Earlier today at Cairo airport, I had just led others in Fajr prayer and was about to sit down when Mallam Musharraf Aderogba beckoned to me to come over. On getting there, he asked me to engage the young man sitting next to him, who was questioning some verses of the Qurโฤn that he considered to be vi0lent. I obliged him and engaged the young man. One of his issues was with Q.9:29. To begin with, I asked if his phone had internet connection, as I would be providing real and verifiable contexts to the verses. Alhamdulillaah I was able to educate him, and he agreed totally with me.
Next, I showed him verses of the Bible such as 1Samuel 15:3, Luke 19:27, Mathew 10:34-36, etc., to buttress the importance of reading contexts to religious texts, lest one ignorantly commit mischief. I told him that Jesus gave an instruction that those who wouldn't allow him reign over them be brought before him and kpai-ed (Luke 19:27). Similarly, he boldly claimed that he had not come to bring peace to the world, but to cause chaos (Mathew 10:34-36). If we put literal interpretations to those texts, without considering their contexts what does that make Jesus?, I queried.
Surprisingly, he had never read those texts before. He couldn't believe his eyes. At first, he doubted them, but I told him to look up the verses in his personal Bible. Then, he tried playing the "Old Testament" card, but I reminded him that Jesus himself said that he hadn't come to abolish the ways and teachings of the past prophets, but to fulfil them (Mathew 5:17).
Next, I brought out my phone and showed him videos of some of my Friday Khutbahs, in which I refuted Abel Damina and others like him who deliberately quote the Qurโฤn out of context in order to achieve certain premeditated objectives of rubbishing Islam and criminalizing Muslims.
Next, I showed him verses of the Qurโฤn such as Q.60:8 & 9 which explicitly instructed the Muslims to be kind and just in dealing with non-Muslims who are not hostile towards them or cooperative with their enemies against them. I also showed him Qurโฤn 5:82 which designated the Christians as the closer in affection to the Muslims. I also showed him verses that condemn unjust taking of life, and how one life unjustly taken equals genocide (5:32), as well as the punishment for armed brigandage (5:33), among others.
Next, I asked him to mention any other country which, in the last 50 years has brought terror, destruction, and disability to the world apart from the US. Japan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, etc. Being a Christian country, why isn't Christianity designated as a ter0rist religion? I asked him if Islam was synonymous with terr0rism, why are our people living freely and making it big in Malaysia, Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, etc?
In the end, we both agreed that we have a common enemy in the terrorists and bandits, and that religious or ethnic coloration of crimes is a deliberate strategy to spilt us so as to make defeating us easier.
As a Muslim, you have no business taking blame for the crimes of the terr0rists and bandits. You must never allow anyone to guilt trip or gaslight you to accepting blame on behalf of your religion. Bandits do not represent our religion or our character. They are free to shout Allahu Akbar as they wish. We cannot take the blame for their crimes which they perpetrate against innocent citizens regardless of their faith. These criminals have wasted more Muslim lives, and have more Muslims in captivity. How does that justify the bogus claim of Islamization ?
_ Sanusi Lafiagi Ph.D
Tomorrow is Monday.
Fast if you are able to, if not earn reward by reminding others.
Remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers (Q51:55).
Baarakallahu Feekum.
Best DUA for the day of Arafah
The Prophet ๏ทบ said;
โThe best supplication is the one made on the day of Arafah. The best of it is what was said by myself and the Prophets before me...
My brother posted a sermon on his whatsapp story around 1am this morning(his last post) and died barely 6hrs later. If you are seeing this and you are in or around Offa, can you please attend his Janaiza immediately after Juma'ah service at owode Central Mosque, Offa? May Allah accept his return, forgive his shortcomings and grant us all the fortitude to bear the loss and a beautiful ending. Aameen ๐คฒ
His wife passed away 40 years ago and he never remarried.
Heโs alone, partially paralysed and collects 1500 plastic bottles every month to pay rent.
Today we covered his rent for a year and are kitting his house up with essentials.
Want to help him and others just like him? ๐
This imam had to stop teaching Quran after being diagnosed with cancer.
Sadly, he canโt afford the treatment he desperately needs.
So weโre stepping in to help save his life by funding his treatment as well as others in similar situations.
Want to help? ๐