Kano govt directs petitions, counter petitions on Sheikh Lawan Triumph to shura council
Story By Jameel Lawan Yakasai
The Kano State Government has waded into the controversy surrounding remarks made by popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Lawan Triumph, during a religious lecture in the state, directing that petitions and counter-petitions from various religious groups be forwarded to the State Shura Council for deliberation and advice.
Solacebase reports that the development follows uproar within the Muslim community after Sheikh Triumph, on September 15, 2025, while teaching the book Aqidatul Tahawiyyah at Masjidul Qur’an in Bachirawa, dismissed long-held narratives about the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
During the lecture, Sheikh Triumph openly challenged the belief that the Prophet was born circumcised and with eyeliner, describing such claims as exaggerated and unsubstantiated.
He added that similar features are found among ordinary people and even animals, and therefore cannot be regarded as unique to the Prophet.
“Nowadays, even sheep are born with natural eyeliner. I challenge you to ask doctors or midwives, even non Muslims are born with circumcision. These things are not exclusive to Prophet Muhammad,” Sheikh Triumph reportedly said.
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The comments immediately provoked a storm of reactions, with several religious organizations accusing the cleric of showing disrespect to the Prophet.
Groups such as Safiyatul Islam of Nigeria, Tijjaniya Youth Enlightenment Forum, Committee of Sunnah Preachers, Imams of Juma’at Mosques under Qadiriyya, and others submitted formal petitions to the government demanding action against him.
At the same time, Sheikh Triumph received backing from another set of scholars led by Dr Abdallah Gadon Kaya, who submitted a counter-petition to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Speaking after presenting the letter, Dr Abdallah explained that they considered it necessary to intervene after they learned that petitions had been filed against the cleric.
While he did not disclose the letter’s content, sources close to the delegation told this newspaper that the document expressed complete support for Sheikh Triumph’s interpretation and defense of his scholarship.
Confirming receipt of the petitions, the Press Secretary to the SSG, Musa Tanko, said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had granted approval for all submissions to be referred to the State Shura Council.
The Council, a body of senior Islamic scholars, is expected to carefully study the complaints and make recommendations to the government.
The SSG, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, reaffirmed the state government’s neutrality in the matter and emphasized its priority of maintaining peace and religious harmony in Kano.
He said “The government calls on residents to remain calm, continue their normal activities, and remain law-abiding as the Shura Council deliberates on the matter.”
Kano, one of the most religiously active states in northern Nigeria, has often witnessed intense theological debates among scholars and sects. Disagreements over interpretations of Islamic texts, sometimes leading to petitions, protests, and heated exchanges between different groups.
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