Nigerians Urged to Respect Other Faiths
Members of various communities in the country have been told that diverse religious, ethnic, linguistic and cultural affiliations should not necessarily result in disunity.
Speaking at the Ramadan lecture organised by the Oyun community chapter of Jama'atu Nasril Islam at Onijagbo Palace, Ijagbo in Kwara State, the Director, Centre for Ilorin Studies, University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Oladosu, said it was the function of every community member and leader to promote unity in diversity.
"Afterall, the Glorious Quran reminds us of the unity of the human origin, as all men and women of different faith, culture, ethnicity, among others originated from the same parents in person of Adam and Hawau (Eve). It is disheartening to observe that 52 years into the country's independence, some people are still pushing the idea of secession and disintegration. These elements might have lost sight of the wise sayings that: united we stand, divided we fall, and that one hand can never clap, and also that, it is when the five fingers unite that they can beat the chest sonorously," he said.
Speaking on the topic, The role of the Muslim Ummah in a multi-religious country like Nigeria, Profesor Oladosu, who is also the Chief Imam of University of Ilorin, said that interactions between Muslims and Christians and adherents of other faiths should be guided by kindness, justice, mutual respect, mutual understanding and cordial relationship.
He also said that there was nowhere in the Glorious Quran or the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) where approval was granted for anybody or group of bodies to attack churches or other places of worship, adding that, "in fact, all places of worship have sactity and are therefore, safe havens for the faithful."
The Islamic scholar also said that community and religious leaders in the country have additional responsibility of convincing misguided who he said had constituted themselves into perennial cogs in the wheel of national unity, and make them understand that it is not part of the grand design of Allah to force any particular faith on mankind.
"In fact, if Allah had so wished, he could have forced the totality of mankind to believe in one single God or to affiliate to one single religion but out of His special grace, men and women are given the freedom of choice among several religious options", he said.
He also said that community and religious leaders should therefore, endeavour to guide aright and re-educate the misguided elements in their folds, saying there could be no peaceful co-existence and national unity where places of worship are bombed and set ablaze.
He also said that people must also support any effort to include the imperatives of peaceful co-existence as well as unity in diversity, in the school curricula at various educational levels.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu Chikanda NSCIA Buari Edun Sidikat Alaya Oya State Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed Adedeji Onimago Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf Abubakar Baba Sulaiman Ilorin Durbar Eghe Igbinehin Abdulkadir Jimoh Ilorin West Dan Masanin Olaitan Adefila Abdulfatah Ahmed Mahmud Ayinla Giwa Offa Grammer School Assayomo Adeola Abraham Senate Presidency Jimoh Akani Jumoke F. Ajao Special Adviser On Digital Innovation Just Law Forum CELF Abubakar Aliagan Kolawole Akande Ayekale Afetu Of Alabe Council Of The Wise Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji FERMA BECE Rachael Obisesan Sardauna Of Ilorin Kayode Oyin Zubair Ike Ekweremadu Emir Of Shonga 11th Galadima Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Ariyo Sobi Sidikat Akaje Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin Gbenga Adebayo Ahman Pategi University Florence Saraki Adamu B. Yaqubu Waheed Ibrahim Awwal Jawondo Madawaki General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Roseline Oni Aremu Raliat Islamic Foundation Yahaya Jibril Usman Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet Aso-ofi Medinat Folorunsho Salman 20 Billion Bond International Vocational Centre Bahago Oyawoye Kwara University Of Education Jare Olatundun Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development Sulyman Atolagbe Alege Mohammed Ajia Ibrahim Yinka Aluko Quranic Recitation Competition Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem IFK Hauwa Nuru Senior Ibrahim Suleiman Pakata Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye

