The issue with Shariah application in Nigeria is a lot. If we're being honest, there's a lot to talk about here. But while we seem to focus on this particular case of blasphemy, I will like to open the issues carefully. Like onions.

Layer 1: Perception. The first thing you have to know that as far as Sharia law is concerned in most part of the world, it's about cutting heads. Or if you really want to be more peaceful, just cutting hands. Just punishment. It doesn't change. Many Muslims believe this too. 1/20

You can't really blame people. They're what they're taught. However, the ambit Sharia law covers is far wider than the scope most people know. Shariah law covers virtually everything the human mind can conceive. For example, Suratul Baqarah explains contract law in details. 2/20

Islamic family and finance laws are some of the most advanced. What's mostly called interest free loans is a replication of Islamic law. Sukuk bonds are one of the most progressive country-wide usage of Islamic law. 3/20

In my third in University, I took a course called Gender Law. We were grouped and told to research different cultural and religious inheritance laws & rights for women. I was the only Muslim in my group.But what my group members found in Islamic inheritance laws stunned them 4/20

While courts had to rule different cultural laws as repugnant, and against "natural justice," Muslim women were just cruising. I hoped that experience changed some of their perceptions. There's more to learn. Shariah law perception operates the way terrorism operates. 5/20

The tiny laws on punishment are what qualifies the whole body of laws. Just as tiny "Muslim" terrorists defines Islam. 6/20

Layer 2: Education. See, Shariah law requires education. It requires critical thinking. And it requires honesty about knowledge. All of these is lacking, to a large extent, where it's applied. The education that Northerners get is really subpar 7/20

to standard when it comes to legal education in Nigeria. People who have been to law school know this. While this is not to vilify, it begins to affect the way laws are used. I have read some judgements from Sharia courts and they just weren't clicking. 8/20

They weren't even doing well to the parties and weren't ensuring justice. This ruins the honesty that comes with Shariah laws. And ruins the usage of it. 9/20

Layer 3. Justice. One of the founding principles of an "Islamic State" is justice. I use air quote to mean the questionable Islamic state practiced in the North. If Sharia law was really practiced in the North, the region will be the most advanced. 10/20

Only the poor bothers about Shariah law in Northern Nigeria. The rich use Sharia law as a tool of oppression and destruction. The way they know to circumvent laws in southern Nigeria, is the way it's done with Sharia law. And that, destroys the whole essence of Shariah law. 11/20

Economic, moral, and social justice is pivotal in the application of Shariah laws. While Middle Eastern countries call themselves Islamic states, they mostly practice a part of shariah law that suit them. But it also makes their leaders accountable. Accountability to God. 12/20

Economic, moral, and social justice is really important in the application of Shariah laws. While Middle Eastern countries call themselves Islamic states, they mostly practice a part of shariah laws that suit them. But it also makes their leaders accountable. 13/20

The accountability to God and people is the reason why some of them have very good economies. If Northerners really cared about Shariah laws, Ganduje's hands should be hanging in Kano market. The Al-majiri system which perpetuates economic injustices shouldn't exist. 14/20

Schools wouldn't be underfunded. The grand scale of "Shariah malpractices" is the staggering. In Shariah, corruption cases aren't treated with levity. 15/20

The popular story of the Prophet's (SAW) anger when he was begged not to apply the punishment for stealing and he replied that if it was his daughter same laws will be applied explains a lot. The successful application of proper Shariah laws during Umar Bn A/Azeez time 16/20

as caliph when there was no poor people to receive Zakat proves a lot. All these are very important concerns in the application of Shariah law in the whole region. And it bothers the mind when all of this is reduced to nothing.

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Layer 4: Legal framework. In summary, any higher court of competent jurisdiction can upturn any decisions of a Sharia court. Makes the application of Shariah laws a total ridicule. In a proper Islamic state, the Shariah court is the final court. 18/20

But as far as Nigerian court hierarchy and legal framework is concerned, the application of Shariah laws is harder. And frankly, makes their existence some kind of ridicule to the Muslims who want to use them. 19/20

In essence, the perception of Islamic law to people isn't really what it's. It a wider scope. But the fixation on d insignificant, is an indication of what people do when they can't understand a thing. But on the flip side, the application of it is riddled with issues. 20/20.