Ramadhan Kareem, a month of peace ahead of General Election

BY EDITOR

A key element of a democratic state is the upholding of the charter of human rights that calls for among other rights and freedoms, the freedom to worship.

In this regard, with its ‘fruit bowl’ mix of religions, Tanzania is an outstanding example of peaceful coexistence of many regions and their numerous sects.

 

The main religions represented in Tanzania, include Muslims, Christians and Hindus.  Followers of the three religions live side by side across the country. 

They share the same resources, use the same roads and shop in the same markets, their children go to the same schools and they are represented in the National Assembly by the same Members of Parliament.

 

This is not the case in many other countries across the world with key example on the continent being Nigeria where to a large extent Muslims and Christians live in separate locations and hardly ever get to mingle.Elsewhere in the world , even bordering countries cannot live in peace because one is a muslim majority and another is Hindu and the case for Pakistan and India where bombshelling occurs once too often and repeatedly the two nuclear powers have amassed their armies threatening an all out war.

 

The case is none the better in the Middle East where the time long fighting between Jew Isreral and Islamic Palestine never seem to fall short of new headlines.

 

Understanding the religious struggles  that devastate other nations and communities the world over, one gains special appreciation of the peace that Tanzania enjoys, while its muslims and christains live harmoniously side by side.

 

It is this mutual respect of each other’s believes that see the nation’s Christians respect the Muslims’ Holy month as do the latter come Easter and Christmas.

 

This mutual respect allows the exchange of ideas and ideals which are vital for the development of any community, both socially and economically.

 

For example, Islam teaches that it is a religion of peace, in the very greetings of a Muslim to another is a prophecy of this belief.

 

Asalaam Alyekum (Peace be with you) is the greeting whose response is ‘and peace be with you’ this advocacy for peace matches the Christian’s belief that Jesus came to preach peace. The combined understanding of the two beliefs leads to strengthening of common ground.

 

As such, Tanzania is a haven of peace because it allows each religion in the country to practice in accordance to their beliefs.

 

This is not to say that there have not been wrangles between the two religions and to a smaller extent even with Hindus in the country. However, because the country upholds its commitment of democracy and the state remains separated from religion, then the scuffles are but isolated incidents that are not given room to escalate.

 

It is in this spirit that the entire nation welcomes this year’s Ramadhan as a time to worship and reflect on the direction of one’s own life. It is a time to build relations and strengthen cooperation. It is a time to offer charity and assistance to the less privileged and to speak up for the marginalised and oppressed.

 

These qualities are not unique to Islam but rather universal truths embraced by all regardless of race, ethnicity creed or religion.

 

For Tanzania, this year’s Ramadhan comes at an apt time, only three months away from the General Elections  reminding the nation the priceless value of the peace that the nation enjoys and the need to foster and nature it.

To the Muslim brethren and the nation as a whole we bid, Ramadhan Kareem

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN