This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
On October 26, Jamia Mosque in Nairobi welcomed hundreds of non-Muslims for its Open Day, an initiative aimed at demystifying misconceptions associated with Islam.
Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome, a cleric at the mosque, led a heated question-and-answer session, emphasizing that Islam is a religion of peace. He cited the Quran to illustrate how the religion condemns killing, stating, “Quran teaches that taking one’s life is equivalent to destroying the entire world. Killing is forbidden.”
Visitors were taken on a guided tour of the mosque to confirm the absence of idols, dispelling claims of worshiping other gods. Lethome explained, “We respect other religions and we do not bother them as long as they do not interfere with our worship. We never force anyone to convert to Islam.”
Farah Mansur, the Jamia Mosque Administrative assistant, addressed allegations of women being undermined in the religion, stating, “Women have a place in the faith and we believe we are at equal platform with men. Our roles might be different but we are all united in God.”
Attendees, including Christians, praised the event as an eye-opener, citing the tolerant nature of Islam and its leaders. Boniface Kariuki, a Christian, noted, “I have even read writings on Mosque walls that quote the bible. It is a very tolerant religion and its leaders do not speak ill of my faith.”
Published on November 1, 2019.
