Some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites have attended a church service in Kaduna state to celebrate Christmas with their Christian counterparts.
The prayer session was held at the Church of Brethren in Nigeria, Sabon Gari, Zaria, on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
The group also presented a gift to the church to further show love and boost religious tolerance between the two faiths.
Speaking after the service, Isah Mshelgaru, leader of the group, said the essence of attending the service was to rejoice with Christians on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports the prayer session as held at the Church of Brethren in Nigeria, (Ekkelisiyar `Yan Uwa Ta Nigeria), Samaru, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The group also presented a gift to the church to further foster love and boost religious tolerance between the two faiths.
Speaking to newsmen after the service, the leader of the team, Prof. Isah Mshelgaru, said the essence of attending the service was to rejoice with Christians on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“Islam says if someone is not your brother in faith, he is your brother in humanity, and we share this humanity with everybody, whether Muslim, Christian or whatever,” he said.
Similarly, the Resident Pastor, EYN Church, Samaru, Zaria, Rev. Tijjani Chindo, noted that the church received the Muslims with joy and appealed for the replication of the gesture across the country.
Meanwhile, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, earlier on Saturday, rebuked those who are extremely hungry for wealth and power to the detriment of others, while asking them to imitate the Christian deity, Jesus Christ, who, according to biblical records, was poor during his time on Earth.
Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those “ravenous” for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty, and greedy consumerism, Associated Press reports from the Vatican City.