MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA: FRIENDS OR ENEMIES? (1)

(This article tagged 'Muslims And Christians In Nigeria: Friends Forever' was published in 'Leadership' Newspaper on 4th March, 2015 and it was translated into Hausa and published in 'Aminiya', the Hausa version of 'Daily Trust' newspaper, on 25th Sep., 2015. It's tagged: 'Saqo Na Musamman Ga Musulmi Da Kiristan Najeriya',)

I was pretty pressured by my readers like Comrade Rabi’u Shamma and others that my delay to write was becoming unbearable. In response to their urging, I started brooding. Meanwhile, my attention was drawn to the Muslim / Christian relationship in the country, by my Christian bedridden friend who asked after me.

When this came to my knowledge, I rushed to his hospital where I found him in a critical condition. To my astonishment, he still called my name. I prayed for his quick recovery to which he murmured ‘amen!’, while clutching the Holy Bible on his chest. While I was busy looking at his wrinkled face in sympathy, he murmured to me that the muezzin was calling prayer and therefore I should go to mosque.

‘Pray for me in the mosque please!’ He managed to plead.

‘Ok, I will’.

‘Thanks’.

‘Don’t mention it, dear. I know as I am praying for you, you are here doing same with the Holy book on your chest'.

The sick person smiled and waved to me which I returned before closing the door behind me.

When I was coming out of the mosque, I met my friend Bilal. He expressed his joy for seeing me, and that, he had been trying to give me a buzz to arrange an appointment with me, but the Nigerian epileptic network was unhelpful. His reason was to come to my house, to tell me a full story of how a Christian brother found his bag containing an I Pad computer, Black Berry phone, two pocket sized Holly Qura’ans and N100, 000 notes, but returned it to him and even refused to collect a token. I was glad about that hence, asked that the two of us should just proceed to my house. Bilal welcomed the idea, but solicited that; I should first accompany him to pick up his wife Christie from church.

*** *** ***

On Friday evening, the eve of this year’s (2014) Eid-ul-Adha, in an ATM queue, a short queuerer who wanted to withdraw for the purchase of ram for sacrifice, had some troubles with the ATM and thus, the machine withheld his card.

‘ Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihirraji’un!’, (from Allah we are and unto Him we shall return!). Exclaimed the short man, and he continued.

‘Why...’

‘Complain not, my brother!’ interrupted a tall man wearing a cross chain around his neck.

The short man turned in anger, but when he saw the tall man’s face beaming a smile, he understood the situation and smiled back.

‘How much do you need for the ram?’

‘Thirty five thousand Naira or so’.

‘Ok, take the money’.

‘Thanks and how do I pay you back?’

‘You are welcome. If you don’t mind, take my phone number.’

*** *** ***

From my childhood experience, I can recall instances where my parents would pay school fees for the children of our Christians neighbours and during Eids, send me to take Eid food and meat to them, which they collected in excitement and even gave me a token. I can equally recall my father who would go to our Christian neighbours and seek advice which helped in solving many of our family travails.

I adhere to my religion Islam and do love and respect Jesus Christ (Peace Be Upon Him). I know some Christians who also love and respect Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). As Christian brothers and sisters come to my home state: Kano, in pursuit of livelihood or education etcetera, so also my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters go to Anambra for the above mentioned pursuits. We are, undeniably, birds of a feather!’ Why must not we flock together? Nigerians of whatever religion, region or ethnicity are, beyond any reasonable doubt, brothers and sisters. Therefore, we should be the keepers of one another!

During this Eid-ul-Adha, I gave Sallah meat and Barka da Sallah, as it is usual with me, to some Christian friends. What of you, do you, dear reader, do such during your Eid or Christmas celebrations? Let me guess the answer...it is ‘yes!’ A 'memorable phrase' from a one-time American president, the great Abraham Lincoln, has just struck me: 'with malice towards none, with charity for all'!

Based on the foregoing, I am calling, with ‘emphasis’, despite the fact that my voice is not loud, on all Nigerians, in the spirit of ‘one Nigeria’ and ‘humanity’, that we are destined to live together irrespective of our diversity. ‘Diversity’, they say, ‘is a blessing’.

Before drawing the curtain of the first segment of this peace promoting piece, I say to the global Muslims: Happy Eidil Mubarak! My compatriots: Happy 54th Independence Anniversary. ‘Nigeria: Good nation, good people!', 'Nigeria, the America of Africa!!' 'Najeriya kasarmu ta gado', meaning, Nigeria, our inherited country. God bless Nigeria!!!

Bello Sagir Imam is a Kano based writer, and can be reached via belsagim@gmail.com or face book with the user name: Bello Sagir Imam.

To be continued...

(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2014. All Rights Reserved.