Let’s protect the peace of the country

The need for peace before, during and after this year’s polls dominated messages of exhortation to Muslims and, indeed, all Ghanaians at the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday.

Taking advantage of the massive turnout of Muslims to celebrate the end of the 30-day Ramadam fast at all the prayer grounds in the country, various speakers stressed the need for the maintenance of peace in the run-up to the November polls.

We are happy that the speakers also used the occasion to drum home to all that Islam is not a violent religion and that terrorist attacks across the globe had no links to religious fundamentalism.

It is rather unfortunate that non-adherents of Islam have been fed with the erroneous impression that Islam is a violent religion and that those who pursue violence and die in the name of the religion have a place in the bosom of Allah.

We have been told loud and clear with facts from the Quran that that notion is a fallacy.

The Daily Graphic is happy that although it is long in the day, the leadership of the Muslim community has decided to debunk that falsehood with the verifiable evidence at its disposal.

And because the public has been fed with that falsehood, non-adherents of Islam look in the direction of Muslims anytime there are reports of terrorist attacks in any part of the world.

Another negative perception of the Muslim community, especially those in the Zongos, relates to the advice by President John Mahama that Muslim youth must not allow themselves to be used as political party thugs to foment trouble in the run-up to this year’s elections.

The Holy month of Ramadan is very unique on the calendar of Muslims and all those who go through that spiritual ritual are considered to have been renewed spiritually, for which reason they are believed to be changed persons, morally transformed and ethnically conscious of their civic and spiritual responsibilities.

Muslims and Christians and, indeed, all Ghanaians co-exist and we know that they are law-abiding, hard-working and tolerant.

Unfortunately, a few bad lots who try to smear all others paint a rather negative picture and image about Islam.

The Daily Graphic urges the Muslim community to take advantage of this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr to chart a new path and leave behind all those negative tags of terrorism and violence with which the community has been associated.

We were highly elated when news got to us yesterday that the Catholic Bishop of Wa joined hundreds of Muslims in Wa to celebrate the Eid.

There may be differences in doctrines, but the church in Ghana has worked closely with Muslim leaders to build a strong bond of religious tolerance.

This year’s Eid has been very eventful, with the Muslim leadership bringing it home forcefully to all that the religion represents peace and that on no account will its members be associated with those negative tags.

We all need peace and comradeship to be able to carry out with our daily endeavours. Therefore, let us sustain the peace and stability of the country, even during the November polls, so that we can continue to be the toast of the rest of the world.