Malawi religious tension: Christians demand council pulls down offensive Muslim billboard
The Evangelical Association of Malawi have reacted angrily to a bill board mounted in Blantyre by Muslims which say since people have read the Biblical Old Testament and the new testament, they should now read the last testament which they say is the Holy Quran.
In a statement, the association’s chairperson Reverend Zacc Kawalala has told the Blantyre city council to pull down the billboard within seven days.
“We want to clearly state here that the Old Testament and the New Testament are books in the Christian Bible.
“Therefore reference told the Old Testament and New Testament in such a manner, in a country that is predominantly Christian, even without specifically mentioning the Bible, tantamount to a comparison between the Bible and the Quran.
“Such an action is unacceptable and a recipe for religious conflict in the country,” says the statement.
Kawalala says Chrisitians in the city will decide their next course of action if the billboard is not pulled down within the seven days.
Sheikh Ahmed Chiyenda national coordinator for the Islamic Information Bureau insists people have read the Bible and need to read the Quran which according to him was the last book to be handed to humanity with knowledge.
“We’re not trying to create conflict, we’re trying to tell people that if they want further understanding, they should come to the Islamic Information Bureau to get further knowledge in the Quran,” he said.
Sheikh Chiyenda further says they see nothing wrong with the message they have put out, and that if everyone was to be given what they want, there would be chaos.
“What Christians are trying to do is have dominance over Islam as it’s trying to spread its message. Malawi has rights enshrined in the Constitution to religion, assembly and we are just exercising that right,” he said.
Malawian Christians and Muslims have tended to co-exist in a country that only identifies as God-fearing. The 2018 census estimated that Malawi has 2.426,754 Muslims representing 13.8 percent of the population, with Christians as the dominant group, comprising 77.3 percent of the population.
The Catholics and the CCAP Church are the dominant Christian groups at 17.2 and 14.2 percent respectively
President Lazarus Chakwera is a devout Christian who was once a pastor at Assemblies of God and lectured in Theology at college.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Am a Christian i don’t have any problem with that, its their own choice to write what they wish…in religion its always war, but its wrong for any religion to use civil powers to protect its religion..history has proven it doing that means bloodshed
The pastor must also get the beer and gambling billboards removed. Especially the new casino one on the highway which has semi nude women pics.
These are blatantly against the teaching of the bible.
Hope you do. If not then thats double standards
We are waiting someone to arrested for this if they want peace on this
Whoever has issues with the Bill Board I suspect is not wholesomely Christian by definition. While the Bill Board has a message contrary to my belief as a Christian there is completely no problem with erecting it. We always preach against Islam and tell them to follow our way. Is that a crime? No!!!. So let them preach their message and we also will preach our message. Let there be freedom of expression. We recently witnessed attorney general being sworn in without using the Bible. While as a Chrisitian I will kneel and pray for his conversion I cannot by any means force him to do things my way.
Bottom line is religion is character and not stopping those who believe differently from expressing their beliefs openly.
As a Christian I can stand anywhere in Malawi and shout that there is no name under heaven which will save us apart from Jesus the Christ. This is true and I am convised about it. Should moslems then stop me from preaching this message in their strongholds because its contrary to them. Let’s not start something which is against our very own evangelism. Whoever plucked down that BillBoard is antichrist.
I think this is a direct attack to our president. They know he is a Christian and want to attack him
They are angry because Atupele whom they were supporting in the belief that he is one of them lost the election alongside hi uncle, now settled in Mangochi. They are doing this to divert the public attention so that their man of the match, Bakili should be spared from the whip of law.
The Koran says not to argue with non Muslims but to say:
”I do not worship what you worship, neither are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship, neither will you be worshipper of what I worship. For you is your religion , and for me is mine.” Koran 109:6
So please Muslims in Malawi please, please let us follow what the Koran says. Do not confuse people in Malawi and disturb the peace and harmony that has existed for a century in Malawi with Billboards etc. You cannot convert people by billboards which have potential of causing conflict.
Let us pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to help the moslems not to provoke us the Christians so that they are not hurt.
Well then… why mention old and new testaments? when you advertise don’t mention or antagonize, compare by mentioning other products! It is ethically wrong. just advertise or campaign on your product!! Amen
Please why should people start this??? ..testing waters every time!!!
Remove it to avoid these unnecessary conflicts!!!
JUST SAY PPLE U HAVE READ OTHER HOLY BOOKS NOW READ THE QUARAN!! basi osatchula za anzanu
Honestly, this is not a battle, Pastor, don’t try to bring conflicts using this stupid Billboard. Christians and Muslims have lived together in Malawi for decades. How many times have we heard Christian attacking Muslims in their preaching? I have attended funerals myself were Christians literally announced that Islam is a false religious tradition.
Our battle is not flesh and blood, Christians need to go beyond going to church but become serious readers of the Bible. Many so-called Christians have not even had a serious time to read there own Bible. But we spend hours and hours listening to these false Prophets.
The truth is that Muslims are trying to expand their presence, just like Christian who have also been trying to although they have been very complacent about it altogether. So, this is the awake up call to Christians, that Muslims have been very aggressive with their outreach. How many of our Christian brothers and sister have ended up in marriage with Muslims, they are so many and the number is countless. The battle has been there for a long time.
So, Pastor takes it easy, don’t waste your energy over this little thing. The battle is the Lords. We know better how we overcome and fight these battles.
I don’t see any issue with the billboard. We have so many Christian adverts along the roads. We are all children of God whether Christian or Muslim. There is no need to fight amongst ourselves because we are all serving one God. My fellow Christians, lets practice what the Holy Bible teaches us especially the New Testament that teaches Christianity. We are asked to love God first and then love our neighbor the way we love ourselves. This is what pleases God most and nothing else.
Malawians we live in a small country where we have lived without tribal or religious conflict since time immemorial. Let us not be blinded by hate and prejudices over a billboard. Surely our religious leaders should be able to resolve this minor hiccup. It is true that Christians consider the Bible as the last word, and Muslims consider the Koran as God’s (Allah’s) last word.
It is reasonable for Christians to expect those who are responsible for the poster on the billboard to remove the poster. And the Muslims to equally expect the Christians not to cause offense to their religion.
This is the time time reasonable voices who love and cherish peace in our nation should calmly deal with this matter instead of allowing passions to flare.
Nonsense about Bakili and Atupele is wrong, we should avoid such blanket accusations. As much as we should avoid insulting Christians or Muslims. Our nation has enough problems, with Corvid 19, the poverty, etc. to cause disharmony between Christians and Muslims.
If muslims see me (non muslim) carrying the quran, will I not be in trouble?
This article made me go through the Quran look at what I found.
Quran 3:3 “He has sent down upon you (oh Muhammad), the book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah ((Old Testament) and the Gospel (New Testament)”.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Akhristu wachulika ndi umbuli tiyeni tichepese mukutichititsa manyazi.
ku church azi busa kumangokhalila lord god Jesus christ, tiyeni tiwelenga ma bukhuwa
This will not make Christians accept the billboard, and will inflame passions. The answer is to remove the poster on the billboard and seek peaceful coexistence with each other.
Let us continue to debate nonsense but it is coming of which its powers we cannot comprehend. Tolerance has a limit Christians must prepare for the worst, Muslims are already prepared, hence the billboard.
Yesterday late night, city council officials/cadets tore down the poster . They could have been polite and removed it in good condition.and given it back to the advertising agency. Alternatively, they should have issued a notice to the advertsing agency under Sec so & so .
This is the work of stupid sidiq mia, abida mia, and both rotten Muluzis. Thank god that Mia didnt become the VP otherwise this kind stupid billboards n mosques would’ve been every where. Malawi is a Christian country period. They must do this kind of shit in their own counties, not here.!!!! Send Mia to church to understand the bible thoroughly…as kuran is not a testimony… but a sect of pedophilia lunatics and women cruelty.
Very sad comment… before commenting on issues you really have no clue about educate urself beforehand or risk looking like a complete moron.
Indeed it is Abida MIa and other Muslim women who are responsible. She is a fundamentalist like Cassim Chilumpha.
Don’t blame Abida or Sidik Mia.
You see this billboard signs in many places in Durban, the same one expect for the telephone numbers. There is no problem is South Africa with the signs. Why here in Malawi?
The Muslims are being encouraged by Atupele Muluzi and Bakili Muluzi to cause religious unrest in Malawi
Suspected the same ..that someone somewhere want to stir things up..zidali kuti zimenezi kale lonse.
Lets love our country people..we are one pple though religiously diverse.
God have mercy on us all!
Two things that will rise during Chakwera time LGBT and non Christian entities publicity coz they will want to find their position in the country him being mmbusa…and State President..
The way u put lgtb on par with Islam shows how stupid you are
I have no problem with the billboard wording the question I have is,when did the Quran become available to non Muslims to touch?
For generations it was a crime attracting copral punishment if a Kafir (non Muslim) touched the Quran. Have you devalued the quality of the holy Quran?
Billboard yo akanangopanga quote ma verse amu quran it could make sense, bt message ayikapoyo ena atayika ina yopanga downgrade quran itha kukhala conflict. To avoid such things angosintha Mau pa board po nkupanga quote any verse from quran.komanso olembawo looks like ndondomeko ya testament sayidziwa.
Koma even a council sanaone this stupid billboard? Anthu omatawasha pobiba kukonda mtopola.
There is no mention of Bible. The billboard just says you have read the old and new testament. Who said the words new and old testament were invented to mean the bible or exclusive to the bible. Evangelical should stop such stupidity. I am christian and I dont subscribe to such stupity. God is all powerful and omnipresent if the Bill board has offencive words God does not need the evangelical society to fight his battles neither does he need any human being to do that.
You may be a Christian but so blind to see what lies ahead. The Evangelical Society wants to save people like you who cannot tell between a dog and a goat.
Iweyo ndi wanzeru aise
Palibepo nkhani apa. Ingolapani chabe machimo muli nawowo kuti mupulumutsidwe. A zibusa opusa inu mwatani? Cha mmbale chasowa chifukwa cha covid-19. Just pray.
Mr reporter you have interviewed council officials as well otherwise this writeup is very lacking
Freedom of Religion. Freedom of Expression. Christians understand we are living in a democratic country where the two ideals are protected. Let’s keep it that way. Moslems are not in any demeaning a Bible.
I see no need to make a big deal out of a fuckin’ billboard. Ironically, more folks will read the billboard now because of the ill-advised petition.
Apapa zachuluka ndi mbiri zosadziwa chilichonse basi ndipo mmodzi wake nde Chatandayu basi !!!!!
MUSIYENI CHABE MSILAMU NDI MWANA WOTEMBELEREDWA. CHOMWE AMAFUNA PAMALO AYAMBANE NDI WINA KENAKO AKHALE WOBISALA MTCHIRE MKUMAPANGA ZA UCHiFWAMBA. KWake ndikuba, kupha, ndikuononga. Ichi nde chikhalidwe chake.
Religious nonsense all around, grow up and find something else to waste your religion on rather than some foreign imported crap. Stop pretending to be your former slave and colonial masters. Mpaka kufuna kutibulana?
Achawa tschotsani zimenezo. We don’t need your last testament. Ours ends with Christ, not Muhamed. Go and preach your thing in Turkey or Mecca. You cannot conquer Christianity or Judaism through wars. You know most powerful countries are Christians. E.g. U.S, Russia, France and you are failing to conquer. Israel.
Good morning my brothers. Where in the Bible does Jesus say I Am God.
John 10:30
Stop this nonsense. Leave Christians to believe what they want, and let Muslims do the same. No need to debate in this reader’s blog.
Good morning my dear brother. What makes U the most powerful country. U. S., RUSSIA, FRANCE, ISRAEL. It makes me think. Do I now have to question my faith. U say they all christian countries. What is the U. S. doing in every other country, rather than looking after their own. Killings in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen under pretense of Allied forces, killing in Syria with Russia and Israel as Allied forces. Is this Christianity. No my brother, Our black brothers are being killed in U. S. Is this Christianity. Now with Covid the majority dying are our black brothers. Help yourself and our Christian brothers, get them with an open mind to get another perspective, Read the Quran. For no place in the Bible have I read that Jesus said He is God or that he mentioned that we are Christians. Love U my brother for the sake of Humanity and the Almighty. Amen.
You know not what you are saying. If moslems were given space in this world everybody could have been forced to be one. You are free to make noise in Christian dominated countries while you kill Christians in islamic nations why? Why do you force us whilst we don’t. That utter rubbish. You are killing yourselves in middle east through those demonic groups Isis, IS etc because its your culture. You brought slave trade to Malawi and you killed or enslaved those who rejected your evil religion. Just shut your mouth.
Say No to Misinformation. Quran is not the Last Testament. Take the Billboard down.
Freedom of Expression Guaranteed in the Constitution. Are you a Democrat. Democracy must be practised in totality. I rest my case.
Kuyesa zida sinanga there is a Pastor President. Stop this uselessness. The billboard is indirectly discrediting the bible, the word of God Christian’s believe in. This useless behavior should not be condoned. Kodi asilamu munakhala bwanji kukonda mtopola? You have never seen Christians go pa market to attack muslims, but you muslims do this several times. A breed of violence
Ndipo ka Korani kawoko kolembedwa ndi munthu mmodzi ngati novel kumasokosa nako… Last Holy Book is Bible osati zomwe anakunamizanizo…
Note
Ku blood bank muka khara mukafuna magazi muka vurara
Amango go fusa blood group
Sama fosa kodi mufuna magazi a anthu wa islamu khaya wa christ
Modzi modzi anthu aka khara aku menya anthu ena ku kunsika. pa zovara sama lembha kodi indu ndi ya islamu khaya ya christ
Ndimanene ako funa ma billboard omeyo a zivitse kodi mu quraan kodi islam ima yankhura ya peace si za ku menyana
Timangho umvo khani ya social ndi bas ku lowesa muthu
Aayi aayi
Muka panga survey ya ziko omeyo ako votirandi ndi isis . Thawi ya corona muka werenga ma crime .mo ina kodi ako siyana
Tingo vomereza peace.
Good morning my brother. I would love U to answer one question relating to colonialism. What is the USA doing everywhere poking there noses in everyone’s business in every other country but there own. Being a majority Christian country, killing our black brothers. Is that being Christian. Now with Covid, the majority dying are our black brothers. Is that what Christianity stands for.Killing the Muslim brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen under the pretense of Allied forces is that Christianity, no my brother. Help yourself and our fellow Christian brothers get them with an open mind to get another perspective, Read the Quran. For no place in the Bible have I read that Jesus said, “We are Christians.”
Ku saud Arabia mungakapeze za chi khristu?
Musatitopetse apa,
Palibe odza kwa atate ngati sadutsa mwa ine,
ine ndine njira kuukanso ndi moyo,
If you know Him he’ll also know you,
So don’t waist your time in trying to manipulate or brain Wash people.
If it was the other way round we could hear sentiments like, blasphemy, kill them or burn them, but Christians are just saying, pull it down
Kuyambira liti nawenso unakhala njira ya anthu ?????
Basi tiyeni tiziyenderanso malamulo a Roy Welensky mu Malawi .
KIKIKIKI
KIKIKI
Who told u that Malawi is Christian country? Don’t compare Malawi with Saudi Arabia, Malawi is a secular state
Vuto la Asilamu ndi loti they are very violent. You will notice that throughout the world, the only religion that directly supports violence is Islam. Because of their violent nature they should not be advertising their religion. More so because ISIS is already giving Mozambique security problems. Asilamu mwatani?
Komanso nkhondo imawakanika. Taonsni ku Israel.
A John Phiri koma ku sukulu munapitako ??????
Wandimvetsa Chiani kwambiri !!!!!!!!!!
U know nothing about Islam because of ur hatred
Akhristu amaopa anthu kuzindilkira soon. Africa is predominately Muslim
Always picking a fight. Do you advertise religion? Christians don’t poke their noses into the Koran but the converse is not true, unfortunately.
Let’s coexist without stepping on others toes.
Kulakwisa palibe chifukwa chokwanila chochosela chimenechi malawi ndi ziko latose
Just tell your members to read kotsn. Don’t refer bto the Bible
Otherwise some of the thing are offensive. Do you remember American soldiers who descratef the Koran. As a Muslim were you happy?
Pita ukaike china tikachotsanso… fokofu. Iwe sikuona pali because pamenepa
Does any Religion Needs Advertisement and Marketing
To make people Understand what is Christian Religion and What is Muslim Religion
It means As Believers in Muslim Religion are Less in the World that’s why they need this Kind of Advertising and Marketing Strategy
As Muslims in Malawi As % are ingligble and Muslims Convert other peoples Religion by Giveing them Financial Assistant and Poor Malawians will Convert into Muslim Religion because of Monetary Gains and Not because of Faith
So Muslims should NOT do their propaganda through Advertisment
This Kind of Bill Board I have seen for the First Time you will NOT see in Any other Countries
These Things only Happen in Malawi because of MCP+UTM
Anthu osayenda mumayiko ena example yawo ndi iyi ya J G Simpsons. Akufuna kunamiza anthu osayenda anzake kuti ma Billboards ngati awa sakupezeka kwina kulikonse pa dziko la pansi except ku Malawi kokha – Poor Simpson !!!!!!
So what is your comment then regarding all the prophets billboards that are visible all the time especially during Easter and Christmas?
Converting for financial reasons is one if the biggest weapons of the missionaries.
Go to Mangochi and you will see it all the time.
Education, medication and food only if you convert to christianity is so common
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Though we walk in the flesh we don’t war against the flesh. Nothing serious here. Nothing to worry about. A Zacc ndinu abusa akulu zisiyeni nansongole ndi tirigu zikulire limodzi
Iziso ndiye ziti?mwatani kodi?
It is very unfortunate that moslems feels that we read old and New testaments,those biblical books we don’t Read them we follow what the Lord God talks to us.
So if the Quran is book to led,then you do5need to put up a bill board just tell ur fellow Boko haram members to buy and read it
Nanu ankhristu Just let it Be …Will that Bill Board change Who Jesus is or What Christianity is all About …Pali pomwe Yesu analamula kapena Kunena kuti Muzimumenyera Nkhondo ….This is Just a Political Ploy to Divert Attention from Corruption Issues and Create Tension ,Unfortunately some Overzealous Pastors have taken the Hook….The Truth is the Truth …Religious Radicals whether Christian or Muslim Destroy Countries …Ngati anthu akuzunzika pa Dziko- pano chifukwa cha Zipembedzo …The Truth can only be Found in your Heart not in any Book ….Osamanamizana…
Some sponsors of the current government were Moslem institutions. Now why exactly do you think they were funding.
Ndipo chi billboard chimenechi sichikupeleka vuto kwa wina aliyese amene sakufuna kuwelenga Quran asawelenge and palibe mawu onyoza aliwonse
Dont mention our Holy Book mupange zanu za Allah wakubaluzo. Leave Old and NEW Testaments alone
The Qur’an embraces both the old and new. Even though ” who Jesus ” is is understood differently. Nothing pertaining to the Bible or Christianity has been mentioned here. Please let us just move on.
Mwangodana ndi chisilamu, it just shows that u have alot of hidden agendas towards Muslims.This is not a Christian state in case u don’t know, u just claim like that bt is baseless.The billboard is not forcing u to read the Qur’an.In a democratic country like Malawi u r free to read or not.Don’t take chances.
Isis wants to enter blantyre
The Billboard must fall,uku nde kuyesana,musatitengere kokatiyesa.
Shame muslims uwu ndi umbuli wosayamba because if anything the new testament shud only be in ur quaran as is the case with the bible. Holy Bible is a book with two testaments and Quaran is a book as a whole. if you fail to defeat ur enemy just join the forces ndiye inu a silamu mumalimbana ndi chikhristu so just join us. In our churches we preach the word of God using the Bible alone without references from Quaran or whatsoever while inu in ur mosques u can not preach the word of God without refering to the Bible so it means Quaran yanu ikuchepera mkaba and has nothing to offer moti our Bible ndiye mzati weniweni wachipembedzo chanu without Bible ur religion will fall.
I don’t see anything harm to have this bill board in this country Malawi,
Just to clarify
In islam
We believe in all four major books
1.The torah
2.The psalms(zabur)
3.The Gospel ( injil)
4.The Quraan
Now according to our view (islamic view) we believe that quraan is the last revelation.
This statement doesnt not hurt anyone. It approaches people to read the quran, by reading quraan nothing is wrong.
There are many muslims who read bible for knowledge and many christians who also read quraan for understanding.
One main point to note
Is that by having a majority of chrishtians or majority of muslims a country does not become
A christian country or an islamic country.
Lets together let our warm heart of africa
Be with unity and piece.
.
You are lying. You know Malawi is a secular country. Why putting your bill board referencing to Christian and Jewish Bible.
Malawi is a secular state and there is no Church that owns the Bible .It is just showing how blunt ignorant majority of Christians who are called nkhosa just following their pastors tell them what to read and not ndiye akuwopa kuti akhristuwo akawelenga zoona awafunsa kuti abyss mumatinamiza tawonani izi game yabvuta azibusa sagula magalimoto manyumba sanynengela zi akazi awo mukamuwone Mbewe Busheer walemela chifukwa chautsilu ndi umbuli waagalu in