CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME, COURTESY OF RIDWAN AJIBADE.

Let's Change begin with us

It is a big pity that the generation of today does not seem to learn from the mistake of the past. I believe history is there for us to learn about our past, but rather to learn, we continue to languish in the ignorance of the past generations. It baffles me how we all complain about the deficiencies of the government, albeit we elected them there, we need a positive result from them, but are we also willing to do the right thing? Are we willing to part with what we have to make the country great? Are we ready to sacrifice our desires for the betterment of this country? These are question that needs not only answers but actions.

Let’s all remember that regret cannot salvage a ship from the bottom of the ocean, so, all hands must be on deck to place our nation where it out to be before it’s too late. Let’s kill our selfish attitudes and embrace selfless service. Let’s know that for Nigeria to be great again, change must begin with us.

 

PROPHET MOHAMMED IN THE BIBLE. A BOOK WRITTEN BY HUSSAINI YUSUF MABERA.

I believe ISLAM is the one true Religion, I converted to Islam eight years ago. And am writing this with reference to the book as written above.

THE ORIGIN OF PROPHET HOOD OF MUHAMMAD(PBUH) IN THE LIGHT OF THE BIBLE.

Please read with both Bible and Holy Quran.

The account of the prophet hood of Muhammad (PBUH) originated from the history of Abraham(A.S) and his first son (Ishmael) in the Bible. From the Qur'anic and biblical view point, Abraham was chosen and commissioned by GOD to be the father of Nations; among of which were the Jews and Arab nations that emerged through the prominent sons of Abraham called Ishmael and Isaac respectively. The book of Genesis reminded us of God's blessings of Abraham in Genesis:12:1-3
The blessings of Abraham in the Bible is confirmed in the Glorious Qur'an read by all Muslims all over the world in the following verses
Surah 2:124: " And (remember) when the Lord of Abraham tried him with certain commands which he fulfilled. Allah said to him verily, I am going to make you an Imam (a leader) for mankind. Abraham said: "And of my offspring also" Allah said, my covenant includes not the wrong doers. (for more details about Abraham and God's blessings see surah 2:125-135.

Through there blessings of God on Abraham, he was chosen by GOD to be the spiritual of both the Jews and the Arabs through his prominent sons called Isaac and Ishmael. The Almighty God had planned to use these two sons of Abraham to guide the whole world through the various prophets that emerged out of as this written is going to show. All the nations of the earth would be blessed through this two sons of Abraham.

THE BIBLE SAYS ISHMAEL(A.S) WAS THE FIRST SON OF ABRAHAM.
Genesis 16:15. "So Hagar bore Abraham a son; and Abraham named his son whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abraham was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham.

Genesis 21:5 "Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him".
When one perform elementary arithmetic by subtracting the years of Abraham 86yrs when he gave birth to Ishmael from his years 100yrs when he gave birth to Isaac , be will get a difference of 14yrs. This shows that Isaac was born when Ishmael was already fourteen years old. Isaac was not even born when Ishmael was 13yrs old. And Ishmael was circumcised at age of thirteen years along with Abraham according to Genesis 17:25-26. The book of first chronicle 1:28 also says: The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
The Glorious Qur'an also confirm the above fact that both Ishmael and Isaac were sons of Abraham respectively in Surah 14;39 where Abraham said.
"All praise and thanks belong to Allah who has given me in old age Ismail ( Ishmael) and Is'haq (Isaac). Verily, my Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocation". See also Surah 6:84-90 for more details.

In consideration of the above cogent and convincing facts from the Bible and the Qur'an, why should the Christian clergies deny the sonship of Ishmael to Abraham and only believe in Isaac as the only legitimate son of Abraham? On what biblical authority and rational argument do they discard Ishmael? And why d they regard Ishmael as nog being the true son of Abraham by calling him illegitimate son? Does the Bible use ghe word "illegitimate" in describing Ishmael! Where then ? If Ishmael was born out of wedlock by Abraham as Christians clergies assert, what are they making their followers to think of Abraham? Did Abraham commit an offence by giving birth to Ishmael through his second wife Hagar? Whether they want to belief it or not, the book Genesis:16:3 says about Hagar: "So Sarah Abraham's first wife took Hagar her maid , the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abraham to be his wife after Abraham had dwelt ten year in the land of Canaan.
The above verse clearly said that Hagar became the second legitimate wife of Abraham through the consent of his first wife Sarah (her supposed mistress)

Can a man give birth to a bastard through his wife? Do the Christian clergies knows more than the Bible itself? From the point of view of common sense, those who stigmatized Abraham as given birth to a son out of wedlock are only abusing or cursing Abraham; and those who curse Abraham are under God's curse and wrath according to Genesis 12:3 where God says to Abraham; I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you. And in you, all the families of earth shall be blessed".

QURAN AND HADITH ON THE NEEDY.

1. The Quran

Attitude of the giver of charity
Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow up their spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find their reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and grief. To speak a kind word and to forgive people's faults is better than charity followed by hurt. Allah is All-Sufficient, All-Forbearing Believers! Do not nullify your acts of charity by stressing your benevolence and causing hurt as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen by men and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. The example of his spending is that of a rock with a thin coating of earth upon it: when a heavy rain smites it, the earth is washed away, leaving the rock bare; such people derive no gain from their acts of charity. Allah does not set the deniers of the Truth on the right way. (2:262 - 264)

The needy who do not do beg.

Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah, and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity. And whatever wealth you will spend on helping them, Allah will know of it. (2:273)

Economic exploitation

And do not become like the woman who, after having painstakingly spun her yarn, caused it to disintegrate into pieces. You resort to oaths as instruments of mutual deceit so that one people might take greater advantage than another although Allah puts you to the test through this. Surely on the Day of Resurrection He will make clear the truth concerning the matters over which you differed. (16:92)

Food and the needy

Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving away the food of the poor. (107:1 - 3)
Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers. Do not squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are Satan's brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. (17:26 - 27)

Greed

Look, you are being called upon to expend in Allah's Way, yet some of you are being niggardly, whereas the one who is niggardly is, in fact, being niggardly only to himself. Allah is Self-Sufficient: it is you who are the needy. If you turn away, Allah will replace you by another people, and they will not be like you. (47:38)

Moderation in giving

Do not keep your hand fastened to your neck nor outspread it, altogether widespread, for you will be left sitting rebuked, destitute. (17:29)
(In reference to the slaves of Allah) "who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly but keep the golden mean between the two (extremes) (25:67)

Righteousness

You shall not attain righteousness until you spend out of what you love (in the way of Allah). Allah knows whatever you spend. (3:92)

Sadaqa

(O Prophet!) Tell those of My servants who believe that they should establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them with, both secretly and openly, before there arrives the Day when there will be no bargaining, nor any mutual befriending. (14:31)

Stinginess

Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful, who are niggardly and bid others to be niggardly and conceal the bounty which Allah has bestowed upon them. We have kept in readiness a humiliating chastisement for such deniers (of Allah's bounty) (part of 4:36 and all of 4:37)
Zakat-what you owe from your money
The people who where given the Book before this did not divide into sects until after the clear statement (of the Right Way) had come to them, and the only Command they were given was to worship Allah, making their religion sincerely His, turning all their attention towards Him, and to establish the Salat and to pay the Zakat: for this alone is the most true and right religion. (98:4 - 5)
Establish Prayer and dispense the Purifying Alms (Zakat) and bow in worship with those who bow (2:43)
The believers, both men and women, are allies of one another. They enjoin good, forbid evil, establish Prayer, pay Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Surely Allah will show mercy to them. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise (9:71)
The alms (Zakat in this specific verse?s case) are meant only for the poor and the needy and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled; and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (9:60)

2. The Hadiths

Begging

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking others, Allah will make him self-sufficient. (Bukhari)
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: He who makes a habit of asking from others reaches out for a brand of Fire, so let him refrain or continue, as he desires. (Muslim)

Clothing

Ibn Abbas related that the Prophet said: Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in Allah's safekeeping as long as a shred of it remains on him. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
Debt: Relieving the person in debt
Abu Qatadah related that the Prophet said: If anyone would like Allah to save him from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection, he should give more time to his debtor who is short of money, or remit his debt altogether. (Muslim)

Food and the needy

Safwan ibn Salim related that the Prophet said: Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
Anas related that the Prophet said: If any Muslim plants something or sows seed from which a man, a bird or an animal eats, it counts as a charity for him. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Relatives who are needy

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said: The best charity is that which is practiced by a wealthy person. And start giving first to your dependents. (Bukhari)
Salman ibn Amer reported that the Prophet said: To give something to a poor man brings one reward, while giving the same to a needy relation brings two: one for charity and the other for respecting the family ties. (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Tirmidhi)

Stinginess

Jabir reported that the Prophet said: Avoid doing injustice to others, for on the Day of Judgment, it will turn into manifold darkness, and safeguard yourself against miserliness, for it ruined those who were before you. It incited them to murder and treating the unlawful as lawful. (Muslim)
Zakat-what you owe from your money
Abbas related that a man asked the Prophet, Tell me what should I do to be admitted to Paradise and he (the Prophet) answered: Worship Allah associating nothing with Him, observe Salat, pay Zakat and strengthen the ties of kinship. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: When someone is made rich but he does not pay Zakat for his wealth, then on the Day of Judgment his money will be turned into a poisonous snake with two black spots on its head. It will coil around his neck and bite his cheeks and say: 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure'. Then the Prophet recited verse 3:180 of the Quran. (Bukhari).

Reference:

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