Mawlid Nabiyy: MMPN preaches tolerance, moderation

THE Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has felicitated with Nigerians on the occasion of Mawlid Nabiyy (birthday of Prophet Muhammad), which is celebrated often on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar, which is today, Friday, 1st of December, 2017.

The MMPN, in a message by its National President, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, used the occasion to call for tolerance, patience and moderation at all levels of interactions among all and sundry.

The organisation implored Muslims and non-Muslims alike to emulate these attributes of the Prophet of Allah as a mark of honour to him.

“We note with serious concern the drift towards anarchy in the polity and increase in domestic violence in Nigeria.

“Ahead of 2018, and preparatory to 2019 general election, we have noticed tension building up in various camps across the political divides occasioned by forthcoming conventions and primaries of various political parties.

“Stockpiling of arms, creation of bottlenecks in the way of opposition programmes and clashing of convoys on major roads, among others, are danger signals capable of truncating the democratic process.

“MMPN charges all parties concerned to exhibit political tolerance and eschew violence and vindictiveness. Politics is all about living and letting live. It should be about good governance and provision of dividends of democracy for the people.

“That was how Prophet Muhammad lived his life in Madinah as a leader and head of state. He lived side by side with unbelievers and tolerated them to the extent that he was turned back from his city in Makkah.

“In the same vein, we noticed the disturbing increase in domestic violence – husbands killing wives and vice versa, children killing parents and vice versa, as well as friends killing friends. These ugly incidents, most times, are attributable to lack of patience and tolerance.

“MMPN hereby urges all to eschew violence, tolerate one another and exercise patience in all matters in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

“We equally implore Muslim groups to celebrate with moderation as this is not one of the festivities in Islam but to take time and reflect on which aspect of the life of Prophet Muhammad they have imbibed,” the MMPN’s message read.