A Muslim woman in Kaduna on Sunday donated 50 Bibles written in Hausa language to a church leader and members of the church as part of her ways in strengthening religious tolerance and mutual understanding as the world marks International Interfaith Harmony Week by the United Nations
Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani who arrived the Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna at 9:30am with her son, Abdullahakim, to attend Sunday church service with Christians, explained that there is the need to start the World Interfaith Harmony Week holding between 1 and 7 February by donating important gift such as Bibles to Christians.
She also said the importance of sharing Bibles to Christians is to boost mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue as well as spread the culture of peace and harmony in a way to immensely promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith and belief.
According to her, the Interfaith Harmony Week was established to celebrate the principles of tolerance and respect for others that are deeply rooted in the world’s major religions, adding, “that is why United Nations declared and dedicated the first week of this month to promote all activities that encourage and enhance religious activities and tolerance.
“Christians are my brothers and sisters and as a Muslim I love visiting them, because both religions preach peace and tolerance. Attending the church service doesn’t make me become a Christian. As a Muslim I have several Bibles at home and I read them.”
Hajiya Tijjani, who pointed out that the impact of the previous ethno-religious and political crises in the state that claimed hundreds of lives and properties was a serious setback peaceful co-existence in Kaduna, urged clerics from both religions to preach sermons that foster unity and peaceful co-existence.
While reiterating that both religions preach peace, harmony, forgiveness and tolerance, she noted, “We all are from Adam and Eve and because both Muslims and Christians have their books and scriptures that guide them, we should rely on the scriptures.”
She called on the states, federal government, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, human right groups, traditional rulers and youth organizations to use the week to speak on need for inter-faith harmony and good will in churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship.
“It is necessary for Nigerian clerics to strengthen peace and maintain the culture of visiting other clerics at their places of worship in order to teach their followers ways of tolerating other religions and the members,” she said.
Receiving the Bibles, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Pastor Yohanna Buru, thanked Hajiya Tijjani for the gesture and urged other Nigerians to learn how to tolerate, accommodate and live in peace with one another irrespective of religious background.
Pastor Buru also called on all citizens to shun all issues that lead to ethno-religious and political crisis.
He stressed that it is time all preachers redoubled their efforts in teaching their followers the right ways and obey the teaching of the holy books so as to end the activities of extremists and terrorists hiding under religion.
“As preachers we must work to halt the activities of false preachers causing problems to peace settlement across the globe.”
Pastor Buru said as this year’s interfaith week and harmony begins, the church will embark on endurance walk with Muslims to create awareness to the public on need to tolerate one another regardless of religious affiliations.