Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani handing over some Bibles to Pastor Yohanna Buru

In a bid to strengthening religious tolerance and mutual understanding as the world marks International Interfaith Harmony week by the United Nations, a Muslim woman in Kaduna on Sunday donated 50 Bibles written in Hausa language to Church cleric and members.

Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, who arrived the Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna at 9;30am in company of her son, Abdullahakim, to attended Sunday church service with Christians , explained that there is the need to start the World Interfaith Harmony week holding between 1st -7th February by donating important gifts such as Bibles to Christians .

She also said the importance of sharing Bibles to Christians is to boost mutual understanding and inter religious dialogue as well as spread the culture of peace and harmony in a way to immensely promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith and beliefs.

According to her, the interfaith harmony week is established to celebrate the principles of tolerance and respect for the other that are deeply rooted in the world’s major religious. Adding, “That is why United Nations declared and dedicated first week of this month to promote all activities that encourage and enhance religious activities and tolerance.

Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani handing over some Bibles to Pastor Yohanna Buru

“Christians are my brothers and sisters and as a Muslim I love visiting them, because both religions preach peace and tolerance. Attending the church service doesn’t make me become a Christians. As a Muslim, I have copies of the Bible at her home and I read them.”

Hajiya Tijjani who pointed out that the impact of the previous ethno-religious and political crises in the state that claimed hundreds of lives and properties was a serious set-back for peaceful co-existence in Kaduna, urged clerics from both religions to preach sermons that encourage unity and peaceful co-existence.

While emphasising that both religion preach peace, harmony, forgiveness and tolerance, she noted ,”We all are from Adams and Eve and because both Muslims and Christians have their books and scriptures that guide them, we should rely on the scriptures.”

She however, called on the states, federal government, non governmental organizations, civil societies organizations, human right groups, traditional rulers and youth organizations to use the week to speak on need for inter-faith harmony and good will in the world’s Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples and other places of worships.

“It is necessary for Nigerian religious clerics to strengthen peace culture and maintain the culture of visiting other clerics at their places of worship in other to teach their followers ways of tolerating other religious bodies,” she said .

Receiving the Bibles, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Pastor Yohanna Buru, thanked Hajiya Tijjani for the Bible donation and urged other Nigerians to learn how to tolerate, accommodate and live in peace with one another, irrespective of religious backgrounds.

Pastor Buru also called on all citizens to shun all issues that lead to ethno-religious and political crisis. Meanwhile, he stressed that it is high time for all preachers to redouble their efforts in teaching their followers the right ways and obey the teaching of the holy books so as to end the activities of extremists and terrorists hiding under religion . “ As preachers we must work to halt the activities of false preachers, causing series of problems to peace settlement across the globe”.

Pastor Buru however, said as this year’s interfaith week and harmony commences, the church will embark on endurance trekking with Muslims to create awareness to the public on need to tolerate one another, regardless of religious affiliations.