Muslim clerics, traditional leaders and a host of other Muslims yesterday joined their Christian counterparts at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Gospel Church on Lemu Road in Kaduna for yesterday’s Sunday service.
It was part of efforts to promote peaceful and religious co-existence.
The attendance by the Muslims was at the instance of the church in its efforts at strengthening religious harmony and peaceful co-existence among the residents, regardless of religious differences.
Some of the Muslims at the church service included Nigeriens living within and around the community where the church is located.
Among the traditional leaders at the Sunday Service were the District Head of Barnawa, Alhaji Kabiru Zubairu; the Wakilin Shehu Borno Bata Madaki Auta and Sarkin Dutse, Alhaji Shuaibu Balarebe Abdullahi, among others.
The Islamic clerics at the service who also shared their thoughts on peaceful and religious co-existence included Sheihk Dahiru Abdullahi, Dr. Hamisu Ya’u and Sheihk Shehu Ayotola.
All the Islamic clerics unanimously agreed that there is no basis for Christians and Muslims to fight each other.
They said followers of both faiths should instead be their other’s keepers.
According to them, you cannot be said to be a good Muslim if you don’t like your Christian neighbours, and vice versa.
The Muslim leaders decried what they called the lack of peaceful and religious togetherness among Christians and Muslims, saying this was common before but no longer exist today.
They urged all residents to join hands in bringing back the good old days when Christians had cordial relationship with Muslims, and vice versa.
Abdullahi said: “Muslims and Christians are twins. Christianity and Islam have not changed but Christians and Muslims have changed and people have succeeded in dividing the two religions for their selfish gains. We must return to the olden days when Christians and Muslims regarded one another as brothers.”
Also, Sheikh Ya’u, who is the Executive Secretary of Sultan Bello Mosque and Chief Imam of Sadauna Mosque at Kawo, averred that “the devil is our common problem and we must all unite to fight the devil”.
He added: “Humanity should be respected above religion and accept one another the way we are.
“We must love one another and not allow politicians to play with our intelligence because the present political dispensation could cause Nigeria a lot of problems.
“We must not allow politicians to use our heads. We must unite as one and allow politicians to do their things.”
The District Head of Barnawa, Wakilin Shehu Borno and Sarkin Dutse hailed ECWA for organising such a gathering.
They urged other churches and Islamic bodies to emulate the church.
In his sermon, Mr. Zak Bungwon, who spoke on the coming of Jesus Christ, also said the lack of fellowship is the cause of most crises in the country.
The preacher urged Christians and Muslims to focus on what binds them together than what separates them.
On the essence of the invitation extended to Muslims to worship with them in the programme, tagged: “Friends of the Church,” which holds annually, the Senior Pastor of the church, Rev. Joshua Anyam said the church was willing to relate with their neighbours, regardless of their religions, in order to promote peaceful co-existence.
“We do this annually, basically to promote religious and peaceful togetherness among ourselves, and we are thankful that whenever we call, they respond in their numbers.”
The Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), represented by Mr. Reuben Buhari, emphasised that it is better for all faiths to live together and survive or live apart and suffer. “We must be united,” he emphasised.
The Chairman of Community Relations Committee of the church, Senator Haruna Azee Zego, hailed the Muslims at the church service for honouring the invitation.
He stressed that the invitation to the Muslims w was meant to sustain religious harmony.