The relationship between Christians and Muslims in contemporary history especially Nigeria has been unwholesome. The prevalence of socio-religious and man made ethnic conflicts has re configured social harmony. The scaring situation deteriorates alarmingly so much that it's difficulty for the opposite faiths to co habituate together in most Northern States. There are separatist settlements spread all over most major Northern cities. In Kaduna Metropolis in Kaduna state, the Christians dominates Kaduna South while the Northern part is predominantly Muslims. While in Plateau State, Jos Metropolis has the same exclusive settlements with Christians in the Southern part while Muslims occupy the Northern part.
In some States where exclusive settlement pattern is not in practice there are designated areas where the predominant faith created for the other. Where Christians are majority Muslims live in Anguwan Hausawa, while in States where Muslims are majority, Christians live in designated places usually known as Anguwan Mission, Sabongari, Sabon Pegi etc. Even though this is a colonial relics, it has been exaggerated against national integration. Indeed, the spate of escalating insecurity has laid paid to this negative trends of distorting peaceful heritage.
The role of political leadership in undermining social harmony looks like deliberate complicity. It is sad that in some instances where human carnage is unleashed, political leadership reneged its responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of citizens. Sometimes statements emanating from some leaders instigate passion there by escalating pogrom. Ironically, while soliciting for votes such politicians advocates justice and fairness. On election and assumption of offices they take oaths with either the Quran or Bible, but on the contrary they conduct public affairs on the basis of either religious or ethnic sentiments. Some public officials have been indicted for sponsoring crisis or insurgents, paradoxically, they marauded everywhere fortified by heavy security paid by the tax payers money. Most political office holders in crisis infected areas have been culpable of promoting religious bigotry and ethnic hatred even using public funds. They claimed to be advancing the cause of their faith yet these ungodly acts remains celebrated. The challenge ahead is has it been like this from the beginning? If not what happened ?
Muslims and Christians constitute over 70 percent of Nigeria. If they lived in peace and harmony there will be national stability. The best step to foster Muslim-Christian understanding in this country is to emphasize positive values that binds us together instead of mutual demonization.
In proposing a peace synergy I intend to remind both Muslims and Christians about a promise that Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) made to Christians. Muqterdar Khan, a renounce Islamic Scholar argued that:
"The knowledge of this promise can have enormous impact on Muslim conduct towards Christians. Muslims generally respect the precedent of their Prophet and try to practice it in their lives"
In 628 AD, a delegation from St. Catherine’s Monastery located at the foot of Mount Sinai and is the world’s oldest monastery came to Prophet Muhammed and requested his protection. He responded by granting them a Charter of rights, reproduced below in its entirety. St. Catherine’s Monastery possess a huge collection of Christian manuscripts, second only to the Vatican, and is a world heritage site. It also boasts the oldest collection of Christian icons. It is a treasure house of Christian history that has remained safe for 1,400 years under Muslim protection.
The Covenant to St. Catherine:
“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses.
Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.
No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”
The first and the last sentence of this Charter are critical. They make the promise eternal and universal. Muhammed asserts that Muslims are with Christians near and far, straight away rejecting any future attempts to limit the promise to St. Catherine alone. By ordering Muslims to obey it until the Day of Judgment the charter again undermines any future attempts to revoke the privileges. These rights are inalienable. Muhammed declared Christians, all of them, as his allies and he equated ill treatment of Christians with violating God’s covenant.
Remarkably the Charter imposes no conditions on Christians for enjoying its privileges. All that is required is that they are Christians. They are not required to alter their beliefs, they do not have to make any payments and they do not have any obligations. This is a Charter of rights without any duties!
This document is not modern human rights treaty, although it was written in 628 A.D. it has clear provisions which protects the right to property, freedom of religion, freedom of work, and security of the person.
Of most people may question and So what? The truth is those who seek to foster discord among Muslims and Christians focus on issues that divide and emphasize areas of conflict. But when resources such as Muhammad’s promise to Christians is invoked and highlighted it builds bridges. It inspires Muslims to rise above communal intolerance and engenders good will in Christians who might be nursing fear of Islam or Muslims.
There are unprecedented examples of religious tolerance and inclusiveness in many Islamic sources which teaches positive values. To me the capacity to seek and do good is inherent in all of us. we must subdue all tendencies inhibiting the good by defeating the evil. It is laudable we appreciate something positive and worthy in the values, cultures and histories of other peoples.
This covenant to which has eternal obligations in my opinion is observers more in breach. It's time we return to our roots and live like a people within common destiny.
Solomon Dalung, LLB, BL, LLM
California, USA
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