National Chief Imam calls for peace after Ahlussunnah eid dispute
Accra: Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam, has expressed concerns over the confusion that erupted among members of the Ahlussunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWAJ) community during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Accra.
According to a statement signed by his personal assistant, Dr Mohammed Marzuq Abubakari Azindoo, the revered Islamic leader described the events as unfortunate and called on all parties involved to embrace peace, dialogue, and reconciliation.
The dispute, which culminated in tensions at the Eid prayer grounds at the forecourt of Parliament, centred on who to lead the congregational Eid prayer.
The statement highlighted that while the broader disagreement within the Ahlussunnah fraternity relates to issues of leadership legitimacy, constitutional validity, and financial accountability, the Eid-day confrontation was particularly troubling because it overshadowed the spiritual significance of one of Islam’s most important festivals.
The Imam described the incident as a “painful irony” that defeats the fundamental purposes of Eid al-Adha, namely celebration, reflection, and communal harmony.
“In a country defined by interfaith harmony of global repute, intra-faith cordiality should be a celebrated norm,” the statement read.
He advised members of the Ahlussunnah community, particularly the youth, to uphold respect for leadership and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Islamic teachings.
The chief imam noted that while criticism and accountability are tolerated in Islam, they must be exercised within the bounds of decency, rationality, humility, and legality.
“Indeed, language vulgarism in the name of leadership criticism is incompatible with Islamic moralism,” he stressed.
The Chief Imam also appealed to religious leaders to demonstrate patience, tolerance, and forgiveness in their dealings with followers, noting that these virtues are essential for sustaining unity within the Muslim community.
Reflecting on the ongoing dispute, His Eminence observed that the true measure of a community is not the absence of conflict but its ability to resolve disagreements peacefully.
“The failure of Ahlussunnah is not determined by the possibility of conflicts among them, but by the impossibility of solutions to the conflicts,” he noted.
To facilitate a resolution, the chief imam declared his readiness to employ both religious and secular mechanisms to support reconciliation efforts.
However, he stressed that achieving an amicable settlement is a collective responsibility and civic duty that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
Sheikh Sharubutu urged members of the Ahlussunnah fraternity to abide by the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, quoting Surah Al-Hujurat (49:10): “The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
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