As Xenophobic attacks increase in South Africa, Muslims leaders are calling people to renounce violence and promote coexistence in the African country.
"To see South Africa transform into a hub of happiness and peace from which issued forth the fountains of love, freedom, compassion, generosity and morality, we want to see a better South Africa, we want the Communities to stand united against Xenophobia and we must remember there is no superiority in this world," said Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed, Spokesperson of The Cape Town Islamic Educational Centre.
"The superiority of a person lies in the sight of God," he stressed.
Ridhwaan's fiery speech came as at least seven people were killed in the country's xenophobic attacks that resulted in the arrest so far of around 300 people.
“Many Muslims are also victims of the xenophobic attacks, we as Muslims it is our responsibility to pray and engage in Dua and Salawaat, we should beg to the Almighty to restore peace and harmony on our South African soil," Ridhwaan added.
Several Muslim leaders and mosques are joining government efforts to curb escalating xenophobia in the country. Friday sermons were also used by imams to address the issue that contradicts with the teaching of Islam.
In one of Cape Town mosques, Allama Moulana Sayed Imraan Shah Ziyaee, the founding leader of the Cape Town Islamic Educational Centre, used last Friday sermon to address the issue.
Urging worshipers to denounce extremism, Ziyaee stressed that Africans need "peace, security and humanity" more than before.
During the sermon, the imam cited verses of the holy Qur'an and Hadith that denounce intolerance and call for peace.
Meanwhile, the imam cited the words of former President Nelson Mandela “To deny people their Human Rights is to challenge their very humanity” and we as South Africans, we are denying the foreign nationals basic Human Rights.
Jailed for 27 years for fighting white minority rule, Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994.
Mandela won a Nobel Peace Prize for preaching racial harmony and guiding the nation peacefully into the post-apartheid era.
Mandela, popularly known by his clan name "Madiba", has a history of lung problems dating back to his time at the windswept Robben Island prison camp near Cape Town.
Muslims make up some 1.5 percent of South Africa’s 49 million-strong population, according to the CIA fact book.
source : On Islam
Tuesday
21 April 2015
7:37:17 AM
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As Xenophobic attacks increase in South Africa, Muslims leaders are calling people to renounce violence and promote coexistence in the African country.