Mahama: “If you are hard of heart and unforgiving, you cannot call yourself a true Muslim or Christian.”
President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper compassion, forgiveness and tolerance among people of faith, stressing that true religious devotion must be reflected in how people treat one another.
Speaking at the Presidential Iftar held in Accra as part of activities marking the holy month of Ramadan, President Mahama said both Islam and Christianity place strong emphasis on love, mercy and forgiveness.
According to him, anyone who claims to follow either religion but acts with cruelty and hatred contradicts the core teachings of their faith.
“If you say you’re a true Muslim or you’re a true Christian and you are hard of heart, you are unforgiving, you’re wicked, you kill your fellow man, you can’t call yourself a true Muslim or a true Christian,” he stated.
President Mahama explained that the teachings of Islam and Christianity share important similarities, particularly in encouraging believers to follow the exemplary lives of the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ.
“Indeed Christians and Muslims are the most closely related in terms of religion because if you take the Holy Bible, the Old Testament is the teaching of God and the New Testament is the life of Jesus Christ,” he said.
“The same thing with the Quran. The Holy Quran is the word of God and the Hadith is the life of the Prophet, and we are enjoined to follow the life of the Prophet,” he added.
The President said the lives of both Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad were centered on compassion, forgiveness and love for humanity.
“And in all their lives it was about love and compassion and forgiveness,” he noted.
President Mahama further commended Ghana’s long-standing tradition of religious tolerance, describing the country as a model of peaceful coexistence between Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths.
“Ghana remains a shining example… a nation where Christians, Muslims and people of all faiths live together in mutual respect and harmony,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to continue promoting unity and understanding among different religious groups, especially during Ramadan, which he described as a time for spiritual renewal, reflection and compassion.
