Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has asked Muslims and Christians to continue to show mutual respect and compassion to each other, as there is more that unite than divide them.
According to him, followers of these two religions have been ordained to be closer to one another because of the striking similarities of their beliefs which were embodied in the Bible and Qur’an.
Dr Bawumia was speaking in Accra yesterday, at a breakfast lecture organised in honour of the centenary celebration of Sheikh Dr Alhaji Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam.
He reminded the celebrants that the birth of Jesus Christ was significant to Muslims and that a chapter in the Qur’an called Surah Mariam (Mary) was dedicated to the mother of Christ.
The Vice President stated Mariam (Mary), the mother of Jesus Christ was mentioned several times in the Qur’an more than the New Testament.
For this reason, Dr Bawumia urged Muslims and Christians to celebrate the commonality and to strive to promote peace at all times.
Dr Bawumia who sponsored the first ever lecture to celebrate the revered Muslim leader whom he described as his father, urged Ghanaians to relive the life of Dr Sharubutu.
While eulogising the National Chief Imam for engendering peace, tolerance and promoting inter-faith dialogue between Muslims and Christians, the Vice President said Ghanaians should not take the peace the country was enjoying for granted.
He prayed to Allah to preserve the life of the National Chief Imam and the prosperity of the country.
In most situations, Dr Bawumia observed that most centenarians were blessed with only old age; however, Dr Sharubutu was blessed with old age and good health.
At the age of 100, the Vice President noted that the Islamic scholar, considered by many as kindhearted, generous, and benevolent, still walks without aid, reads the Qur’an without glasses and makes sound judgement.
Dr Bawumia said Ghanaians should be thankful to Allah for the gift of Dr Sharubutu and the complimentary role he plays towards the cause of ensuring a peaceful and just society.
He, however, lamented the activities of terrorists who hid under the guise of religion and visit atrocities on innocent people.
Dr Bawumia told the celebrants that his father, the National Chief Imam epitomises patience, humility and generosity, which were the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
