Nigerians should have religious tolerance, unity – Abdulsalam

A Muslim Cleric, Alhaji Abubakar Abdulsalam, on Saturday told Nigerians to continue to promote religious tolerance to ensure unity and development of the country.

Abdulsalam, who is the Chief Imam of the Nasuru-Lahi-L-Fatih Society of Nigeria at the Surulere Central Mosque in Lagos, gave the advice in his sermon to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

He cautioned Muslims to always show love to fellow human beings, urging various religious bodies to pray for the country to overcome the current political challenges facing the nation.

“Today’s celebration is not about ram slaughtering alone but should be aimed at showing love and tolerance among Nigerians as well as seeking God’s intervention in the challenges facing the country.

“No nation can prosper and develop without love and tolerance among its people”.

The chief imam decried acts of terror in the country, calling for prayers from all and sundry for divine intervention.

Abdulsalam urged Muslims not to take the celebration as occasion for merry-making but use it to have sober reflection and re-dedicate themselves to the service of God and humanity.

He appealed to wealthy Muslims to extend their hands of fellowship to the less-privileged by assisting them with food, drinks and other necessities of life.

Abdulsalam also advised Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and good behavior as exemplified by Prophet Mohammed in their daily lives.

He said that Mohammed led a life worthy of emulation such that any Muslims, who followed his footsteps, would not go astray.

The cleric, quoting from the Holy Quran said: “Allah described His Prophet Mohammed as the best example of mankind”.

A Muslim faithful, Mrs Nofisat Tijani, also urged Muslims to seize the opportunity of the celebration to re-dedicate themselves to doing their best to live up to the ideals of honesty, selflessness and tolerance.

Tijani urged Muslims to use the period to pray for good leadership, saying, “the 2015 elections is around the corner we need prayers so that we can have good leaders to pilot the affairs of our country.

“At this point in our country, it is only God’s intervention that can make things better for the government and the governed,” she said.

Another faithful, Dr Waheed Kale, urged Nigerians to promote good neighborliness by ensuring peaceful co-existence.

Kale said the foundation of a morally strong society would begin with the sacrifices that people made for others, especially their immediate neighbours.

“If we practice in our lives what God really says about being our neighbours’ keepers, our fortunes as a people will change for the better.

“When we talk about neighbours, Islamic religion has nothing to do with it. Our multi-tribal backgrounds have nothing to do with it. It is about humanity and our relationships,” he said.