Christians, Muslims Challenged On Love

As Muslims all over the world celebrated the birth of
Prophet ,Muhammed, yesterday, the Saikin Hausawa in Rivers State, Alhaji Isa
Madaki has enjoined Christains and Muslims in Nigerian to show love to one
another and forgive freely whoever that might have offended them.

Alhaji Madaki who gave this charge yesterday in Port
Harcourt in an interview with The Tide, stressed that the hallmark of Islam is
unity, love, peace and nation building.

‘God forgive Adam, Moses, Ishmeal and Isaac when they
offended him, so why cant we non perfect beings forgive those who offended us ,
he queried.

He particularly urged the Boko Haram sect to look at God,
the creator and  stop killing our
brothers, adding that, if we continue killing our brothers and sisters, it
means we are not good muslims because God hates shedding of blood unless by
reason”.

The Sarakin Hausawa of Rivers State said muslims in the
state are not happy with the killings of our brothers and sister in Northern
Nigeria by the Boko Haram sect.

He said Northerners in the state, particularly condemn
violence, use of religious differences as political weapon, and also emphasised
on the need to avoid using knowledge acquired through western education for
negative ventures.

Also condemning the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram
sect in Nigeria, the Rivers State chapter of the youth forum, Islamic Movement
of Nigeria, described the sect as a bunch of hypocrites claiming to be true
muslims.

The group, which called out its members on an open street
preaching along Port Harcourt/Aba Road, yesterday bemoaned the negative
impression being given to Islam by the so called Boko Haram, and advised the
sect to stop killing and maiming innocent Nigerians in the name of Islam.

The open preaching led by Alhaji Muhammed, an Islamic
preacher, called for true show of love, unity and togetherness of both
Christians and muslims in the interest of one united Nigeria.

According to him, in the history of Islam, there had been
several Islamic hypocrites pointing out that the actions and activities of the
hypocrites show that they are working against the ways and teaching of Islam.

The Deputy Imam, Mile One Central Mosque, Port Harcourt,
Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed urged both Christians and Muslims to use the  occasion to thank God for still keeping us as
one Nation today.

He advised all to fear God, do good and always pray for
Nigerian so that there would be peace, unity and love.

Similarly, Muslims have been enjoined to live their lives in
conformity with the Holy Koran and the
hadith of Prophet Mohammed, for the peace and blessing of Allah to be
upon them.

The Rivers State Islamic leaders and vice president General
of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Rivers State, Alhaji
Nasir Awhelebe Ukor made the call in his Eld-el-Maulud message to mark the birthday
of Prophet Mohammed in  Port Harcourt,
yesterday.

Alhaji Uhor said they should use the period to reflect on
the lives and times of Prophet Mohammed, and also review their lifestyes to
conform with their prophet.

He said the life of Prophet Mohammed was a practical example
of the Koran because Allah specifically directed muslims to obey Him and
Prophet Muhammed, his messenger.

According to him, those who follow and obey him will not go
astray, adding that they should bear in mind this injunction from Allah and ask
themselves if they have been living their lives in conformity with the Holy
Koran and the Habit like Prophet Mohammed did.

The Moslem leader also called on both Moslems and
non-moslems to learn how to shun injustice in all their affairs, saying, “
injustices is a very dangerous specie of violence and crisis”.

Injustice itselves is violence and violence can never beget
peace”, he further said, stressing that if there must be a lasting and
sustainable peace in the country, those in government and other positions of
authority should learn to abhor injustice and uphold the truth at all times.

Alhaji Uhor reiterated that Allah in the Holy Koran ordered
mankind not to allow their hatred of other people stop them from being just.

Everybody must do justice even to people you hate, he
further stated, and  noted that
Nigerians, especially those in authority, should hate injustice and embrace
truth because injustice is the cause of most violence and crisis in the country.

The Rivers State Islamic leader and Vice President General
of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs appealed to all Nigerians to
learn how to deal justly with one another at all times for the development of
the country.