Promote Peaceful Religion for Quality Health and Entrepreneurship: Religious Peace Is Determined by the Worshipers. 

 Religious Peace for Quality Health and Entrepreneurship, Happy Eid-ul Fitri, 2026.

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 20.03.2026.

Figure 1: No One Is Perfect: Forgive if Your Neighbour Steps on You and Apologize.

 Life on earth is like walking every day! As people walk around, they leave footprints! Whether you walk forward or backward, it would be impossible to completely clean all your footsteps without leaving anyone of them. This is a big lesson that can guide humans to be very careful about how we treat each other. The footsteps or footprints that we leave behind daily represent our everyday interactions with others. People are not perfect like God, everyone has a “but” or a bad side; irrespective of how nicest the person might be. People also have their preferences or choices in life, which mostly differ even amongst twins (Klopper, 2021; Medium.com., 2023).

The only person who not want to walk is a lazy one! To achieve many things in life, one must be will to live and continue to walk. So, just as one cannot just stop living life, so can no one decide not to continue walking life. But as people walk, there is the probability that others would step on their colleagues’ toes. This is similar to the daily interactions in life where people could offend each other willingly and by mistakes. The Holy Books serve as guides for reconciliation between people (Figure 1).

Allah/God mostly bless and protect people who practice religious teachings with purity of hearts. There is no religion that inherently promotes violence and intolerance: almost all three major religions promote justice, which is in line with having a pure heart as a believer. The top two major religions which are the lights of the world, must therefore compete in the common good or doing good to depict exactly what the Holy Books preach (Hebrews, 11:6; Quran., 5:9; Quran 2: 82. Quran 45:30). Paraphrasing my statement in 2024, no genuine believer, in normal circumstances, would plan evil against his/her neighbor without a cause.

One Surah that I like most in the Noble Holy Quran is the verse that encourages people to be tolerant about their religious differences. This verse says that: “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned” (Quran, 2:256). This Quranic Surah is no different from what Jesus himself was telling the Pharisees lawyer who secretly planned to entrap him by asking him questions. Jesus did not use a blood relation of the Pharisees lawyer as his neighbor; rather he used someone who, in those days, was supposed to be his worst enemy as neighbor (Matthew 22: 34-40). 

The parable given by Jesus agrees with many verses of both major Holy Books – the Holy Bible and Holy Quran. The Holy Bible teaching Christians to love everyone and even their enemies (Matthew 5:44-47) to the extent of providing them with food when they go hungry (Proverbs, 25:21) is not different from the Holy Quran teaching Muslims to be religious tolerance (Quran, 2:256). The Holy Quran practices “… The ways of peace” (Quran 5:16) where believers are always encouraged to reconcile (Quran 4:128) for peace, since Allah do not like violence and encourages peaceful co-existence (Quran 2:205).  

Quran 56: 25-26 says that true believers do no use abusive words on each other. They only preach “peace” (Steinhauer, 2016). When being peace loving is turned into hatred, human dignity becomes a mere mirage! Both major Holy Books preach about tolerance where believers are taught to accept their differences and love even their enemies (Matthew 5:44-47).

If the world was still doubting the reality of Ghana as a role model for religious PEACE, the 2024 general elections has proven this. Unlike in some parts of the world where religious minority are mostly maltreated, in Ghana religious difference must not be a justification for violence. For the first time in Ghana’s history, we had the Presidential Candidates for the two major political parties being Christian (NDC) and a Muslim (NPP).

In some nations this combination would have been like putting a broom into fire! But, in Ghana, we say why not. With the exception of some isolated minor cases where religious politics was recorded, in general, the campaign was professionally done without religious politics. What I admired most was that, on the elections’ day both Christians and Muslim were seen communicating peacefully at the polling centers where they casted their votes without any religious discrimination.

Though Ghana inter-religious relationship is admirable, there are still some issues that need to be addressed for absolute religious peace. Open display of negative religious hypocrisy is still very common! Religion must be a solution to world’s problem but not a tool for division and discrimination. If your religious affiliation makes you discriminate against others, then it can better be described as a tool for promoting violence but not a religion. All religions believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell but if people properly apply the teachings of the Holy books, majority of people can have a feel of Heaven on earth. We can all help make this world a better place for everyone if we mostly engage in a healthy competition. Negative competition creates enmity and turns the relationship between people into a bitter one. In very decision in life, think PEACE, think development!

To be cont.

Thank you for Reading! I wish all Muslims globally a Happy Eid-ul Fitri. Alhamdulillah!  

References

Quran 45. (2015, September 12). The Quran chapter 45. Love your enemy. Retrieved from Islam and the Quran: Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/islamandthequran/quran-chapter-45-love-your-enemy on 01.06.2020 at 4:15AM.

Hebrews. (11:6, KJV, 1611). THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. In K. James, The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) (p. 1118). London: Cambridge University Press.

Klopper, B., J. (2021). Walking is like Life – A Metaphor. (2021, March 13). Retrieved from Healing, Life Story, Saving Grace, Small Miracles: Retrieved on 20.03.2026 at 9:27 PM from; https://www.testimonytreasures.co.za/walking-is-like-life-a-metaphor/#:~:... etc.

Matthew. (22: 34-40. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.

Matthew. (5:44-47. KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 889). London: Cambridge University Press.

Medium.com. (2023, Jun 25). The Power of Walking: A Life-Changing Journey. Retrieved from Medium: Retrieved from; https://medium.com/@mwamorton51/the-power-of-walking-a-life-changing-journey-d583dca041d5 on 20.03.2026 at 9:44 PM

Otten, K. (2022). Human Competition Is Not Lower If Competing Is Socially Wasteful Instead of Socially Beneficial. Sci Rep, Sci Rep. 12:10740. Doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14891-7. Retrieved from; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14891-7#citeas on 10.04.2024 at 8:35 PM.

Proverbs. (25:21, KJV). The Proverbs. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (p. 635). London: Cambridge University Press.

Quran. (2:256). The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (2:82). Surah Al-Baqarah 2: Ayah 82. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran. (5:9). Surah Al-Maidah 5: Ayah 9. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Quran.. (45:30). Surah Al-Jathiya 45: Ayah 30. The Gloriou Quran. Cairo: Printing Press of Bulaq, 1924.

Happy Valentine’s Day’s Peace Message, 2026

 

Happy Valentine’s Day’s Peace Message, 2026

By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 30.01.2024. Updated on 14.02.2026.

Introduction

There is nothing that exposes increased discrimination in the world than the three (3) “Ms” of the twenty-first century’s world – money, materialism and murder. Materialisms and money have been increasingly prioritized than human dignity! This has resulted in ritual murder and hire-for-murder where people are paid to assassinate their fellow human beings. Incest and ritual money are mostly done because of materialism and money (Jonathan, 2022; MPR, 2019). A “52-year-old” Zambian’s mother has confessed that she had secret intimacy with her son for over “14 years” in order to keep his wealth (MPR, 2019). 

 

 Figure 1: Valentine's Day Celebration is a period of love: Not Fornication and Adultery!

The next issue that exposes global discrimination is the normalization of tribal marriage globally, where people are mostly discouraged from marrying different tribe or race. The defense normally given to support this old canker is the argument that, people should marry from the same race or tribe because of cultural differences. But true love transcends all boundaries, as revealed by Jesus himself in the parable of the good Samaritan (Matthew., 22: 34-40, KJV. 1611). There are couples who got married to the same tribe, but never had peace in their marriage; at the end they had to break up. There are couples who married from different tribe/race but had the best marriage that they ever dreamt of and vice versa.

 

How Has Valentine’s Day Celebration Originated?

The most beautiful and most powerful word in life is love! Love is an expensive but free gift that every human being on earth needs and it should also be given to others freely. God first proved His love by creating human beings in “Their own image and likeness” (Genesis, 1:26, KJV 1611). For of His unfailing divine love for human kind, He gave His only begotten son as a symbol of love; he lived without blemish but died for a sinful world (John 3:16-17, KJV; John 18: 37-38, KJV). This is what proofs love as the most expensive but free gift given to men!

True love cannot be bought with money; it is freely given by God! Love leads to kindness: a heart that does not love can never be kind, but every peaceful relationship needs to be lovely and kind (Niriwa c, 2021) as seen in the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Matthew., 22: 34-40, KJV. 1611). This is contradictory to the ugliest and problematic word that I have ever seen and heard in life, called “hatred”. When one does not like someone or has done something wrong against someone, the moment he/she sees the person the heart beats. This is hatred hurting heart, resulting in heart beats that mostly leads to increased blood pressure (Bp.). The heart beats that normally responses to a sign of love promotes happy healthy heart; healing hurts for healthy life!

All the problems that people have in life are as a result of their hatred for something that mostly makes them react negatively. Our hatred for something has led to so many lies and false rumors that are normally spread against those that we claimed to hate. Our hatred for something has led to happy marriages or relationships being turned into tools for domestic violence (Abu-Elenin, 2022; Wörmann, 2021) or even homicides (Adinkrah, 2021; Canudas-Romo, 2019). Most of these unnecessary hatreds hurting healthy hearts of people can be reduced during the celebration of all religious seasons like Valentine that encourages people to love unconditionally.

There was a barbaric practice that was an abuse of humans’ rights and dignity! Many women in the past who wanted the fruits of their wombs were normally whipped openly using canes that were made from animal’s “skin”, referred to as “februa” (Moscucci, 2022; Ratner, 2018). This treatment was tantamount to slavery! So, majority of people (both males and females) hated this old canker canning women who were anxious for children. So, the Valentine’s was introduced to cancel this barbaric practice for pregnancy and also to “ward off evil spirits” (Novak, 2026).

 

Has There Been Any Positive Change about Valentine’s Day Celebration?

Though some religious groups preach against valentine (Canada.ca., 2023), the main reason of a Valentine Day was to remind people about the importance of loving each other and leaving together in peace. Whatever encourages people to love, tolerate each other and leave together peacefully is a desire of God.

To value why Valentine’s Day is celebrated it is important to know how people were treated before it was started (Moscucci, 2022). What makes the practice of religion important is its ability to change a bad behavior into good behavior. That is exactly what the celebration of Valentine’s Day has done! 

Unlike in the olden days before the introduction of Valentine’s Day where expectant mothers were whipped because they want to be pregnant, it is no more done (Moscucci, 2022). The celebration of Valentine’s Day has helped solved this ungodly and barbaric behavior (Sciomer, 2022). People are no more beaten because they want to be fertile, but they give birth. Those who preach against the celebration of Valentine’s Day have strong points! Those points are what youngsters are supposed to be reminded of and be cautioned against during its celebration.

On the 12^th February, 2023 I was at Tema Station, Accra, and I heard a lady seriously arguing on a radio station that, “Valentine is not for single people; it is for people who are in romantic relationship”. Like seriously! Her definition of what Valentine’s Day is meant for, as she emphasized, is why some religious groups are against it (Moscucci, 2022; Novak, 2026). The problem with Valentine’s Day celebration is not about the celebration of Valentine but how it is celebrated.

Example; kissing can be both abominable and normal depending on how it is done or who is doing it. Everyone can kiss but it is not every kiss that is normally a romantic one! It would be a serious abomination to go about kissing peoples’ wives or husbands because it is a Valentine’s Day. Single persons can kiss, but the intentions attached to your kiss or the degree at which you kiss is what would determine whether you are kissing religiously or abominably. 

Happy Unique Valentine’s Day (Fig. 1)! Thank you for Reading!

What Still Needs to Be Changed Through the Celebration of Valentine’s Day?

Humans’ differences are real even amongst identical twins, but to achieve the world’s common good all human beings are put into one boat, like the COVID-19 pandemic did.

(To be continued)!

 

Conclusion

(To be continued)!

Suggestions and Recommendations (To be continued!)

To edit:

The 21^st century’s world is like a boat at the middle of a river carrying people. The oil of division is hatred which is an associated cause of violence! It is difficult to achieve the SDGs in an environment full of falsehoods or lies causing pursing pains, hurts and hatred!

 

Some References

References

Abu-Elenin, M. M., Elshora, A., A., Sadaka, M., S., & Abdeldaim, D., E. (2022). Domestic Violence against Married Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt. BMC Women Health, 22: 94. Doi: 10.1186/s12905-022-01674-5.

Adinkrah, M. (2021). When a Wife Says "No": Wife Sexual Refusal as a Factor in Husband-Wife Homicides in Ghana. J Interpers Viol, 36(3-4): 1607–1633. Doi: 10.1177/0886260517742913.

Canada.ca. (2023). What religion is against Valentines Day? Frequently Asked Questions, Retrieved from; https://www.calendar-canada.ca/faq/what-religion-is-against-valentines-day#:~:text=Jehovah's%20Witnesses%20do%20not%20celebrate,these%20customs%20have%20pagan%20origins on 14.02.2023 at 3:13 PM.

Canudas-Romo, V. & Aburto, J., M. (2019). Youth Lost To Homicides: Disparities i Survival in Latin America and the Caribean. BMJ Glob Health, 4: e001275. Doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001275.

Genesis. (1:26, KJV 1611). THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES CALLED, GENESIS. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command. (p. 5). London: Cambridge University Press.

Jonathan, P. (2022, Jan 13). I Was Impregnated Three Times by My Aunt’s Dog in Nigeria – Girl Reveals. Retrieved from News: Retrieved from https://infoxclusive.com.ng/2022/01/13/i-was-impregnated-three-times-by-my-aunts-dog-in-nigeria-girl-reveals/ on 15.01.2022 at 10:58AM

Matthew. (22: 34-40, KJV. 1611). THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.

Moscucci, F. & Sciomer, S. (2022). Saint Valentin's Day and the Heart . Acta bio-med: Atenei Parmensis., 93(4): e2022079. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v93i4.12629. PubMed.

MPR, Maravi Post Reporter. (2019, Oct 09). “My Son Make Love To Me Every Wednesday To Be Richer” – Confesses Zambian Mother. Retrieved from Blog Post.: Retrieved on 08.07.2022 at 1:42 PM from https://www.maravipost.com/my-son-make-love-to-me-every-wednesday-to-be-richer-confesses-zambian-mother/amp/

Pulle, B., N. (2021). Politics of Insults, Especially In Covid-19 Pandemic, Threaten Modern Democracy and Peace, Please Stop; A Review. PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING WHAT POLITICS IS. IOSR J Humanity Soc Sci, 26(2): 49-61. Doi: 10.9790/0837-2602014961.

Novak, T. (2026, Feb 08). How Did Valentine's Day Come About? Retrieved from Valentine: Retrieved from; https://party.alibaba.com/valentine/how-did-valentines-day-come-about on 14.02.2026 at 8:56 PM

Ratner, P. (2018). Who Was Saint Valentine? And Why Was He Beheaded? The Past, Retrieved from; https://bigthink.com/the-past/who-was-saint-valentine-the-patron-saint-of-lovers on 18.02.2023 at 10:39 AM.

Sciomer, S. & Moscucci, F. (2022). Saint Valentin’s Day and the Heart. Acta Biomed, 93(4): e2022079. Doi: 10.23750/abm.v93i4.12629. PubMed.

Wörmann, X. W. (2021). Males as Victims of Intimate Partner violence — Results from a Clinical-Forensic Medical Examination Centre. Int. J Legal Med, 135: 2107–2115. Doi: 10.1007/s00414-021-02615-x.