The announcement has generated wide reactions online, after his earlier statement in support of Christianity was widely shared and celebrated by some Christian evangelists and social media users critical of Islam.
In a statement circulating on social media, the young man said he regrets his decision to leave Islam and has apologized to his father, Sheikh Nura Khalid, and to the Muslim Ummah. He did not give further details on what informed his decision.
A few weeks ago, the son announced that he had converted to Christianity. The announcement quickly went viral, with several anti-Islam social media accounts amplifying it as evidence of a shift away from Islam.
At the time, Sheikh Nura Khalid publicly stated that his son has been dealing with serious mental-health challenges since birth and urged the public to be cautious in how the matter was discussed.
Despite that warning, the earlier announcement was used by some Christian preachers and evangelists who invited the young man to crusades and church programs. Photos of him with church leaders were shared online, with some presenting his case as a religious victory.
Following his latest announcement to return to Islam, many Muslim commentators have questioned the motive behind the initial celebrations.
They asked why an individual’s personal decision was presented as a reflection on an entire religion, and whether those who publicized his conversion to Christianity will now give the same attention to his return to Islam.
“Where are those who were celebrating? Will the churches and crusades that invited him now give the same platform to his decision to return to Islam?” one post on X asked.
Others argued that faith should not be reduced to social media content or propaganda, and called for more sensitivity given the mental-health context shared by the family.
As of the time of filing this report, none of the Christian leaders or churches that hosted the young man have issued a public statement on his decision to revert to Islam.
Sheikh Nura Khalid, a former Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque in Abuja, is known for his outspoken sermons on governance and religious tolerance.
In reaction to the online debate, supporters of the cleric said Islam continues to grow globally and does not depend on the actions of any single individual. They noted that people embrace Islam daily in countries including the UK, US, Canada and Germany, “not by compulsion, but through conviction.”
“One person leaving Islam does not destroy Islam. One person returning to Islam does not create Islam,” a statement shared by associates of the Sheikh read.
Mental health professionals have also urged caution in discussing the case publicly, stressing the need to protect the privacy and dignity of individuals living with mental-health conditions.
The family has not announced any further public events regarding the matter.
