News / National
Zanu PF candidate for Mwenezi East by-election riles the Muslim community
05 Apr 2017 at 06:52hrs | Views
Joosbi Omar, the Zanu PF candidate for Mwenezi East by-election slated for April 8, 2017 has riled the Muslim community by allowing Christian pastors to lay their hands on his head and pray for his success in the elections.
Omar whose religion is Muslim attended a two-day prayer meeting where pastors who refer to themselves as leaders of indigenous churches prayed and gave him their blessings to win the elections.
Members of the Masvingo Islamic Society (MIS) who spoke to The Mirror said he betrayed the religion.However, Omar defended himself by saying all people pray to one God and it was never a sin for people to pray with other churches. The deputy Imaam for MIS, Ali Kandira said: "I could not even buy the newspaper when I saw the picture on the front page because it was an insult to the Islamic religion. If he wanted blessings we could haveprayed for him".
Imaam for MIS, Dawood Witness said he was busy when The Mirror approached him for a comment.Kandira added that a Muslim is like a mirror to another Muslim so Omar's stance is a bad influence to other members as they would think that his behaviour is right.
"I was born a Muslim and I know our religion's principles as much as others do. I do not agree with people who say that my actions profaned Islam and Allah. We worship one God and it's never a sin to pray with other churches," said Omar.
Another high ranking leader for the Islamic congregation in Mucheke who refused to have his name published said it is not in their power to judge but every Muslim is expected to behave in a way that does not tarnish the religion.
Omar whose religion is Muslim attended a two-day prayer meeting where pastors who refer to themselves as leaders of indigenous churches prayed and gave him their blessings to win the elections.
Members of the Masvingo Islamic Society (MIS) who spoke to The Mirror said he betrayed the religion.However, Omar defended himself by saying all people pray to one God and it was never a sin for people to pray with other churches. The deputy Imaam for MIS, Ali Kandira said: "I could not even buy the newspaper when I saw the picture on the front page because it was an insult to the Islamic religion. If he wanted blessings we could haveprayed for him".
Imaam for MIS, Dawood Witness said he was busy when The Mirror approached him for a comment.Kandira added that a Muslim is like a mirror to another Muslim so Omar's stance is a bad influence to other members as they would think that his behaviour is right.
"I was born a Muslim and I know our religion's principles as much as others do. I do not agree with people who say that my actions profaned Islam and Allah. We worship one God and it's never a sin to pray with other churches," said Omar.
Another high ranking leader for the Islamic congregation in Mucheke who refused to have his name published said it is not in their power to judge but every Muslim is expected to behave in a way that does not tarnish the religion.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
