VP cautions African Muslim scholars

MUSLIM Communities across Sub Saharan African region should desist from succumbing on the demands pushed by some Islamic groups and networks bent of threatening the cohesion that has existed between them and people of other religions. VICE-President Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal made the concern recently in Dar es Salaam when addressing African Muslim scholars from 42 different African countries who gathered to deliberate matters related to the development of Islamic religion in Africa. However, he has cautioned scholars and requested them to continue maintaining good relationships with fellow Christians in various countries bearing the fact that there are so many believers of both religions. Contrary to that, he noted that, Africa region is likely to witness massive religious clashes like what has started to emerge in Nigeria and a long peaceful country of Tanzania. A three day meeting under the theme that highlighted “the conduct of former Prophets” had various presentations from experts and lecturers from Islamic University of Kuwait and others who are experts in Islamic religion. The meeting has been organized by a newly formed organization of Muslim Scholars in Africa which was established in 2011 with its headquarters based in Bamako, Republic of Mali. Tanzania Muslim community joined the organization in early this year. Addressing the congregation in Swahili and translated in Arabic language, the VP said that he was optimistic that, the meeting would critically discuss the recent religious clashes which happened in the country with a view to continue live in peaceful manner as this is a sign of Tanzanians of respecting  followers of the two major religions. “A belief should not be taken as a quarrel, except it should be a means of building us morally bearing in mind that one of the ethical criteria of living is to have good faith with the people whom you live together irrespective of their different religious beliefs which does not belong to another believer” he said. He added that, the world in which we live is a globalised sphere and there is no community which can live in isolation like an island. In view of this, however, he cautioned African Muslim scholars and other religious leaders that are aught to look at a most critical point that would see how the globalization process in Africa does not affect their religious beliefs. However, he noted that, by taking a precaution over the matter, it’s upon African religious leaders to direct their leadership codes that show good conduct of their believers, but also how the believers would benefit with the greatest developments of the existing science and technology which have of recently revolutionalized people’s way of living and mankind development in general. Earlier the President of African Muslim scholars Tanzania chapter, Sheik Amran Seleman Kilemile stressed that, Tanzania joined the organization with a view to join relations with other scholars from other African countries and also to share experiences from them. However, he said adding that, other purposes were directed with a view to find a lasting solution of the numerous problems facing Muslims in the country which he declined to specify when asked. But he further insisted that, Tanzania membership would have an advantage of knowing what is going on in other countries. “We expect after this meeting to come up with many different resolutions which would aim to reform Islamic situation and Muslims who live within Sub Saharan Africa region so that the organization should take the responsibility of resolving various problems as related in the aspects to education, social and economic way of life. Other resolutions would be as related in the promotion of Islamic religion..