![President Mutharika and Minister Atupele Muluzi, a Moslem]()
President Peter Mutharika on Saturday joined Muslims in worship at Luchenza where he also assured them of their freedom of worship and that his government will always seek amicable solutions to any challenges that may come in their way.
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![APM and the First Lady arriving at the prayers]()
APM and the First Lady arriving at the prayers[/caption]
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![Muslim leaders presenting a medal of honour to APM for gracing Ijitmah]()
Muslim leaders presenting a medal of honour to APM for gracing Ijitmah[/caption]
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![President Mutharika and Minister Atupele Muluzi, a Moslem]()
President Mutharika and Minister Atupele Muluzi, a Moslem[/caption]
Mutharika said democracy and religion must always reconcile for the nation to ably move forward in terms of social and economic development.
Speaking at this year's Ijtamah, President Mutharika said it is the duty of true leadership to offer hope to the people they lead and build among themselves the bond and cooperation for the good of the nation.
"No human created by God wants to feel rejected. I know the pain that comes from the denial of one’s freedom of conscience. Religion is an expression of our freedom of conscience. The harmony of human conscience is a cornerstone for social development.
"The changes that have come with our priceless democracy have had a positive effect in creating conditions for religious freedom. This has made it possible for faith communities to renew a free spirit of worship. We cannot be a country that value democracy but deny freedom of worship. Democracy and religion must always reconcile," said Mutharika.
President Mutharika then appealed to Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) to always champion what he called three pillars progress--patriotism, integrity and hard work.
According to him, these are values and principles of character God wants to see in everyone of His children.
"These are values of humanity that are consistent with our teachings. Let us carry forward these core values as our sanctified duty.
"Our service to God is most meaningful when it begins with service to mankind. Our faiths must adopt the agenda for development as part of our mission to God," asserted Mutharika.
He also observed that religion has always formed the moral basis of civilization throughout human history and its impossible to develop a country without moral foundations.
Mutharika said just like Christianity, Islam occupies a privileged position for building a national character on which the country's socio-economic growth can be founded.
"I want to see a Malawi where there is no intolerance and sectarianism. We must be a country where there is no creed of violence happening in the name of religion.
"The basis of our co-existence is that we are all humans placed in one place of the universe by one Creator. Right from creation, our God knew that we will always need one another," advised Mutharika.
He added, "We have no choice but to co-exist in our beliefs and faiths. After all, we are all pilgrims passing by on this earth."
APM and the First Lady arriving at the prayers[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_97477" align="alignright" width="600"]
Muslim leaders presenting a medal of honour to APM for gracing Ijitmah[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_97481" align="alignright" width="600"]
President Mutharika and Minister Atupele Muluzi, a Moslem[/caption]
Mutharika said democracy and religion must always reconcile for the nation to ably move forward in terms of social and economic development.
Speaking at this year's Ijtamah, President Mutharika said it is the duty of true leadership to offer hope to the people they lead and build among themselves the bond and cooperation for the good of the nation.
"No human created by God wants to feel rejected. I know the pain that comes from the denial of one’s freedom of conscience. Religion is an expression of our freedom of conscience. The harmony of human conscience is a cornerstone for social development.
"The changes that have come with our priceless democracy have had a positive effect in creating conditions for religious freedom. This has made it possible for faith communities to renew a free spirit of worship. We cannot be a country that value democracy but deny freedom of worship. Democracy and religion must always reconcile," said Mutharika.
President Mutharika then appealed to Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) to always champion what he called three pillars progress--patriotism, integrity and hard work.
According to him, these are values and principles of character God wants to see in everyone of His children.
"These are values of humanity that are consistent with our teachings. Let us carry forward these core values as our sanctified duty.
"Our service to God is most meaningful when it begins with service to mankind. Our faiths must adopt the agenda for development as part of our mission to God," asserted Mutharika.
He also observed that religion has always formed the moral basis of civilization throughout human history and its impossible to develop a country without moral foundations.
Mutharika said just like Christianity, Islam occupies a privileged position for building a national character on which the country's socio-economic growth can be founded.
"I want to see a Malawi where there is no intolerance and sectarianism. We must be a country where there is no creed of violence happening in the name of religion.
"The basis of our co-existence is that we are all humans placed in one place of the universe by one Creator. Right from creation, our God knew that we will always need one another," advised Mutharika.
He added, "We have no choice but to co-exist in our beliefs and faiths. After all, we are all pilgrims passing by on this earth."