SONGS, DANCE INTRODUCE ISLAM TO CAMEROON YAOUDNE YOUTH
Yaoudne, 14 Ramadhan 1436/1 July 2015 (MINA) – Reaching out to the Cameroonian society, an Islamic center in the Cameroonian capital is using songs, dance and leisure activities to introduce Islam to the local youth.
“Children must know what Islam is all about,” Sheikh Mfouapon al-Hassan, a teacher at the Rahma Complex said, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“They must know their religion,” he added. “We do this via entertainment.”
According to Al-Hassan, the complex organizes recreational activities to attract people to Islam.
Targeting children, the activities include singing, dancing, theater, Qur’an recitation and daily lessons on religious subjects.
Located in Yaounde’s Etam Bafia neighborhood, the center offers lessons in French, English and Arabic to familiarize Cameroonian youth with Islamic precepts and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“Our intention is to transmit religious knowledge,” said al-Hassan.
“We began this program mainly for local Muslim children, but – to our surprise – non-Muslim children often come and participate,” said the teacher.
“I encourage them [non-Muslim children] to come if they are interested,” he added.
The center also teaches locals how to pray and fast, encouraging children to fast, at least until 3 pm.
“Our teachers try to highlight the benefits of fasting, especially Allah’s forgiveness,” he said, stressing that the Ramadan fast is a pillar of Islam.
According to the CIA Factbook, Muslims constitute about 20 percent of Cameroon’s total population of 20.5 million.
Most of them live in northern Cameroon and hail from major tribes such as the Fulani and the Peuhl.
Muslims in Cameroon are mostly engaged in trade and own large businesses in the African country.
Unlike other African countries, the Cameroonian Constitution provides for freedom of religion and the government generally respects this right in practice. (T/P006/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
