The Role of Islamic Teachings in Maintaining Civil Liberties: The Case of Idah Local Government, Kogi State

Abstract

Sometimes, Islam is regarded as a religion that promotes antagonism between Muslims and non-Muslims. But this is not the case. Islam is a religion of peace that regulates the affairs of humans. Civil liberty is the basic human rights enshrined in the laws that govern communities for their good and progress. They include, for example, right to life, freedom speech and worship among others. This research was done in the context of Idah local government area of Kogi state to show how Islam contributes to the upholding of civil liberty in the area.  Adopting both the primary and secondary sources of data collection, in its approach to the discussion, the findings of the research showed that the Quran and the Hadith are the primary source of Islamic beliefs and practices. The paper showed how the teachings of Islam contribute towards maintaining the civil liberty of the people. It was shown in the study that through the knowledge of Allah of the creator of humans, through the belief in punishment and reward, through its teaching on good neighbourliness and the freedom of speech and expression, Islamic teachings contribute, in their own way, in upholding civil liberties in Idah Kogi state. This way, the study has therefore contributed to the debate on the relationship between religion and civil liberties in academic discourse.