By Ibrahima Yakubu and Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – In an effort aimed at strengthening religious tolerance and mutual understanding, a Muslim woman has donated Bibles to a church in Kaduna state, North West Nigeria.
The Bibles which were both Hausa and English version were donated to fellows of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry at Sabon Tasha in commemoration of the United Nation’s world international interfaith harmony week.
Ramatu Tijjani after making the donation said the World interfaith harmony week which commences from 1st -7th February has began and there is the need to start the week by donating important gifts, sharing in love, visiting each other at places of worship, encouraging togetherness irrespective of faith or organization. She said it is aimed at boosting mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue for peace and harmony to be promoted.
Mrs. Tijani who was accompanied by her son, Abdullahakim, explained that the United Nation declared and dedicated the first week of February to promote activities which encourage and enhance religious tolerance.
She said, “I see Christians as my brothers and sisters because we all are from one Family Adams and Eve. I love to visit them because both religions preach peace, forgiveness and Tolerance. We must to learn to forgive and forget past mistakes in order to make our country great and reunite our communities through the teachings of the holy Book.”
While calling on the government at all levels as well as other stakeholders for their support during the week, urged them to be involved in the interfaith activities by visiting Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and Temples according to their own religious conviction. She added, “it is necessary for clerics to encourage peace and maintain the culture of visiting other clerics at their places of worship in order to teach their followers tolerance.
Receiving the Bibles, the general overseer of the church Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed appreciation for the kind gesture. He called on all citizens to shun all forms of ethno-religious and political crisis which has caused great set-backs to the nation, adding that it’s high time for all preachers to redouble efforts in teaching their followers the right ways according to teachings of the holy books so as to end the activities of extremists and terrorist who are hiding under religion to cause problems.
Pastor Buru noted that this was the first time, a Muslim woman would be donating Bibles to the church, adding that the church really welcome such kindness.
He added that, as the interfaith harmony week commences, “We are going to organize endurance trek for both Muslim and Christian Clerics to create public awareness on tolerance, as well as organized reading competition among students of both faiths.
