12th July, 2011 PRESS RELEASE: STOP BOMBING CHURCHES A bomb exploded at the all Christian Fellowship Church on Church Road, Suleja in Niger State on Sunday, 10th July, 2011. Two people died in the attack while several others suffered different degrees of injuries. This explosion inside a church is not the first of its kind as it has been preceded by several others in the northern part of Nigeria. We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) totally and unreservedly condemn this and all violent attacks. We assert that violence is antithetical to the true teachings of Islam. The Glorious Qur'an advocates dialogue between Muslims and Christians on issues of common interest (Qur'an 3:64). There is nowhere in the scripture of Islam where Muslims are enjoined to violently attack Christians. The Qur'an forbids the use of force except when Muslims are attacked (2:190). There is no evidence that the Christians inside the Suleja church had attacked Muslims. It is also instructive that Muslims are not allowed to use any other method of attack except the type used by the enemy (famani'tada alaykum, fa'tadu alayhi bimithli ma'tada alaykum Qur'an 2:194). Have Christians bombed any mosque in Nigeria? Why then are their churches being bombed? Even when there is real attack on Muslims, the Qur'an draws a limit to the extent that Muslims can go. It says Muslims must stop all attacks once the attackers have also stopped (2:193) and urges forgiveness once the attackers have stopped (2:192). Why then are these faceless attackers throwing bombs instead of forgiving their perceived enemies? MURIC is irked by the recklessness and audacity of those behind the bombing of churches. We roundly denounce them and we authoritatively, clearly and unequivocally dissociate ourselves from such perpetrators. These people cannot be genuine Muslims. They are anarchists out to throw Nigeria into an orgy of religious killings. Their target is war between Christians and Muslims. We charge the security agencies to unveil the identities of these blood-thirsty extremists. Steps must also be taken to secure churches from future attacks. We appeal to all Nigerians to be law-abiding, peace-loving and forgiving. Christians and Muslims are from one Father of Faith (Abraham). Religion is designed to link people in love. There is no religion that teaches violence. Dr. Is-haq Akintola, 234-803-346-4974
Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974 I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered |
ISHAQ AKINTOLA: Professor of Islamic Eschatology, Muslim Activist, Human Rights Activist, Social Commentator, Advocate of Dialogue. MY PHILOSOPHY: I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed,the sick healed and the homeless sheltered... Website: www.ishaqakintola.com ... Twitter: ishaqakintola ... Facebook: facebook.com/ishaqakintola
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
STOP BOMBING CHURCHES
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
there cant be a better way to say it
ReplyDeleteI love this piece of write-up. But if what I hear about the AlMajiri is true and if they've got a hand in these mishaps, then not only are elites the masterminders, but they are taking advantage of the ignorance and idiocy of the so called "Alimanjiri" (A menace the Nigerian government has refused to curb).
ReplyDeleteI wish more Muslim elites like you show this sort of awareness to the Nigerian Populace
Certainly you have spoken the truth about Islam being a religion of peace. However, I would like to throw some caution about the perceived perpetrators. Has there been an established piece of information regarding the real perpetrators? Without this affirmation/ confirmation, it may be erroneous to think that attacks on Christians is always from the Muslims for that is not always the case especially if you compare this with similar incidences on the International Scenes.
ReplyDeleteMa`as-Salaamah.
Your Cousin,
Aadam.