By Maryam Kenechi
Yesteday, because of the rain, a very good Christian friend of mine called and asked if I had closed from work. He said he and his colleague were heading home and offered to pick me up if I was done for the day. I appreciated the kind gesture and accepted.
While we were driving, he was playing gospel songs and I was singing it out of Joy. At some point, he smiled and said, MARYAM one thing I admire about you is that although you are a Muslim, you enjoy Christian songs and can sing along to them, regardless of the language or tribe I can't wait to welcome you back to Christianity immediately I replied, “Why wouldn't I? As long as the song is praising God, promoting good values, and carrying a positive message, I enjoy listening to it. And Coming back to Christianity Sir No way Smiling.
One of his colleagues, who was sitting close to me, turned around in surprise and asked, Are you really a Muslim? My friend responded, Not only is she a Muslim, she is also Igbo.
The man was shocked. He said he had never met an Igbo Muslim before, and he was even more surprised to see a Muslim woman comfortably singing gospel songs. That moment reminded me of how many assumptions people make about others based on religion, tribe, or background.
Recently, after the video Very Dark man posted regarding of what kidnapper went before releasing the childrens some people came into my inbox with comments that indirectly blamed Islam for the problems in Nigeria. I chose not to argue with them because everyone is entitled to their opinions.
However, I want to say this clearly. As an Igbo woman who was born into a Christian family and later accepted Islam, I do not owe anyone an explanation for my faith. My journey is personal, and my relationship with God is my responsibility. Whether you agree with my choice or not is entirely up to you.
What I find unfortunate is when people try to blame an entire religion for the actions of criminals. Crime has no religion. Evil has no tribe. Kidnappers, bandits, corrupt leaders, and criminals come from different backgrounds, ethnic groups, and religious affiliations.
Not long ago, one of my Facebook friends disappeared from social media for some time. When I finally heard from him, he told me he had been kidnapped and that his family had paid a ransom before he was released. I have the chats to prove it. Was his suffering caused by a religion? No. It was caused by criminals.
If I am a Muslim and I can sing a gospel song that praises God, then perhaps we should all learn to see one another as human beings first. Respecting another person's faith does not weaken your own faith. Kindness does not have a religion. Compassion does not have a tribe.
Nigeria's biggest problems are not Christianity or Islam. Our biggest problems are hatred, ignorance, insecurity, corruption, and the refusal to see one another as fellow human beings. Let us stop judging people based on stereotypes. Let us stop blaming entire religions for the actions of a few individuals. Let us learn to coexist peacefully, respect one another, and focus on building a better society for everyone. Peace begins when we choose understanding over prejudice.
Remember I am Still that IGBO Muslimah from a Christian home who found Faith in ISLAM
