Muslims called to change mindset
Islamic Development Initiative (IDI), in partnership with Islamic Commission for Justice and Freedom (ICJF), last Sunday asked Muslims in the country to change their mindset on management of Mosques for a future of Islam and general development.
The sentiments were made during a workshop for Blantyre Sheikhs where, among other things, participants were educated about their religious rights and how to defend them.
In an interview, IDI executive director Yusuf Aufi said they want to see Sheikhs being respected as Islamic leaders, the same way people of other faiths respect their leaders.
“We believe it is possible to start changing our mindset at Mosque level and improve working relationship between the Sheikh and the committee that manages the Mosque,” said Aufi.
Islamic Commission secretary Hassan Chimwala said they also want to start empowering Mosques economically.
He said Sheikhs were not angels and, as human beings, they are equally prone to sin, but they deserve to be respected as leaders of the religion.
“We have seen that Sheikhs are the lowest paid religious leaders, but they are doing commendable work in our Mosques and this is high time they received the respect they deserve,” said Chimwala.
In a related development, the commission’s national coordinator, Abdul Rahaman Ajassie, has asked the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to start rotating the leadership of the institution.
“PAC is a multi-faith committee comprised of Muslims and Christians and as such we want 40 percent Muslims and 60 percent representation in the committee and changing leadership. Islam and Christianity are the main religious bodies in the country.
“Let us change our mindset now and start rotating PAC leadership (chairpersonship) as we respect our leaders,” said Ajassie.
Efforts to get PAC’s reaction to Ajassie’s proposal proved futile as calls to the secretariat went unanswered.
