We should embrace peace

I call on Muslims in Nigeria to value peace and enhance the coexistence between them and their Christian counterpart-citizens. If believing in Jesus as a messenger of God implies believing in Christianity, then all believers in Islam are also Christians. Everyman knows the existence of a Supreme Being. But how to reach the Supreme Being is the problem. As for Muslims and Christians, the status of Jesus is basically the difference. No Muslim can claim true belief without believing in Jesus Christ who was one of the five “exalted” prophets of God.

There is also the belief of Muslims in destiny which implies that the creation of Muslims and Christians to coexist in Nigeria by God is not a mistake. The amalgamation of Nigeria is not also a mistake because God allowed it, hence the need for peace.

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I want to refer my Nigerian Muslim compatriots to some verses of the Holy Qur’an which can solve most, if not all, of the misunderstandings between them and their Christian counterparts in Nigeria. A Muslim must distinguish himself/herself wherever. Islam is a religion of peace, knowledge and social equity. It is a well-known fact that despite the accusations against Islam, it spread in the past because of the exemplary lives of the early Muslims.

It was said in the past that when a Muslim in Nigeria swore by saying “Wal-Laahi”, that was the last truth. But now some Muslims do worse things: they lie, they cheat and they commit different kinds of crimes yet swear many times to cover up. It is even believed now that the swearing of some Muslims is the beginning of their lie. It is unbelievable that some Muslims take oath of office with the Holy Qur’an and act contrary to their allegiance, thus they disobey Allah’s commandment.

Muslims in Nigeria should be guided by the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). They should do what they say. They should not take the gravity of saying what they do not do with levity. They must stop calling people of other religions with filthy names like “arne”, “yamiri”; they must embrace peace and stop abusing others or even their gods and.

There is no other country for real patriotic Nigerians than Nigeria. Disunity in Islam is never a solution to any problem. There is no justification for Muslims of Nigeria to be divided. Violence and inhumanity are not part of Islam but peace. Preaching and standing against Buhari is not good. Muslims must support a just leader.

All the religious misunderstandings that have created disaffection amongst the people of Nigeria can be amicably resolved through continuous meetings. The campaigns of calumny, the religious-induced killings, the herdsmen-farmers’ violent clashes and the quarrel over equitable distribution of federal appointments and infrastructure, amongst other national issues, can be resolved irrespective of the religion the President of Nigeria belongs to. In order to enhance the much needed peace, here is an urgent need to push for the ministry of inter-religious affairs or an inter-religious commission to be co-headed by a Muslim and a Christian.

Muhammad Ajah,

Abuja.