By Christopher Tetteh, GNA
Amasaman, (Accra), Sept. 14, GNA – The Women’s Wing of the Islamic Mission Secretariat (IMS) has called on Muslim women to remain tolerant and co-exist peaceably with women with other religious faith and beliefs.
Hajia Mariam Nketia-Suleiman, the National Secretary of the Wing, asked Muslim women to also contribute to building a better society, urging them to eschew religious and ethnic sentiments and hatred.
She gave the advice at the closing session of the 28th National Conference of the Wing at Amasaman in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The four-day conference was on the theme: “Preserving Islamic values as women in the contemporary world towards national development.”
Hajia Nketia-Suleiman advised that: “Islam teaches us to be peacemakers, and to reject corruption, protect our environment, support education, discourage violence, stand for justice and serve our communities”.
She emphasised that building a better society and Ghana remained collective responsibility, saying that because the government alone could not shoulder that responsibility, there was the need for the Muslim women to contribute their quota meaningfully.
“We must recognise that Ghana is our home and her development is a shared responsibility,” Hajia Nketia-Suleiman added.
She indicated that: “As Muslim women, we must not only promote our faith, but also with pure heart, we must contribute to holistic national development.”
Hajia Nketia-Suleiman advised Muslim women to share knowledge and remained dedicated to service to the nation.
She said building a prosperous country required strengthened peace, justice, honesty, respect and tolerance, and compassion, and urged Muslim families to teach their children respect the elderly in society and also tolerate other faiths and beliefs.
“Muslim women must also be shepherds of their homes and be responsible for the wellbeing of their families too,” she advised, saying that: “A mother is a child’s first teacher, and the child learns by watching the mother.”
Referencing the Holy Quran “Surah Al-Ahzab verse 35”, Hajia Nketia-Suleiman advised Muslim families to raise their children responsibly and for them to understand that: “Muslim means being truthful, discipline, compassion and humility”.
“Our faith must be visible in our conduct and character,” she stated, and on Muslim women to continue to support their husbands in the upkeep of their families.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Christopher Tetteh
Email: [email protected]