Religious Conversion: Sheik Pamtani’s Invite In Bad Faith – Dalung

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BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung has said that the invitation to Islam extended to him by Sheikh Pantami was done in utmost bad faith and not within Islamic traditions.

Dalung, who stated this while reacting to social media stories to the effect that he has converted to Islamic religion, said he went to attend Tafseer at the Anur Jummat Mosque, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja as part of his building of peaceful coexistence which he started five years ago.

He explained that Sheik Pantami did not invite him to attend the Tafseer but went on his own adding however that for the Islamic cleric to have chosen to abuse the privilege was quite unfortunate.

According to Dalung; “Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) received so many Christian delegations including those from St Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, but never used their visits to invite them to Islam. Rather, he respected their religion and even granted some of them access to use the mosque for their worship.

“I started visiting Muslim ummah during Ramadan about 5 years ago. My mission is simply to enhance better tolerance of each other by practical demonstration of understanding. I have attended tafseer of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, where over one million Muslims were in attendance, but he had never ever abused the opportunity of our relationship. In fact, Sheikh Dahiru respects me a lot and I do same to him as father figure, too

“The method employed by Sheikh Kantami was cheap blackmail because if he sincerely believed in converting me to Islam, he should have demonstrated commitments, not to take advantage of my visit. He knew my office or he should have adopted the traditions of the Prophet by writing me a letter of invitation but choosing the part of ambush was to say the least embarrassing but certainly not love at all,” the Dalung enthused.

Details of Solomon Dalung’s statement is published below:

BY SOLOMON DALUNG

I have read with interest comments of many expressed my recent visit to Anur Jummat Mosque Wuse, Zone 2 Abuja. To those who understood my mission, they also appreciated it and I am grateful because we are partners in peaceful coexistence.

The invitation to Islam by Sheikh Pantami was done in utmost bad faith and not within Islamic traditions. He did not invite me to attend the tafseer, I went on my own, therefore abusing the privilege was quite unfortunate. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) received so many Christian delegations including those from St Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, but never used their visits to invite them to Islam. Rather, he respected their religion and even granted some of them access to use the mosque for their worship.

I started visiting Muslim ummah during Ramadan about 5 years ago. My mission is simply to enhance better tolerance of each other by practical demonstration of understanding. I have attended tafseer of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, where over one million Muslims were in attendance, but he had never ever abused the opportunity of our relationship. In fact, Sheikh Dahiru respects me a lot and I do same to him as father figure, too

The method employed by Sheikh Kantami was cheap blackmail because if he sincerely believed in converting me to Islam, he should have demonstrated commitments, not to take advantage of my visit. He knew my office or he should have adopted the traditions of the Prophet by writing me a letter of invitation but choosing the part of ambush was to say the least embarrassing but certainly not love at all.

As a cleric, he should have weighed the implications of his actions. While in his sermon he tried to condemn those acts that portrayed Islam in bad light, but he ended up been guilty of abused of obligations to his host. I informed him before hand of my visit, if he was not disposed to it, he could have politely turned it down not to accept then try to ridicule my reputation.

I have so many mentors, who are Muslim leaders, including Sheikh Lemu, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sultan of Sokoto, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, Sheikh Khalid, Maitama Sule, Sani Zangon Daura, Ango Abdullahi, etc. They have never done anything to violate my religious rights. Rather, my relationship with them had strengthened my knowledge of Islam.

When Sheikh Kantami launched the affront on my faith, I was calm because it is part of the price I have to pay for peace. Not too long after my departure from Anur Jummat Mosque in Abuja, there was rumour of conversation to Islam which has been trending.

In my opinion, this has a nexus with the ill-fated invitation which primarily was intended to spark off instability. Let me appeal to all peace loving Christians and Muslims to be calm and disregard machinations of evil-minded people who see nothing good in peace.

Instead of discouraging me, it has emboldened me to do more for peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance in Nigeria. God is the author of faith and conscience, He acts as it pleases Him. He created us different people with different faiths, culture and ethnic backgrounds yet He put us together in one country. This temptation is a test we must work hard to pass. May God Almighty grants us the grace to do His will, Amen! Love you all.

Ramadan Kareem.

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