Xmas: Kaduna Christians, Muslimsworship together

In an effort to maintain and sustain
peaceful co-existence irrespective of
religious and ethnic differences,
Christians and Muslims in Kaduna
yesterday seized the opportunity of
Christmas celebration to worship together
in a church.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, Head of Christ
Evangelical Church, invited members of
the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Kaduna
zone, to celebrate the Christmas with
members of his church.
Responding on behalf of the Islamic
Movement in Nigeria, Dr. Shu’aibu Musa
extended a goodwill message from the
Leader of the movement, Sheikh Ibraheem
Zakzaky to the Christian faithful at
Christmas, and called for more
collaboration to rid the society of religious
extremism.
Both Muslims and Christians, he said,
were equally oppressed and therefore had
a common enemy. He called for closer
ties to salvage the society.
However, in his sermon, Pastor Buru said:
“Every man and every society expect a
saviour at the end of time. Both Muslims
and Christians have always been waiting
for saviours in the names of Imam Mahdi
(AF) and Jesus Christ respectively.
The Christian cleric also pointed out that
there was no dispute between Christian
and Islamic books on the re-appearance
of their two great men at the end of time.
He added: “Until their imminent re-
emergence, no politician can salvage this
society from its predicament. This is why
we celebrate Christmas, we rejoice in
anticipation of saviours of the society,”
reading from Luke 2: 1-7 to buttress his
point, he lamented the senseless killing of
innocent people on the basis of religion,
saying in reality, people were from the
same root and lineage.
He urged Muslims and Christians to
reconcile and forgive one another before
the re-emergence of the awaited saviours.
“If we don’t reconcile now, I live to see
how we can be salvaged by Imam Mahdi
and Jesus Christ. Though, I am sure
Imam Mahdi and Jesus Christ will
reconcile us, it is better that we do it now.
They are the melting point, so let us
please live in peace with one another.”
The presence of Muslims in his church on
Christmas Day, he said, should not be out
of place, explaining that it was to
celebrate and anticipate the re-emergence
of the awaited saviours both religions
professed. “We call you here not as
guests, but as brothers and neighbours,”
he stated.
Highlights of the occasion were special
song by Malam Rabi’u Tudun Iya on
peaceful co-existence, songs of praise
and feast.