Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has spoken out in support of the sentence reduction granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for killing her husband in 2020.
Recall Dawn Herald this week reported that President Bola Tinubu made an announcement through his media aide Bayo Onanuga that the earlier presidential pardon for Sanda had been revoked, yet her punishment was reduced from death to 12 years imprisonment considering the best interests of her two children.
The decision followed reports of Sanda’s good conduct in prison, remorsefulness, and transformation into a model prisoner.
Reacting on Facebook, Sheikh Gumi described Sanda’s remorse after the act as the work of Shaytan (Satan), saying,
They said she stabbed him, then broke down crying over his body. Do you understand? That is the work of Shaytan – Sheikh Gumi
He emphasized that many people spoke without knowledge about the pardon and misunderstood Islamic rulings on forgiveness. Gumi explained that the forgiveness granted by the family of the deceased was not only lawful in Islam but spiritually commendable. He added that forgiveness in Islam symbolizes mercy, which is more beloved to Allah than vengeance.
In Islam, when the family of the victim forgives, it is not a weakness, it is mercy, and mercy is more beloved to Allah than vengeance. Maryam Sanda’s execution would not have been the right solution. The presidential pardon she received was the correct one. In Islam, justice is not driven by anger, but by balance and compassion – Sheikh Gumi
Despite this, some Nigerians expressed strong opposition to the announcement, criticizing what they see as a reward for criminality. The backlash led President Tinubu to withdraw the initial pardon list for review.
Do you believe Maryam Sanda’s act was the work of Shaytan? Share your thoughts with Dawn Herald in the comment section below.
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