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Dr Bawumia commends National Chief Imam as he turns 103 years

 Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has  the praised the leadership qualities of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh (Dr) Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, on the occasion of his 103rd birthday last Saturday, describing him as “binding force between Muslims and Christians.”

This, the Veeep said had led to religious tolerance, peace and stability in the country, praying to Allah to continue to grant him longer and healthier life.

Dr Bawumia said this in a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by the Coordinator for Zongo and Inner City Development, Ben Abdallah Banda, at the first closing of the 2022 Annual Commentary of the Holy Quran (Tafsir) at the Kanda National Mosque in Accra.

The Tafsir is an important activity in the month of Ramadan during which Muslims faithful gather around a scholar to listen to the detailed interpretations of the various verses of Holy Qur’an, for their deeper understanding.

Mallam Dan-Alfa, a student of the National Chief Imam, led the Tafsir and offered prayers asking Allah’s continuous blessings for the life of Sheikh (Dr) Sharubutu.

The National Chief Imam in turn also led the Muslim community to offer special prayers, asking Allah’s continuous blessings of unity, peace and prosperity for the country.

The event was organised by the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, the Advisory Board of the Office of the National Chief Imam, and the management of the Kanda National Mosque, attended by the various chiefs in the Muslim community.

The National Executive Secretary of the Office of the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Awaisu Bio Salisu, said the Quran was revealed by Allah, through Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed for the guidance of humankind in the month of Ramadan over 1400 years ago.

“The month of Ramadan is therefore a great opportunity for us as Muslims to affirm our compliance with the word of God,” he said.

He said the first verse of the Holy Quran revealed the Holy Prophet urged Muslims to seek knowledge, calling on the youth “to make knowledge seeking one of our paramount duties as Muslims.”

He said the Vice President had been an inspiration for helping to uplift the image of Islam in Ghana and commended the government for some of the interventions that had benefited the Muslim communities.

Sheikh Ibrahim Mustapha, the Chairman of the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services who chaired the function said the Qur’an was everything about Islam and was incumbent on Muslims to have a deeper understanding of the tenets of the religion encapsulated in the Holy Qur’an and Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

Chief Alhaji Imoro Baba Issah, the Public Relations Officer of the National Council of Zongo Chiefs, in his remarks commended the National Chief Imam for his role in interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in the country.

He noted that broken down homes resulting from marriage separations was high in the Muslim community and called on the leadership in the Zongo communities to do more to stem the tide of the phenomenon.

Alhaji Issah urged the government to revisit the passage of the Marriage Bill to help address the problem of marriage separation in the Muslim communities.

A representative of the management of the mosque, Alhaji Hanan Issahaq, said since its inauguration last year the mosque had hosted a number of dignitaries, adding that the mosque was also a centre for public activities like lectures, workshop and Islamic cultural activities.

BY SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN

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