“Come closer. You need to learn more” — Sheikh Labeeb receives backlash after advocating for female Muslim preachers

Esteemed Islamic cleric Sheikh Hamad Labeeb has sparked intense debate within the Muslim community by advocating for female Muslim preachers, even those who choose not to wear a hijab.

This declaration was made via a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, in response to a video showing a woman preaching without a hijab.

Sheikh Labeeb, addressing his followers in Yoruba, stated, “OBIRIN LONSE WAASI LAIBORI YI O !!! SUGBON EO MA SOPE KI AWON OBIRIN WA TIWON BOJU MASE WAASI,” which translates to, “This is a woman preaching without using a hijab. But our own women who always use a hijab are prevented from preaching.”

The cleric’s statement has ignited a flurry of reactions from the Muslim community, with opinions sharply divided.

Olajire Mojeed, a vocal supporter, criticized what he described as the “backward and extreme mindset” prevalent among some Nigerian Muslims. He urged his fellows to observe how Islam is practiced in Arab cultures, suggesting that such exposure might lead to a more progressive outlook.

“People’s backward and extreme mindset of how Islam should be practiced in Nigeria made them miss the crucial information from Sheikh,” Mojeed remarked.

Prince Ali Ibrahim Ayinde emphasized the importance of being “Islamically exposed” and cautioning against superficial judgments based on appearances and language.

He stated, “This is why you have to be Islamically exposed so you will not see someone speaking Arabic language and call him or her Muslim.”

On the other side of the spectrum, there were numerous dissenting voices. Waheed Babatunde Bashir, for instance, expressed his disagreement vehemently.

“One thing I like about the Islamic religion is that no matter how knowledgeable you are, if you make a mistake, you will face immediate backlash. I am a lover of Shehu Labibu 100%, but his stand on this will never be accepted by me and the majority of Muslims,” he asserted.

Sadiq Lateef Al-Mufty dismissed the woman in the video as merely a radio presenter, not a preacher, and criticized Sheikh Labeeb for his lack of discernment.

“Labeeb, come closer, she’s not preaching; she’s just a radio presenter. For your information, not all those who speak Arabic are Muslims,” he commented.

Kabir Muritala sarcastically suggested that Sheikh Labeeb should now encourage his wives to remove their niqabs and start preaching, calling the cleric’s submission “nonsense.”

Olufemi Kusanu went further, likening Sheikh Labeeb’s encouragement to allowing someone to smoke while delivering a sermon, highlighting the perceived absurdity of the cleric’s position. “Your claim is like encouraging someone to be smoking cigar on minbar because you’ve seen an Arab smoking while talking about aqeedah,” Kusanu criticized.

Sheikh Hamad Labeeb’s advocacy for female Muslim preachers, especially those who do not wear hijabs, has undoubtedly stirred the pot within the Muslim community. While some see his stance as a progressive step towards a more inclusive and modern interpretation of Islamic practice, others view it as a departure from traditional values and teachings.