The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has urged Muslims to continue to coexist peacefully with adherents of other religious faiths in the country. He said it was only through peaceful interaction among religious groups that the country could achieve significant socio-economic development.

Sheikh Sharubutu made the call when he inaugurated a 500-capacity mosque built by the World Islamic Call Society (WICS) at East Legon in Accra.

The construction of the Umar Mukhtar Mosque, worth thousands of Ghana cedis, commenced in 2011 and was completed last month.

Significance of mosque

Sheikh Sharubutu said peace was very essential in the lives of people, hence the need for all to preserve it, stressing that no development could take place in an atmosphere of violence and disunity.

Sheikh Sharubutu said mosques served as places of worship, resolution of disputes and other religious activities, such as naming of babies and blessing of marriages.

He, therefore, urged worshippers to use the mosque for the purpose for which it was constructed.

WICS President

The President of the WICS, Mr Salah Al-Fakhir, condemned the activities of some organisations who engaged in violent attacks in the name of Islam.

He said Islam was against violence, therefore those engaged in killings of innocent people were rather promoting their own ideologies rather than championship the cause of Islam.

Mr Al-Fakhir asked Muslims to be vociferous in condemning such attacks and engage in more humanitarian activities.

He said the WICS would intensify its programmes in the country in the areas of health delivery facilities, drilling of boreholes and supporting the poor.

Source: graphiconline