benefits from conflating a faith-specific legal system with existential threats to religious freedom? The answers expose a narrative built on fiction, not fact.
Though the false alarm raised by these clerics, who abused the sanctity of their pulpits, did not escalate into open clashes between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, it has unleashed a flood of unanswered questions. Who is this Zainab Muhammad condemned by the Zamfara Sharia court, as the clerics claim? Why has no cleric provided proof of her existence or trial?
The Zamfara State government has debunked the story as false, calling it an attempt by conflict merchants masquerading as clerics to fan the embers of religious hatred. Daily Times Nigeria and other reputable outlets have also exposed the narrative as fake news. To date, no cleric has substantiated their claims about the so-called Zainab Muhammad.
Christians and Muslims share closer theological and cultural ties than any other major religions. Yet the no-love-lost relationship between their followers remains rooted in historical misunderstandings that drive them apart. Instead of living as brethren and compatriots, we constantly oppose one another—despite the undeniable truth that peace is essential for collective prosperity.
Religion is a sensitive and emotive issue that demands utmost respect and care to avoid social strife. Christian and Muslim leaders alike bear a moral responsibility to nurture understanding and connection among their flocks.
As followers, we must recognize that the pulpit symbolizes a cleric’s duty to proclaim and interpret sacred texts (e.g., the Quran and Bible). It underscores their responsibility to shepherd congregations with wisdom, correction, and hope. Elevated above the crowd, the pulpit distinguishes the holiness of God’s Word from the secular world. It echoes the role of prophets and apostles as conduits for divine revelation. Above all, clerics must treat the pulpit as a sacred vocation—not a platform for personal agendas.
Will the architects of the Zainab Muhammad hoax ever acknowledge their deceit? And when will we prioritize unity over division, truth over manipulation.
Saleh Bature wrote in this piece from Limpopo street, Maitama, Abuja. He is reachable at [email protected]
