Chief Imam Greets Christians

Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu
The National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu has sent a message of felicitation to Christians as the faithful observe the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth tomorrow.

In a message, he said 'let my brothers and sisters in the Christian faith, one of the greatest religions, accept my felicitations at this time of their merriment. As they make merry let them think about how to deepen the bond of friendship existing between them and their Muslim brothers.'

Continuing he said, 'the cordiality existing between the various religions has been devoid of rancor, something others in strife-torn parts of the world can learn from.'

He pledged to maintain and even enhance the harmony between Islam and Christianity so that the development agenda of governments can be prosecuted.

The Chief Imam assured Christians of the solidarity of their Muslim brothers and sisters during this important festivity of Christmas in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ's ministry, he recalled, is recognized in Islam, a subject which he said exists in the Holy Quran.

'When we appreciate the fact that Muslims accord Jesus Christ the deference of one on a spiritual mission to change mankind from the path of iniquities, then we would begin to understand that members of the two faith should understand each other more than they have done, he stated.

The Chief Imam abhorred the incidence of religious intolerance because as he put it 'there is no need for this in as much as all of us were created by God to play out parts in this ephemeral world and return to our Maker.

He charged Ghanaians to use this important date in the Christian calendar to reflect on the challenges of the nation with a view to changing these for the betterment of the country.

He prayed for a prosperous New Year for the nation and charged Ghanaians to individually contribute positively towards the development of the nation.

'May the New Year bring with it a better understanding between members of the two great religions,' he said.

His statement did not end without condemning those who use their crude form of Islam to spread terrorism across the world, as he charged Muslims, in particular, to be wary of persons with warped and extremist ideas, who come to mosques to preach.

By A.R. Gomda