الحوار الديني بين الإسلام والمسيحية في نيجيريا وأثره على التعايش السلمي

Abstract

The Title of the research is: ‘The Muslim- Christian Dialogue in Nigeria The road to peaceful coexistence’. The study intends to cover the foundation of the peaceful coexistence in Islam and Christianity during dialogue between them (Muslim and Christian in Nigeria). Peaceful coexistence means living and interacting with the people in all spheres of life peacefully. In the Islamic traditions, the word Al-salam (peace) is the one of the attributes of Almighty Allah, Meaning that, He is the Ultimate source of peace Darul Salam (Abode 0f Peace) is one of the Name of Paradise. Islam has urge Muslim exchange the word As Salam Alaikum (Peace be upon to you) for greeting and wishing them peace. Almighty Allah has made people’s sustenance available on earth and whoever exerts effort reaps the outcome and the obedience of Allah will be reflected positively on the prosperity of mankind in the economic matter and its Stability in political affairs. The two Holly Books Qur’an and Bible make frequent reference to communication of truth, invitation towards morally and ethically good dissemination of the message call to a common ground and instructing Muslims to invite others through most appropriate means of communication towards the Islamic way of life. These and many other references in the Holly Quran and Holly Bible highlight the importance of dialogue and an ongoing communication within and outside the Muslim Community and Christian Community in Nigeria for long time coexisting history. The space of dialogue is however not confined to theological and polemical debate that in final analysis, never serve the purpose of a dialogue, rather reinforce biases, prejudices and predefined absolutist position of the participating intellectual wrestles. Today, it impinges on social, ethical, economic, political, legal, cultural, educational and environmental issues. However, it shall fail to achieve its objective of development of understanding, acceptance, recognition and collaboration with an ethical commitment if it continues to be between the arrogant, powerful and the subdivided and oppressed, regarded by the oppressor as less than civilized people with preventive forces of culture.