Muslim, Christian leaders call for peace and tolerance in historic visit to Jamia Mosque

NAIROBI—In a historic undertaking, Jamia Mosque played host to members of the Christian clergy who were among the congregation during last week’s Friday prayers. In a demonstration of unity, the clergy together with Muslim leaders later called for tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Kenyans of different faiths.

Members of the Christian Clergy from various churches visited Jamia Mosque and were part of the congregation during the Friday Prayers. PHOTO/Jamia Mosque

The event organized, the first of its kind in the country aimed at promoting and strengthening the spirit of tolerance and unity among Christians and Muslims. The event was organised under the auspices of the Inter Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) in collaboration with Jamia mosque Nairobi.

The delegation which was led JumaOmondi the executive director of Global Peace Foundation and member of the Catholic Justice and Peace was first taken on a tour of the mosque facilities before being ushered in a reserved area within the mosque where they followed the weekly sermon and the prayers

The Jamia mosque deputy Imam Sheikh Juma Amir explained that the incident was not a new phenomenon as Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him himself welcomed to his mosque in Madina a delegation of 60 Christian monks and Bishops from Najran in Yemen and hosted them for three days where they were also offered an area within the mosque to perform their religious rituals.

In his address, Prof. Abdullatif Essajee a member of Jamia Mosque committee said the spirit of Islam stressed on promoting mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians for the wellbeing of the society.

He described Muslims and Christians as members of the same humanity and descendants of Prophet Adam and Hawa (Eve) pointing out that that despite professing different faiths and having different cultures, religious differences can never be a justification to perpetrate violence against each other.

“The differences that we have in terms of nations and tribes should not be a reason for division, discrimination, enmity, hatred and violence amongst ourselves. No one is entitled to dehumanize another for professing different faith” he said and went on to quote the Quranic verse, “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Hujurat 13)

Prof. Abdullatif who is also a lecturer at the University of Nairobi demystified the misconceptions that are used to portray Islam as a violent religion stressing that Islamic teachings clearly affirm the principle of no compulsion in religion and that recognizes the universal human brotherhood contrary to the misgivings perpetrated against the faith.

“It is not upon us to compel people to follow a given religion because Allah has clearly said in the Quran that there is no compulsion in religion. Our obligation as Muslims is to propagate the message of Islam,” he continued.

The academician further emphasized that Islam forbids the taking of life of innocent people noting that the Quran highly regards the sanctity of life where saving a life is equal to saving the whole of humanity and taking a life is likewise regarded as the killing of all people (Quran, 5: 32).
Addressing the media after the prayers, JumaOmondi said the gesture is a demonstration that Muslims and Christians can tolerate each other and cooperate for a common goal of peaceful coexistence as Kenyans.

“Today we are moving from a religious tolerance to religious cooperation. We don’t need to misunderstand each other all we need is to tolerate each other,” said Omondi.

On his part Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow said the visit by the clergymen will help to reduce the heightened suspicions between Muslims and Christians which have been occasioned by the terrors attacks witnessed in the country.

The delegates included Paul Chepkwony from the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), Reverend Bernard Alusiola of Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, Arthur Wasonga from the Global Peace Foundation and Dr. Tuesday Githuki executive director of African Peace Service Corps.

While in the mosque, the Christian leaders freely interacted with the Muslim faithful and were also hosted to a lunch organized by the mosque management. They said they will return back the favour by inviting their Muslims counterparts to the Church in the near future.
The visit was part of activities held to mark the International Day of Peace which is observed on September 21.

On Sunday the leaders launched a peace initiative through football games for school going children in order to make them understand the importance of coexisting as members of Muslim and Christian faiths.

Christian and Muslim religious leaders also took part in a friendly football match at Olympic Primary School grounds in Kibera in an initiative that is expected to involve the youth in all Nairobi’s 17 constituencies.

Source: The Friday Bulletin