No Islamic state in Malawi, MAM disowns Mangochi declaration
The Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) chairperson Sheikh Mohammed Idrissa and one of the prominent sheikhs Dinala Chabulika have strongly condemned the conduct of some sections of Muslims in Mangochi who claim that they have declared the eastern lakeshore resort district an Islamic State.
Last week, Muslims in Mangochi carried a placard which had words written “Say no Haram foods in Mangochi the Islamic State.”
Apart from carrying out the placard, other Muslims were also sending unsolicited text messages, saying the district is now an Islamic State.
But Sheikh Idrissa said: “Malawi is one State, we cannot create two States. This is a secular nation and we must tolerate each other.”
And Malawi Muslims Official Website quoted Sheikh Chabulika saying people should not take Islam for granted by confusing people.
“When did Mangochi become an Islamic State? Do those who say that know the meaning of an Islamic State? Why do they want to confuse people? This is uncalled for, it should not be entertained at all cost.
“Malawi is a secular state where we have people with different religious ideologies therefore coexistence needs to be emphasized. So, no one should say this district is an Islamic State because there are many Muslims. What about other districts which are also predominantly Muslims? We need to be serious.”
The sheikh who is Islamic Information Bureau National Coordinator and Malawi Council of Theologians Publicity Secretary said Islam does not condone any type of violence or use of any force to call people to the religion saying anyone doing that should know that it is completely out of religion’s teachings.
He said Muslims should emulate the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was very kind and well known when it comes to living with non Muslims.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Civic Education Brown Mpinganjira, who is the official government spokesperson, has said it would not be right to condemn the Muslim community at large for actions undertaken by a small group of overzealous members of the faith who have gone overboard.
