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According to the Imam, the kind gesture initially surprised many who assumed religious boundaries would prevent a devout Muslim from accepting such a gift. However, Adeyemi emphasized that Islamic teachings allow Muslims to accept food from Christians, reinforcing that such acts of goodwill should be encouraged rather than viewed with suspicion. In recounting the event, he shared how he humorously approached the woman afterward and jokingly asked why the food she gave was too small, saying his family needed more. The woman, visibly startled, didn’t expect such a reaction, especially coming from a senior Islamic cleric during a Christian holiday.
Imam Adeyemi explained that his intention was to use humor to break down walls of religious misunderstanding and demonstrate that peaceful coexistence is not only possible but necessary in a diverse society like Nigeria. He reiterated that Islam supports interaction and cooperation with people of other faiths, especially when it comes from a place of kindness and respect. His story served as a reminder that building bridges between communities often starts with small, thoughtful actions and a willingness to look beyond religious differences in favor of shared humanity.
https://youtu.be/SnMfDbwZezE?si=B-nb-b2vAsllg35d
