Chief Imam calls for calm between Ahlu-Sunna and Tijanniya sects
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has called for calm between adherents of the Ahlu-Sunna and Tijanniya Muslim sects at Afienya, near Tema.
He said the clash between the two groups over the use of the Afienya Central Mosque last Friday had saddened his heart, since they were all Muslims worshipping one God, following one prophet and facing one direction in their prayers.
The Assistant Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyao Shuaib, who spoke with the Daily Graphic on behalf of Sheikh Sharubutu, said the Advisory Board of the National Chief Imam would hold a meeting to deliberate on the Afienya disturbance and find an amicable settlement to the issue between the two Muslim brothers.
Background
The timely intervention of the police was said to have prevented a clash between adherents of the Ahlu-Sunna and Tijanniya Muslim sects fromdegenerating into violence at Afienya last Friday.
According to the Chairman of the Muslim group in Afienya, Alhaji Osumanu Mohammed, the feud was reported to have started when members of the Tijanniya sect hanged a white cloth in the mosque and started sitting at that point to chant after some prayer sessions.
He said the Ahlu-Sunna group insisted that it was not a true Islamic practice and urged the youth who had hanged the cloth to take it off.
Following the development, an agreement was reached for the Tijanniyas to find a new place of worship within three months, but that did not happen.
The Ahlu-Sunna group was said to have left the mosque after another agreement with the hope of putting up a new mosque. Not finding any place of worship, the Ahlu-Sunna group decided to go back to the Afienya Central Mosque.
Give peace a chance
Sheikh Sharubutu said Muslims were required to live in peace with one another and also with other religious faiths.
Besides, he said Muslims were expected to demonstrate the Islamic principles and good values of peace and tolerance in all their dealings.
"We have to base our relationships on the common beliefs and values of Islam," he intimated.
Dialogue
The National Chief Imam urged the leaders of the two Muslim sects to dialogue and find a lasting solution to of the dispute, while he and his advisory board also deliberated on the issue.
Let us give peace a chance. Members of the two groups must sit down to allow for an amicable resolution of the disturbance," he demanded of the leaders.
