We must avoid the temptation to engage in simplistic assumptions and/or consequent conclusions that what Islam is in the text is what the religion is in different contexts of Muslim societies across the contemporary world. It is, however, arguably to say that the greater issue confronting the Islamic world today is that of violent extremism or terrorism. The latter, which has variously been described as “Islamic Jihadist” movement, has enjoyed much popularity for improving cross-cultural dialogue across the world but notoriety for its promotion of violence. Represented in the West African sub-region by the Boko Haram group, the activities of these so-called Islamic movements have equally raised questions about original teachings of Islam – the precepts and principles established by Prophet Muhammad for interreligious dialogue and perhaps most importantly the position of Islam on freedom of, in and within religion. This presentation explores and engages the dialectics in these perspectives, rereads factors for the incidence of violent extremism in the West African sub-region and offer suggestions by which the region could achieve greater intercultural and interreligious rapprochement, through the exploration of intra-Islamic peace-building strategies and instruments.
