The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla
LOCAL Muslims have extended an olive branch to different faiths in a bid to address challenges in the orthodox religious circles.
The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe (SCIAZ) reckons that religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam are collectively facing sophisticated and complicated challenges due to the current world order and developments happening socially, technologically and spiritually. Against this background, SCIAZ in conjunction with the Federation of Muslim Dawah Organisations for East, Central and Southern Africa is holding countrywide awareness programs to mingle with different faiths.
Apart from Zimbabwe, the program has also been conducted in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zambia.
SCIAZ national chairman, Mr Sultan Adam Salamu said it has always been strange for non-Muslims to see Muslims opening up.
“It has always been strange to non-Muslims to see Muslims opening up like what we have done so that we can gather and feel free to ask questions and exchange notes.
“We have different faiths and we extended this to the Christians because we have need for peaceful co-existence among people of citizenry wherever it maybe.
“Of paramount importance is, do we all as worshippers and shepherds understand who Jesus is and who Muhammad is, and what they stand for?
“Who are the Israelites and who are the Ishmaelites and what became of them? What does the Bible say about Muhammad and what does the Quran say about Jesus?
“There is a myth when you look at Islam. People mysteriously think that this religion has certain connotations that they imagine.
“So to clear the air, we thought that people of different faiths should come together and understand so that at the end of the day you cannot suspect me or I cannot suspect you of anything. You cannot fear me and I cannot fear you,” Mr Salamu said.
He added that, “It is not an issue of antagonism when we pray. It’s an issue of complementing each other because we are all going to one destination, we all want to go to paradise,” Mr Salamu said.
Contrary to perception, Mr Salamu added that Muslims share common beliefs with Christians and the platform was there to iron out areas of difference.
He said by virtue of sharing the conviction to accept to pray in the name of a religion, it displayed the common beliefs shared. “Islam means submission to the will of God. So everyone was born a Muslim but we begin to bring doctrines which makes us differ. We all believe that we have to pray in congregations and have places of worship.
“Jesus Christ was sent as a mercy to us all human beings regardless that you are a Jew, he came as a messenger. He may have been born mysteriously, we believe he was a powerful prophet but we don’t say Jesus was a God, neither a son of God. However it is all going down to how to pray,” explained Mr Salamu.
While religious wars rage on unabated in regions such as the Middle East, Mr Salamu said this would only cease when the fathers of the religions sit down and address the differences.
“When we are talking of the super powers of religion we are talking of Rome, we are talking of Mecca. These are the people that should come together and say how can we unite and start praying peacefully. If these people had sat down, there would be peace in the world now,” he said.
Having held public addresses in Chitungwiza, Mbare, Bulawayo and Kwekwe, among other areas, Mr Salamu said they have plans to head to Botswana.
