By Alhaji Abubakarr Bah

Freetown, 29th December 2025- Sierra Leone’s Honourable Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, is calling for interfaith harmony after a viral video sparked debate. A religious scholar recently said Muslims celebrating Christmas would go to hell – igniting mixed reactions.

With his calm demeanor, VP Juldeh Jalloh stressed Sierra Leone’s strength lies in tolerance, urging leaders to avoid divisive sermons. “My faith hasn’t stopped me from joining church events,” he said, highlighting mutual respect between Muslims and Christians.

A Page from History– In Madinah, the Prophet (PBUH) led Muslims while respecting other faiths. After conquering the disbelievers and establishing Islam, he signed treaties with Christians, like the Najran pact – guaranteeing protection for churches, no conversion pressure, and mutual aid. Islam wasn’t imposed; coexistence was key.

What Was the Najran Pact?–  In 631 CE, the Prophet agreed to protect Najran’s Christians & churches, let them practice faith freely, and support each other against threats. In return, Najran’s Christians agreed to pay a yearly tribute (jizya) to the Muslim leadership. A true example of interfaith harmony.

Different Paths, Shared Values- Sierra Leone’s secular model prioritizes unity in diversity. Countries like Saudi Arabia take a different approach, blending faith and governance. But both paths value peace and stability – and that’s what matters most.

Conclusion- As Sierra Leone shows, tolerance and respect pave the way for progress. Let’s cherish our shared humanity, embrace our differences, and build bridges – not walls. Let’s not use or allow our theological thoughts to derail our hard-earned peace. Peace is too precious to compromise. Speaking from personal experience, as an ardent Muslim who studied at Saint Francis Primary and Secondary in Makeni – where I even scored a B3 in Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in the 2003 WASSCE – I’ve seen firsthand how interfaith learning fosters unity. My dad’s decision to send me there shaped my respect for other faiths. I had the privilege of studying the Bible in a Catholic school and had a Quranic teacher at home who taught me recitation and translation – my religious knowledge is vast in both Islam and Christianity, and I’ve benefited a lot with a sound mind, a blessing.

Against this background, I absolutely agree with the Vice President – tolerance is key to progress.