Islamic Ethics of Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation in Northern Nigeria: Reassessing Sulh, 'Adl, and 'Afw in Community-Based Peacebuilding

Abstract

Reconciliation is widely regarded as an important pathway to sustainable peace, yet community-based peacebuilding faces a persistent ethical challenge: how can relationships be restored without overlooking injustice or weakening accountability for wrongdoing? This article examines the Islamic ethical principles of ?ul? (reconciliation and negotiated settlement), ?adl (justice), and ?afw (forgiveness or pardon) and considers their relevance to community-based peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria. Drawing on Qur’anic and hadith analysis, Islamic legal scholarship, restorative justice, conflict transformation theory, and published studies of local peace initiatives, the article investigates the relationship between reconciliation, justice, forgiveness, and accountability. It adopts a qualitative, interpretive, documentary design and critically analyses relevant scriptural passages, scholarly literature, institutional reports, and documented peacebuilding cases. The analysis identifies three interrelated propositions. First, ?ul? provides a religiously meaningful framework for negotiation and relationship repair, but its ethical legitimacy depends on the fairness and voluntariness of the settlement. Second, ?adl establishes a normative boundary against reconciliation that conceals serious wrongdoing, excludes victims, or reproduces unequal power relations. Third, ?afw can support healing and reintegration, but it should not be treated as a universal obligation imposed on injured parties or as an automatic substitute for legal and social accountability. The article proposes a Justice-Accountable Reconciliation Framework that connects voluntary dialogue, truth acknowledgment, proportionate accountability, victim participation, reparative action, and sustained monitoring. Its contribution lies in bringing Islamic ethical reasoning into direct dialogue with contemporary conflict transformation scholarship while identifying practical safeguards for community mediation. The framework remains conceptual and requires validation through field interviews and comparative case studies in Northern Nigeria.