Islamic values such as unity, justice, peace, and responsibility offer practical tools for building peaceful and united African societies, according to the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya. ALSO READ: Muslim community urged to honour meaning of sacrifice, uphold Islamic values During a symposium held on July 19 in Kigali, themed “Moral Values in Islam and Their Impact on Social Peace in Africa,” he emphasized that these values should not be confined to places of worship but should be reflected in how Muslims live, work, and interact with others in everyday life. “Islam is a religion of peace, and our core values as Muslims include building our country, rejecting division, and living in unity. I believe these values should guide us daily—not just during prayer. The Qur’an teaches us to love our faith and to be loyal to our nation.” These values, he said, help shape responsible and patriotic citizens who work together for the good of their country. The gathering brought together members of the Islamic community, religious leaders from other faith-based organisations, government officials, and security experts. It focused on how Islamic teachings can help address social and security challenges across the continent and strengthen collaboration between scholars from Rwanda and Morocco. Si Mohammed Rifki, the Secretary General of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Oulema, praised Rwanda’s leadership and its commitment to peace, saying that Morocco and Rwanda are aligned in their efforts to promote shared values and regional cooperation. “Rwanda’s leadership is admirable, and the close ties between Morocco and Rwanda are built on our shared goal of promoting a culture of peace and spreading these values across the world,” he said. Discussion at the symposium highlighted that Africa’s development relies not only on policy and infrastructure but also on the values that influence people’s behaviour. Islamic ethics—such as justice, compassion, rejection of extremism, and social responsibility—were presented as essential for addressing many of the continent’s issues. ALSO READ: Muslims recognised for outstanding deeds Alia Umurungi, a member of the Islamic community, said the event was a chance to learn and reflect on core Islamic values, such as treating others well and protecting public resources. “We learned about key values like treating others with respect and protecting public infrastructure. The goal was to remind everyone how to live by Islamic values in daily life. We hope this will help us build a way of life that fits with our culture and traditions,” she said. Umurungi said the symposium reminded people how to apply these values in everyday life and expressed hope that this will help build a value-based lifestyle rooted in local culture.
