Atiku, Others Preach Peace, Love

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has urged Muslims in the country to double their commitment to the promotion of tolerance, love and peaceful coexistence, which he said are among the shining virtues of the Prophet Muhammad.

In his Eid-el-Maulud message to Muslims, Atiku noted that the best public relations Muslims could do for Islam is to follow the exemplary conduct of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.

According to him, throughout his life, Prophet Muhammad never told his followers to molest people who were different or harm innocent people without provocation, adding that he was constantly reminding Muslims that there is no compulsion in religion.

The former vice president explained that Muhammad had encountered more provocations and humiliations from those opposed to his message, but he was always reminding his followers to be patient and live in peace with others.
He stated that the greatest honour the Muslims could do for Muhammad is to practise his virtues of patient and peaceful disposition and tolerance towards even those who deliberately tried to harm him.

The Turakin Adamawa also appealed to Muslims to be more vigilant to avoid the risks of their children being exposed to dangerous and poisonous influences of violent extremism which is founded on intolerance, hate and bigotry.
According to him, the atrocities being committed by terrorists are giving Islam a bad name and defaming the name of Muhammad who preached against the kind of evil activities being perpetrated today by the extremists.

He said the alternative version of Islam being propagated by the terrorists is creating an embarrassing perception of Islam and scaring people away.

Atiku added that these violent extremists are a disgrace to everything Prophet Muhammad stood for in his life time, adding that Muslims should be united against these evil men and women. He said hate promoters would be forced out of business if nobody is ready to be recruited by them.