Sheikh Mayambala calls for religious tolerance
By Abdul Wahid Kakande
Sheikh Hassan Mayambala, the director Sabar Dawa Group of Uganda has urged Muslim preachers to embrace religious tolerance.
Mayambala was speaking at an interfaith conference in Kampala aimed at fostering collaboration between the Muslim community and members of other faith in the country.
The conference was held at Bamus Sarovar Portico hotel on Gaddafi Road in Kampala on Sunday.
“We come from different faith. However, this shouldn’t be a basis for us to undermine each other. There is need for tolerance from each of us. We have seen several Muslim clerics attacking members of other faiths and vice versa. So, we have embarked on this campaign to ensure religious tolerance,” Mayambala said.
Mayambala said he was ready to attend churches on Sunday to preach the gospel of religious tolerance and respect for each other’s belief.
“All religions stand for peace and all of us must embrace peaceful co-existence regardless of our diversity in belief,” Mayambala said.
The conference was organised under the theme: Muslims and the universal hope for justice, a Muslim-Christian dialogue.
Drawing from the theme of the conference, sheikh Mayambala urged religious leaders across the divide to speak out on the evils in society rather than focusing on material gains.
He also urged Muslims to improve on their behaviour saying it is the reason Mahad the prophesied eschatological redeemer has not yet resurfaced.
“I believe Mahad has not yet resurfaced because of our inhumane behaviour and if we change, he will appear,” he noted.
Mahad is believed to be the 12th Imam under the Shia Muslim sect. He is considered the prophesied eschatological redeemer who will return at the end of time to eliminate evil, establish justice and restore true Islam.
Speaking during the conference, Rev. Fr. Edward Kawunde said Islam and Christianity have a lot in common hence the need to embrace each other.
“My call is that we should focus on what we have in common other than attacking each other because of the divergent issues that we have,” Fr. Kawunde said.
Fr. Kawunde noted that religious conflicts are not good. “In whatever we do, we must focus on justice rather than our religious affiliations.” Fr. Kawunde said.
In regard to mushrooming mosques and churches, Fr. Kawunde warned that most of the founders are after money.
Dr Adam Ssebyala, a professor of Islamic history at Al-Mustafa College on Entebbe road said Mahad is still hiding because of aspects of injustices that are happening worldwide.
“Imam Mahad is not because of Christians; it is because of us (Muslims). There is proof that we are some of the most chaotic people. However, Mahad will appear when we stop this,” Ssebyala said.
Ssebyala said there is little conflicts among the Christians because they have a clear chain of leadership compared to the Muslim community.
Sheikhat Hanifah Kiwala said women also have a role to play in fighting evils in society and ensuring religious tolerance.
“We are the mothers of this world, and we have the capacity to foster religious tolerance. I therefore call up all women to come on board,” Kiwala said.
Kiwala said it is a duty of the Muslim women to promote education which she said is key in ensuring religious tolerance.
