Calls for peace, political tolerance dominate as end of holy month marked

Muslim faithfuls converge for the Eid al-Fitr prayers led by SUPKEM National Chair Alhajj Hassan Ole Naado at the Sir Ali Muslim Club Ngara Nairobi on April 21, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Muslim faithful across the world thronged mosques for prayers to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Faithful had been fasting from dawn to sunset. This now ushers in the new month of Shawwal, which is the fourth month in the calendar of Islam. Yesterday, leaders called for peace, forgiveness, spiritual growth, increase charity to the vulnerable and self-reflection. This year's festival of breaking the fast was marked against the backdrop of the raging war in Sudan, with leaders calling for ceasefire. While presiding over prayers at Adams Mosque in Nairobi, Deputy chairman of Jamia Mosque Committee Abdullatif Essajee said insecurity in parts of the world is a testament that Kenyans should embrace peace at all times. In what seemed to answer Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga's call for return to demonstration after Ramadhan, Prof Essajee said: "...what is going on around the world proves how peace and unity of a country is fragile. On this blessed occasion, I wish to urge our leaders to embrace peace and dialogue. I wish that this festival brings with it peace, safety, security, brotherhood and love.'' On April 13, Raila said he had postponed protests to give the Muslim faithful time to fast. Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) chairman Hassan Naado urged Azimio to give dialogue a chance. ''Despite the challenges we are going through, we should not make it worse by calling for demonstrations because if we go back to the streets, the whole process of dialogue will be of no use,'' Naado said. He added: ''We are calling on them to maintain peace and give bipartisan talks a chance. It's premature to call for protests at this time when the two teams from Azimio and Kenya Kwanza have been formed.'' Prof Essajee appealed to leaders to work together. ''The challenges we face can only be surmountable when we united. We should remember the bond that has held us together through the entire fasting period. Nothing should make us succumb to selfish interests,'' he said. Places of conflict He added: ''As we celebrate, let us not forget how it is celebrated in Palestine, Yemen, Syria and Sudan and other places of conflict." Jamia Mosque Imam Sheikh Jamaludin Osman while conducting prayers at Sir Ali Muslim Club's ground in Ngara, Nairobi, called for unity among Kenyans. Sheikh Osman said fasting was a time to symbolise generosity and love which should not end with the season. ''We fasted to show our love, obedience and to get closer to Him. We did not deny ourselves just for our stomach but also our eyes, ears as well as our tongue and hearts,'' Sheikh Osman said. He said the level of love, concern, care should supersede personal desires. ''The level of generosity should be unprecedented. Nothing has divided us irrespective of our status in the society, we felt united more than ever and this should not end with the fasting,'' he stated. Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) National Treasurer Sheikh Hassan Omar called for peace, urging Kenyans to keep off demonstrations called by the opposition. Hassan admitted that the cost of living was high but noted that it was a global problem and asked Kenyans to the government time to address it instead of going to the streets. Speaking after the Eid prayers at Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa, Omar said: "We should pray so that God grants this country peace because other countries have plunged into chaos. We want peace to prevail and not demonstrations." Mohamed Noor, the chairman of the Somali community in Mombasa, urged Kenyans to pray for the bipartisan talks to succeed. "My community engages in trade. As a country, we badly need peace to attract investors," he said. Meanwhile, Sheikh Omar Twaha called for forgiveness but urged Kenyans to pursue justice. "I call for forgiveness and peace but at the same time urge Kenyans out there to demand justice," he said. At the Furaha Primary School grounds in Mombasa, former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho called for forgiveness and peace among Kenyans after attending the prayers in the morning. "I wish Muslims a joyful Eid Mubarak. This is time for forgiveness and prayer for peace to prevail in the country," he said, even as he decried the cost of living that has burdened many Kenyans. Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao called on the government to lower the cost of living. "Many Muslims are unable to buy enough food to celebrate Eid Mumbak because prices are high. Muslim families cannot invite their friends to celebrate together because they cannot buy food for them," he said. Sheikh Ngao appealed to the government to employ Islamic Religious Education (IRE) teachers saying there is a huge shortage. "Many Muslim students have been forced to study other subjects because there is a shortage of IRE teachers," he said. At Nairobi's Kibra constituency, Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) founder Kennedy Odede hosted Muslims for Iftar dinner, with calls for peace following the recent burning of a church and mosque in the area. Dr Odede urged communities in Kibra to co-exist peacefully and concentrate on development instead of politics. "Peace is not talking, peace is about action. What we have done here is peace because we have come together and shared a meal as one people. Lindi MCA Ochieng Jera, who attended the Shofco event, called on residents to avoid being divided by politicians along tribal lines. In Kakamega yesterday, clerics called for political tolerance ahead of the planned bipartisan talks. Sheikh Abdalla Ateka of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said Kenya needs peace and stability for the economy to grow. "We are calling for peace and understanding among our leaders when they engage each other so that as a country we can have an enabling environment for the growth of the ailing economy, "said Ateka. Ateka urged politicians to embrace one another. [Additional reporting by Benard Lusigi]

Calls for peace, political tolerance dominate as end of holy month marked

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Calls for peace, political tolerance dominate as end of holy month marked

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