Islam is not a violent religion - Abdallah Abubakari

The Northern Regional Minister, Abdallah Abubakari, has expressed serious concern over the way the world is judging all Muslims as violent people because of some “popular images” and the “behaviour” of some few.

According to the Minister, there were millions of silent Muslims who practice Islam without violence, but the world knew only the few violent Muslims.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle in Tamale as part of his message of encouragement to all Muslims in Ghana to carry out this year’s fasting and prayers, Mr. Abubakari appealed to Ghanaians, especially the non-Muslims, not to condemn or classify all Muslims as violent.

Wishing all Muslims in Ghana and across the world a successful Ramadan, the Northern Regional Minister urged Muslims to be pious throughout the fasting period and beyond to justify the reason why the fast was prescribed for all followers of Prophet Mohammed.

He also encouraged them to confine themselves to the positive reflections that would get them much closer to the Supreme Being. Mr. Abubakari emphasised that the only way people in the world, particularly the unbelievers, could better understand the true meaning of Islam, was for Muslims to put up good behaviours.

“A non-Muslim in the world will never read the Quran, and so the first point of call, or the first library for any person to get to know what Islam is all about, is the behaviour of Muslims.” He, therefore, called on all Muslims to join him in showing behaviour that would make the world begin to see Islam as an attractive religion.

Meanwhile, the Northern Region, almost every year during the holy month of Ramadan, witnesses some Sheikhs and Imams giving opposing interpretations to the Quranic verses, leading to tension, misunderstandings, disapprovals and physical attacks among some Muslims in the region.

There have been some instances where some of the Imams had been physically and verbally attacked for their comments and interpretation of the Quran on radio stations. There had also been some attempted burning of some radio stations by some angry Muslim youth, following certain unguided comments of some of the Imams.

Abdallah Abubakari told The Chronicle that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had intensified the usual dialogues and consultations with the Imams, by visiting the various mosques to speak directly with them (Imams), to remind them of their responsibility to provide responsible leadership, devoid of insults and personal attacks.

According to the Minister, the Imams, in response, had also paid a courtesy call on him to welcome him to region as the new Regional Minister, and had pledged their support and commitment to peace.

He further noted that the management of the various local radio stations had been spoken to, to ensure proper monitoring and regulation of the content of the sermons that were being preached by the various Imams.

The Regional Minister, therefore, prayed for a peaceful and successful Ramadan, and appealed to Muslims to commit much of their time to pray for Ghana and the 2016 general elections.