Muslims kill in self-defence
By Robert Mbeyi
A Muslim Scholar Java Modibbo says Islam does not authorize violence but endorses violence only in self defense.
He made the clarification at the Owerri Central Mosque, Shell Camp during an interfaith dialogue session.
The scholar recalled that the founder of Islam, Mohammed preached for 13 years without fighting a single war when enemies of Islam were on his neck he then quipped: But who started the First and Second World Wars, Muslims or non- Muslims?
He explained that the spates of bombing activities in the North were designed to tarnish the name of Islam stressing that non Muslims had been caught planting bombs and other explosive devices in churches and other public places.
The next question examined by the panel made up Islam and Judaism adherents was why Muslims worship in Arabic language. It was explained that Muslims pray in Arabic because the Holy Quran was written in Arabic. The Chief Imam of Imo State, Sheikh Dauda Anozie Onyeagocha noted that translations make for distortions of any original text.
But followers of Judaism led by the National President,Association of Jewish Faith in Nigeria, Paquada (Bishop) E.S. Uba noted that Hebrew is the language of the Almighty which is why Torah is written in Hebrew language.
On the question whether Muslims worship Mohammed because an average Muslim calls his name many times a day with much reverence and apology, Jaafer Modibbo came in again to emphasize that Muslims don’t worship Muhammad but Allah the Creator.
He also tackled the question: Did Allah create Satan or Lucifer? According to him, Allah created Lucifer from fire and smoke but Adam from mud. Trouble started when Allah ordered Lucifer to worship Adam. Lucifer refused on the ground that he was created from fire while Adam came from mud.
Paquada Uba declared that adherents of Judaism do not eat anyhow but Christians do stressing that he won’t eat in a Christian home because of his faith. Both Muslims and Judaism followers insist that they won’t eat in a Christian home because the animal used in the dish must have been slaughtered in his shrine.
Another topic appraised was Christianity and Islam which predates the other. Muslims insist that Islam predates any other religion on earth as it was the religion of Abraham. Mohammed came to advance the course of the religion of his fore-fathers.
Other discussants include shaykh S alil Animashaun and H.E Royal Prince Mohammed A. Duru.
