TheNewsGuru

Tag: muslims

  • One dead, 10 injured in London mosque terror attack

    • I want to kill all Muslims, says London mosque attacker

    One man has died and 10 others were injured when a van was rammed into worshippers in a terror attack near a London mosque, before the driver is said to have screamed: “I’m going to kill all Muslims”.

    The van driver – described by witnesses as a large white man – was detained by members of the public after the incident in Finsbury Park early on Monday that police said had “all the hallmarks of terrorism”.

    The white van ploughed into pedestrians as the area was busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers in Seven Sisters Road at 12.20am.

    A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is in custody.

    The man who died is believed to have been an elderly worshipper who was already receiving first aid from members of the public after collapsing. It is not yet known if his death was caused by the attack, police said.

    One witness described being surrounded by “bodies” in the wake of the attack outside the Muslim Welfare House, yards from Finsbury Park mosque.

    Another said the attacker shouted about killing Muslims as he was held by local people. He his alleged to have said: “I did the job… I done my bit”. Witnesses claimed he added: “I’d do it again, I’d do it again.”

    Prime Minister Theresa May is chairing a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergencies committee at 10am and is expected to give a statement outside 10 Downing Street afterwards.

    Culled from Telegraph.co.uk

  • Ramadan: Church shares food to 500 fasting Muslims in Kaduna

    Ramadan: Church shares food to 500 fasting Muslims in Kaduna

    The Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna has doled out over 500 food packages to Muslims, since the beginning of the Ramadan.

    Pastor Yohanna Buru,the Church General Overseer, told the News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] in Kaduna on Monday that the food packages and drinks were shared out to destitutes and the poor.

    He said that the Church was in the forefront of promoting religious tolerance in Kaduna State, adding that the gesture was to deepen peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians.

    “We must support our brothers and sisters with what to eat in these 30 days, in view of the high cost of food items in local markets.

    “This gesture will strengthen good relationship with Muslims and promote religious tolerance and better understanding among different faiths.”

    According to him, it is not the first time the church is distributing foodstuffs to needy Muslims during the Ramadan.

    Buru recalled that the Church had distributed over 1,000 packaged food and drinks to Internally Displaced Persons, destitutes and prison inmates in 2016.

    The cleric stressed that Islam and Christianity have many things in common as contained in the Bible and Qur’an, adding, “we are all brothers and sisters and must support each other to live in peace and harmony.”

    He decried the negative attitude of traders who usually take advantage of the Ramadan to hike prices of goods, saying that the action negates every tenet of religion.

    Buru appealed to wealthy Muslims and Christians nationwide to support the poor, including widows and orphans to ease their pains.

    One of the beneficiaries, Malam Wambai Isa, who is the leader of visually impaired persons in the state, commended Buru for his relentless efforts to bring succour to less privileged persons.

     

     

    NAN

  • Ramadan: Watch out for new moon tomorrow, Sultan urges Muslims

    Ramadan: Watch out for new moon tomorrow, Sultan urges Muslims

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, has urged Muslim community in the country to be in the lookout for the new moon for the month of Ramadan on May 26.

    Prof. Sambo Wali, the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, made the call in a statement in Sokoto on Thursday.

    He stated that “this is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Friday, May 26, 2017, is equivalent to 29th day of Sha’aban 1438 AH and shall be the day to look for the new moon of Ramadan 1438 AH.

    “Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon of Ramadan, 1438 AH on Friday.

    “They should report its sighting to the nearest District or Village Head, for onward communication to the Sultan.”

    He urged Muslims to report the sighting of the new moon to the sultan on the following numbers: 0803-715-7100, 0706-741-6900, 0806-630-3077, 0806-548-0405, 0803-595-7392, 0803-596-5322 and 0803-614-9767.

     

    NAN

  • Muslim groups call for shift of NYSC orientation till after Ramadan

    Muslim groups call for shift of NYSC orientation till after Ramadan

    Da’Wah Co-Ordination Coordination council of Nigeria, a coalition of Muslim groups, has asked that the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to shift the date for the planned National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the screening exercise for the Nigerian Army.

    The group made made this call saying it would be unfavourable to Muslims who will be starting their annual fast this month.

    The National President of the group, Mohammed Lawal Maidoki said, “participants may have to stop fasting or break it or fail to qualify in the camp activities.

    “We cannot understand why only muslim sensitivities will be treated with lack of consideration. We wish to remind Nigerian government men and its parastatals such as the Nigeria and National Youth Service Corps that Muslims are part of Nigeria and indeed constitute majority of its population.

    “We equally call on the leadership of the national assembly to halt the camp and call to order the leadership of the Nigerian army and the NYSC.

    Furthermore, we are using this medium to call on all paramilitary outfits and MDAs of the country to respect Muslim rights and Values in the interest of peace and harmony. Even in the western countries where Muslims at minorities, their rights are respected and protected”.

  • Easter: Christians, Muslims celebrate, preach peace, unity

    Easter: Christians, Muslims celebrate, preach peace, unity

    Muslims and Christians on Saturday met in Kaduna to mark the Easter, as part of efforts to promote unity, tolerance and understanding among members of different faiths in the state.

    The event, organised by Pastor Yohanna Buru attracted a huge crowd including clerics, traditional and community leaders.

    Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship, Sabon Tasha, said Nigerians must team up irrespective of differences to overcome social and economic challenges retarding growth and development.

    “We must unite in order to find means of ending all forms of ethno-religious and political crisis that is setting us backward.

    “We don’t want relative peace but lasting peace that will come to stay in Northern Nigeria, Nigeria and in Africa.

    “We are not asking anyone to compromise his or her faith, but if we can understand one another, we will live in peace and harmony with every citizen, so as to make Nigeria great again.”

    Buru stressed that the basis for any progress is peace, as such Nigerians must strive to pursue the path of peace, dialogue and understanding at all times.

    The District Head of Ungwan Muazu, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu commended Buru for his unrelenting pursuit of peace in the state.

    Ahmed urged Muslims and Christians to key into the initiative to end hatred, and collectively tackle any form of insecurity in various communities.

    The district head urged people of the state to support ongoing efforts of the state and federal government to ensure peace in all communities.

    Similarly, Malam Gambo Abdullahi, an Islamic scholar appealed to government to address the problems of cattle rustling, armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and rape.

    He also urged government to address problems of cultism and ritual activities in tertiary institutions.

    Gambo called on all Nigerians to support government in the fight against corruption and in punishing looters of national treasury.

    “We expect you to extend this gospel of peace to people in your communities when you get back home and we must teach our children peace from the grassroots,” he said.

     

     

    NAN

  • Religious relations with Muslims

    By Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

    The Church is very passionate about peace in the world and healthy relationship with people of other religions. To this reason, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID) has a special Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims (CRRM). The President is Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, Vice president, Bishop Miguel Àngel Ayuso Guizot, M.C.C.I and the Secretary is Monsignor Khaled Akasheh. Eight Consultors are chosen from different continents of the world. On 11 March 2006, Pope Benedict XVI placed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue under the leadership of the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture but given the importance of dialogue in the world today, Pope Benedict XVI gave autonomy to the Council by appointing a President for PCID in 2007.

    The CRRM engages in studies on different aspects of Christian-Muslim relations. From 2013-2017, the Commission worked on the theme of “HOPE” with reports from the different countries and continents of the world as follows: Fr. Amir Jaje Op, Iraq, Egypt and the Middle East; Fr. Prof. Andrea Pacini, Italy and Europe; Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Nigeria and Africa; Fr. Prof. Felix Korner SJ, Rome; Prof. Lamin Saneh, United States of America (USA) and Canada; Prof. Rotraud Wielandt, Germany and German Speaking Countries; Prof. Ian Richard Netton, United Kingdom (UK) and new trends in Islamic studies and Romana Bashir, Pakistan and South Asia. In the meeting of February 7-9, 2017, Dr. Abdellah Redouane, Secretary General of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy was invited to speak on “Christians and Muslims: Bearers of Hope” from a Muslim perspective. Fr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanmalage, Under-Secretary PCID presented the same topic from a Christian Perspective.

    At 10.00am of February 9, 2017, the Commission had audience with Pope Francis in Pilazzo dei Papi. Cardinal Tauran, presented the members of the Commission to the Holy Father. In response, Pope Francis thanked the members of the commission for the work that has lasted for a tenure of five years. He acknowledged the difficulties and challenges of the commission with particular reference to the terrorists’ activities in the world. While the commission and the world keep hoping that the relationship between Christians and Muslims would soon produce the desired fruits of religious harmony and peaceful co-existence, there still exist religious persecution and religious terrorism that has claimed the lives of many innocent people, destroyed valuable properties and displaced people from their homes. The Holy Father prayed that the work of the Commission may not be in vain.

    Hopefully, the next Commission would study the THEOLOGY OF ISLAM. In the Commission that just ended its tenure, the résumé of HOPE is the existence of Christian and Muslim structures in the different parts of the world. Despite the insurgencies and terrorism in different parts of the world, Christians and Muslims still live together with conscious or unconscious practise of dialogue of life, religious experience, friendship, encounter, social engagements, presence and theological exchange. It is obvious that mutual suspicion is still deep in the hearts of many people especially victims of violence in many parts of the world. It is also true that many of these victims are yearning for reprisal and revenge. Many are prepared to defend themselves. Some are calling for a theology of self-defence to justify their urge for vengeance. Yet no one can imagine the level of damage this urge for reprisal could cause to humanity if there were no form of relationship between Christians and Muslims. If not for the relationship that still exist between some Christians and Muslims in the midst of the unfortunate violence that has ravaged the world, it could have been worse. Just imagine the endemic fear of those who believe that the main target and aim of the terrorists is to cause religious war and make the world only one religion. We must believe that this is not the will of God hence the enemies of life will fail.

    The suspicion on the side of some Christians that there is an Islamic agenda to make Nigeria an Islamic State is deep and strong. This is heating up the polity of the nation. Some Christians keep using Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and countries in the Middle East that were once 90% Christians and have now become 99% Muslims as case studies to buttress their fears and agitations. Just take a look at Gambia! On December 12, 2015, “Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared his Muslim-majority country an Islamic republic, saying the move marks a break with colonial past” (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35082343). To promote and restore peace and unity among Muslims and Christians, President Adama Barrow, the new President changed this executive order and declared that Gambia would no longer be called an Islamic republic as signed into law on December 11, 2015.

    According to President Barrow, the Gambia, despite having a 90 per-cent Muslim population, with the rest Christian and animist, was a republic “not the Islamic republic”. He made this known at his first news conference since returning to take office on Thursday, January 26, 2017 (https://www.naij.com/1085177-adama-barrow-removes-islamic-gambias-name.html). This indeed is a loud music of hope for Gambia. If every African Political and Religious leader promote the constitution of the Country and allow the Ecclesiastical and Sharia laws to be practised in the private domain, no extremist would have any basis to destroy the unity of the nation. In Nigeria, it appears that the members of the House of Representatives and Senate are trying in this regard but the citizens would be happier if the issues of religion are balanced in the constitution.

    One of the fallout of the crisis in the world today is the strong suspicion that the terrorists who claim to be Muslims still use the verses of the Quran that calls for fight and war after so many years of the revelation of these verses. Some Muslims often refer to similar passages of the Holy Bible that call for war. The Christians do not deny the existence of these verses in the Old Testament. The difference is that with the advent of Jesus Christ, the verses of the Old Testament that call for war has become anachronistic to the human beings in our modern world. Jesus the author of Christianity did not carry out any war in form of Crusade that anybody could reference to support his or her terrorist operations. The Christians need to be united to build up enough capacity to engage people of other religions especially Muslims in dialogue. This is possible because some Muslims affirm that the verses of the Quran that call for war are historically bond and that those verses cannot be referenced today to kill innocent people. Moreover, I have heard some Muslims say that to kill somebody in the name of Allah has nothing to do with Islam. Some Muslims condemn this as inspiration from Satan.

    To make the world a peaceful place to live in, the Christians and Muslims still need to study properly the exegesis and interpretations of their Holy books in context. The Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue remain resolute that there is no option to dialogue. This optimism remains valid even though many people are suffering from the effects of religious motivated violence and terrorism. The Church enjoins on all Christians and Muslims to avoid hate speeches and pave the way of peace in accordance with the mind of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace. Vendetta cannot heal the wounds that are deep in the heart. Only mercy, love, forgiveness, reconciliation and friendship can heal the trauma of the heart.

    Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue in the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (omonokhuac@gmail.com)

     

  • Just in: Muslim clerics in Borno begin 10-day prayer, fasting for Buhari’s health

    Just in: Muslim clerics in Borno begin 10-day prayer, fasting for Buhari’s health

    Some Muslims clerics in Maiduguri,Borno, on Friday said on Friday they had commenced 10-day prayer and fasting for the health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Malam Uma Bolori who spoke on behalf of the clerics said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Maiduguri on Friday.

    He said, ‘’Our prayer is what President Buhari needs from Nigerians rather rumours.

    “President Buhari deserves payers from the people of North-East, for not allowing Borno to go on extinction when almost all the territories in the state were taken over by Boko Haram.

    ” We are going to fast, supplicate and recite Holy Qur’an 50 times for improved health condition of our President.

    “Nigerians must rally round their leaders and pray for them, to enable them succeed in steering the affiars of this country.

    ” No citizen should wish his or her president death, he or she should rather wish him wisdom, sound health and political will to enable him fulfill his campaign promises to the people.”

    Umar Bolori said that since the coming of the president to power, Boko Haram insurgency had reduced to the barest minimum in the North-East.

  • Christians-Muslims forum preaches tolerance, says patriotism key to Nigeria’s survival

    Christians-Muslims forum preaches tolerance, says patriotism key to Nigeria’s survival

    Youths from the two dominant religion in the country, Christianity and Islam have called for religious tolerance among the various religious groups in Nigeria, while also urging Nigerians to pray for the country and her leaders.

    This was the resolution reached by participants at the end of a joint session of Christian/Muslim Intellectual Forum (CMIF) organized by the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJECT) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In a Communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the participants agreed to hold an inter faith praise concert to celebrate the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari over some of the hydra headed monsters such as terrorism and corruption which confronted the nation before his ascension to power.

    They also agreed to hold a prayer session to pray for the quick recovery of Mr. President to enable him continue his good works of rebuilding the nation.

    The Communiqué was jointly signed by Rev. Steven Onwun Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee and Alhaji Garba Shehu Secretary and Patriot Dan Enyi Member, Communique Drafting Committee.

    The seminar witnessed participants and guest speakers painstakingly dissecting the concept of religion and its applicability in the context of Nigeria and resolved on a series of actions and measures to douse the unnecessary tensions and conflicts the practice of religion often impose in the country.

    The CMIF said patriotism should instead become the new religion, emphasizing that henceforth, state interests and goals should be placed above religious inclinations of individuals.

    According to the communique, the forum recognized the Constitutional freedom of Nigerians to the right of conscience and to subscribe to any religion of their choice and worship.

    However, the participants bemoaned the frequent abuse of this liberty by some clerics and adherents and sued for restraint.

    The communique reads in part, “The forum also reviewed and described as unhealthy the sustained frosty relationship between followers of different faiths and the need for internal soul-searching by adherents of the various faiths to evolve positive measures that would stimulate cordial and friendly inter-faith interface for peace, unity and harmonious co-existence in Nigeria.

    “The young intellectuals of both faiths accepted and elected upon themselves to become vanguards and crusaders of mutual inter-faith relations in their respective communities and places of worship through enlightenment campaigns and conduct opposed to the exacerbation of religious issues/tensions throughout the country.

    “The youths of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria agreed to start action to begin a joint annual national religious feast/carnival where worshippers of both faith would intermingle to collectively beseech God Almighty in prayers, songs and dances for the peace and development of Nigeria.

    The gathering will also offer a platform for interactions, dialogues and discussions of issues/problems afflicting the practice of both religions and proffer solutions. With time, the scope could be expanded to include quarterly joint conferences and seminars to discuss emerging religious issues, affairs or trends.

    “The Muslim and Christian youths reached a consensus that henceforth matters of religion shall not reflect in our social interactions, workplace, homes and anywhere Nigerians converge. And that the practice of religion shall be perceived more as something very personal to the believer or worshipper and shall never be reason for strained relationships, unnecessary politicization and incitement to anarchy.

    “The forum also condemned in strong terms the penchant of some clerics for hate speeches; inflammatory or inciting sermons and resolved from now onwards not to tolerate preachments. Instead, preachers who undermine the essence of love, peace and unity, which are the cardinal values of all religions shall be deserted.”

    The seminar drew participants and discussants from various Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), NGOs and CSOs. It also had six guest speakers invited from various Nigerian Universities who extensively discussed the negative effects of hate speeches and religions intolerance.

  • Ethiopia jails 20 Muslims on terrorism-related charges

    Ethiopia jails 20 Muslims on terrorism-related charges

    An Ethiopian Court on Tuesday sentenced 20 alleged Islamists to five and a half years in prison on terrorism-related charges, the state-affiliated agency reports.

    “The defendants were found guilty of harbouring an extremist religious view, thereby opposing any other religious teachings, and also trying to establish an Islamic state in the country that will be ruled by Sharia law,’’ the court in Addis Ababa said.

    Nineteen of the defendants, including a journalist working for a Muslim radio station, were handed jail terms of five and a half years under the east African country’s controversial anti-terrorism law.

    One defendant, also a journalist, was only given 4 years and 5 months because of his poor health.

    Defence lawyer Mustafa Safi described the verdict as “unfair’’ and said his clients had suffered “bad treatment’’ in prison, where they were not allowed to pray and vowed to appeal against the sentence.

    In September, Ethiopia pardoned five members of a Muslim group which had been set up to counter alleged government interference in Muslim religious life, but was later busted by security forces on terrorism-related charges.

    Muslims have complained about discrimination in predominantly Orthodox Christian Ethiopia, where they make up at least 33 per cent of the 100 million population.

    The Ethiopian government is also often accused of stifling dissent.

  • Buhari, Dangote, Shekau, others make list of 500 most powerful Muslims

     

    The Muslim500, an annual report of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims has named President Muhammadu and several other Nigerian Muslim faithfuls in its 2017 edition.

    However, only three Nigerians, beginning from the president made the top 50 influential muslim leaders in the world.

    President Buhari who was pegged at number 20 last year, rose up the ladder in 2016 as he became the 17th most power Muslim leader in the world.

    Also among the top 50 list are two other Nigerians, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III, and a Borno State-Islamic cleric, Sheik Ibrahim Saleh.

    The Sultan and Saleh retained their previous ranking, 22nd and 38th respectively.

    Also listed were Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Nigeria, and Abubakar Shekau, leader of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

    Other Nigerians who made the list of most influential 500 Muslims in the world included Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, Prince Bola Ajibola, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and Abdurahman Olanrewaju Ahmad.

    The publication noted that there were 1.7 billion Muslims all over the world, making up approximately 23 per cent of the world’s population, or one-fifth of the world.