Questions & Answers 2

Question 2:

Reading Quran without knowing its meaning is tantamount to music and reader has no rewards, someone said! Please any clarification on this?

Answer 2:

The purpose of a book is to be read and understood. The Quran is a book sent down to us by our Lord. 

If someone who doesn't understand Yoruba is singing a song that goes like this 🎵 Mi o ni mu omi tutu, mi o gbodo mu omi tutu, ani mi o ni mu omi tutu se 🎶 And as the person is singing, He takes a break and goes to the freezer then takes out a bottle of cold water and starts drinking it. Was the song he was singing useful to him?

Whether reciting the Quran without knowing the meaning has reward. I have no knowledge of this. However, what I know is that the Quran is a book. Its purpose is to guide us. How can you be guided if you are not making any effort to know the meaning of what is in the Book? You are content to just make your voice beautiful and sing its words in a melodious voice.

Know that the people who are reciting the Quran who understand Arabic, they are not on the same plane as one who does not understand Arabic but is reciting the Quran. The difference is that the former understand what they are saying so they can benefit from the wisdom in the Quran. 

If you don't understand Arabic you have to make the effort to read many translations as well as start learning Arabic. You can do it, if God will.

I urge you to worry less about your reward. God will definitely not cheat you of your reward. Worry more about how you can be conversant with the guidance that God has sent down for you - The Quran. Both the reading and the recitation of it.

Translation of lyrics: 

 🎵 I will not drink cold water, I must not drink cold water, I say I will not drink cold water 🎶

Hen Story

Hen Story

Some years ago, I went to live with some relatives in a small city. They had a big compound and I noticed a solitary hen, parading. I asked my relatives about the hen and they said that one day it just came into their compound and it never left. They said that it was sick when it came but it had recovered from its sickness. And that it goes out of the compound from time to time, but it always comes back. They also said that they do not feed it.

I was quite excited about the hen. I would buy guinea corn and millet, and sprinkle it around the compound for it to eat. It was not long before it started to recognize me and run to me whenever I came out of the house.

Other birds used to fly into the compound and eat the grain as well. Even a cock came to live in the compound and it too ran to me whenever I came out.

My relatives commented that the hen had found a benefactor. You might find this strange, but I thought I detected a note of disapproval in their statement.

In any case, I began to feel something in my heart. I cannot describe what it was or whether it was positive or negative. However, there was a feeling whenever the birds ran towards me.

Now, sometimes I would travel back home to my parents house and return after some days or weeks.

One time, I returned and the hen had chicks! And they all ran to me for food.

Everything was going well until one day, I came out of the house to fetch some water at the well. The hen saw me and ran to me. But I had no grains. She followed me, loudly clucking along and suddenly I felt a sharp pain on my left foot. She pecked me!

What!

I was livid.

She was doing well fending for herself before I came to live with my relatives. I was under no obligation to feed her. I was just doing it because it gave me a good feeling. How dare she peck me when I show up without food? 

Nevertheless, I did not want to stop feeding her because I was still counting on being paid [by God] my wages for doing a good deed.

My anger turned to puzzlement. Why did she peck me? 

Finally, I deciphered the situation.

I was the problem. 

I let her see me delivering the grain. I enjoyed it when she and her brood ran to me. I was basking in the attention of being noticed as a provider, a benefactor. Where was my lowly subject? Let her run to me and let me give her food. Let her know that it is I, who is supplying her sustenance…How arrogant! The hen pecked me because once lordship has been feigned it must be maintained. I must continue to provide her with food. Was I not the lord?

What did I do?

I continued to feed her but this time I made sure she did not see me pouring out the grain. I stealthily scattered grain in different places all over the compound. All she and her chicks had to do was wander a little and they would find food.

Problem solved.

The hen no longer ran to me clucking like she used to do. Methinks it mattered not to her who the deliverer of her food was but that she had food. Most importantly, I no longer had that interesting feeling in my heart. I had learnt something profound. I now understood why giving charity in secret is the preferred choice (Matthew 6:3, Quran 2:271)? It is for our own good.

Can you perceive the connection between the different parties involved?

1- The giver 

Who secretly wants to be appreciated or admired or thanked for what he did not do (Quran 3:188). 

2- The fawning receiver of charity. 

The receiver who can and will change the game on the 'visible' giver, if given the opportunity.

3- The irked witnesses.

Do you also see that the witnesses cannot be happy with either party. Why were they not given something?

Do you see that the giver is not the owner of what he is giving. The True Benefactor is God. We are just trustees of the wealth (Quran 57:7). 

If one is truly giving in order to seek the countenance of God, one will be comfortable with knowing that only oneself and God know that charity has been given. One will have no need for thanks. And one will keep one's ego under control (I believe that odd feeling I experienced, has something to do with an inflated ego).

Do you also see that the receiver would have no choice but to be excessively polite or indifferent to ALL if he does not know who supplied him with provision. Lest he offend his provider unknowingly. And he will thank God.

What happened to the hen and her brood?

I took a long trip back home. When I returned, I was told that one day, the hen went out with some of her brood and never returned.

Gospel of Barnabas

Gospel of Barnabas (e-copy/PDF file)

Above is a link to an e-copy of the Gospel of Barnabas. It is not one of the Gospels in the Christian Bible. Not many people know about it. You may hear it being referred to as a 'Fake Gospel' or a 'Muslim Gospel' I will leave you to read it to know why this is so...In my opinion, it is an illuminating book. I recommend it for those who have finished reading the Quran more than once.

It is his book!

I don't understand it...Somebody says he wants to burn the Quran, so people are rioting? Why?

He bought the Quran with his money. It is his book. Why can't he burn it?

Those of you rioting and destroying other people's property because of this, it is clear that you have not read your own copy of the Quran...If you had read it, then you will know that you are supposed to be patient and fear God in such circumstances. This is in chapter three (3) of the Quran. Please, go and read it.

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Three Books

I like the Torah, it is so interesting! It teaches one to fear God. (In case you don't know, the Torah is the real name of the first five books in the Bible).

I like the Gospel. The teachings in it are illuminating. Everyone needs to read the Gospel.

I like the Quran. Do you want to know why I like the Quran? It is because the Quran fights for itself. It doesn't need anyone to fight for it. It asks you questions as you read it. It does not allow you to think foolishly at all. You can almost feel it shouting at you, 'Don't you have sense? Can't you see?' If you don't believe me go and read it!

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The Gift of the Quran

If you do not have enough knowledge of Islam to preach, do not preach, give the gift of the Quran instead...

Let me tell you my story. I got a copy of the Quran from a Catholic. He gave it to me as a gift when I was in University. This was probably in the year 2002 (or earlier, I do not remember when exactly). I became a Believer in 2014 after reading this Quran several times. Hence, it took twelve (12) years for the seed of Islam that was planted in me to germinate!

Some of you may know me and wonder 'But you have always been a Muslim!' This sounds true but it is not. Having an Arabic name does not make one a Muslim...But I digress.

Do you know how many converts to Islam came to Islam because they were randomly presented with copies of the Quran?

Quite a number.

I know this because my favourite pastime, when I am not writing blog posts, is to listen to convert's stories.

They do not usually read it immediately. One day, they just get the urge to start reading and their journey to Islam begins.

Why am I telling you all this?

So that you can give the gift of the Quran to the people you come across in your daily life.

Please, do not discriminate by presenting the Quran only to non-Muslims; Look at me, I was a purported Muslim, yet I had not read the Quran. Present it to anyone who will take it from you. That is what I do.

When I am on a bus, or while sitting in the lobby of a car-wash, or standing in line at the bank, or when I get a ride from a LYFT or an UBER driver, I always try to initiate conversation and then turn the conversation to scripture. Then I say, 'Have you read the Quran?' If they say, 'No' and they follow Christianity, then I say, 'Why not? It is a book,...' And the conversation goes on till I say, 'Do you mind if I send you a copy of the Quran?' Some people accept, some people do not...Do not fret, remember that you are planting a seed. It is enough that you have mentioned the Quran to them. If God wills, they will search on the internet and get a copy of the Quran by themselves, or through other means. They do not need to accept your gift.

I usually share an electronic copy of the Quran. However, on two (2) occasions, I have given hard copies of the Quran. If they want to chat about other things, I listen to them. However, I do not chat excessively or try to make friends with them. My purpose is singular; to share the Quran.

Please, do not be shy. Do it for yourself; maybe God will reward you for sharing His Light and inviting to Islam. Or do it for the stranger, maybe you can be instrumental in saving him from the Fire (See Quran 16:125). Although, God is the one who guides.

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Tomato

You sell tomatoes.

Someone comes to you and says, 'Give me some tomatoes, I will take them home, cook them, eat them, excrete them...And then I may come back and tell you whether or not I will pay for them. At that time, we can also discuss the price'

What would you say?

...Only a fool will give away their tomatoes under such conditions, right? Absolute zero economic gain.

I am glad we understand ourselves...

Now, please tell me, what is the coming together of man and woman before marriage? Is it not a transaction for fools?

Can one who loves you ever invite you to a sham[e]ful transaction?

You should know that basing your decision not to fornicate on the above is a little foolish. The reason that you should not do it is simple: Our Lord says, 'Do not do it!'

Strange

How would you like it if your son who wants to be a pharmacist comes home and tells you that he wants to first of all study his pharmacy textbooks in Arabic. And you know he doesn't speak Arabic. You would probably think he has run mad, right?

Today, we have so many people who do not speak Arabic yet they say they want to read the Quran in Arabic without studying the Quran in a language that they understand...

Isn't this strange?

There are so many different translations of the Quran available. If English is not your preferred language, the Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa Quran is available for you. How can your son become a pharmacist if he has not read and studied his textbook in the language he understands?

This Tree

What if I gave you some money and I told you that I got the money from a tree...Wouldn't you prefer it if I just told you where the tree is so that you can get as much money as you need instead of waiting for me to hand out money to you?

The tree is the Quran. If you take from this tree, you will be rich on judgment day.

When I preach to you accurately from the Quran and you do what God asks you to do, you will be prosperous on judgment day because you will be paid for what you have done; and some people will be more prosperous than others!

So instead of waiting for me or anyone to preach to you. Why don't you go and get the money for yourself?

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Questions & Answers 1

Question 1:

Ma’am, Just a quick question from one the books….

Apparently, Islam and Christianity share some similar doctrines and beliefs but Islam trace their root from “Abraham and Ishmael” while Christianity trace theirs from “Abraham and Isaac”. What’s the reason behind this?

Answer 1:

Actually the topic of roots is a way of dividing God's religion. It is just something that people started talking about. It is not a relevant issue when one talks about the religion of God.

There is only one religion of God. In English language it is the "Surrender" or the "Peace" in Arabic it means "Islam" I don't know what it is in Hebrew language (the language of the Jews) or in Greek or Aramaic (the language of the Gospel).

Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac followed this religion, the Surrender. 

The real difference between Judaism, Christianity and Islam is that Jews and Christians do not believe in ALL the messengers of God. 

1- Jews are biological descendants of Jacob/Israel, that is Abraham's grandson. They believe that Abraham was a prophet and so also was Isaac and Jacob and Moses and many others but they do not believe that Jesus was a prophet. They also do not believe that Mohammed was a messenger of God. The Jews read the Tanakh (This is what Christians know as the old testament).

2- Christianity was initially formed from the people who believed that Jesus was a prophet of God. (By the way, the mother of Jesus was a descendant of Israel, Abraham's grandson. Jesus had no father; God created him like he created Adam). Over the years, Christianity evolved until the Christians started saying that Jesus is the begotten son of God and that God is three in one. The Christians evolved from being followers of the Gospel that Jesus preached to being worshippers of Jesus. Christians do not believe that Mohammed was a prophet or that the Quran is a book from God.

3- The Believers (The people who are called Muslims) believe in ALL of God's prophets including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed,...They are required to believe in the books of God including the Gospel, the Psalms, the Quran, the Torah,...(The Torah and the Psalms are among the books in the Tanakh).

So you see that it is irrelevant which son of Abraham the followers follow. What is important is that we emulate Abraham. Abraham is called a friend of God, the upright. He was not a Jew or a Christian but he followed the religion of truth.

Apapa

You have a business appointment in Apapa.

You are currently in Ikorodu,
You have a car, you have a GPS enabled phone and you have data.
You do not know the way to Apapa. Your assistant has sent you the directions via Google Maps, but you say you will not use Google Maps...
You want to find your way there using your intuition?

Are you brave or foolish?

You want to go to heaven, you have eyes, you are sane, you are not illiterate, you can read. And God has sent down books (The Torah, the Gospel, the Quran,...) to you through His messengers. These books contain directions for how to make it to Heaven and you say you will not read them, that you will make it to Heaven by following your intuition...

Are you brave or foolish?

I am not saying that you will not get to Apapa.
It is possible that you will get there, but will it be easy and will you be there in time for your appointment?

Why are you gambling with the possibility of going to Heaven?

Get free directions* on how to get to heaven at HibiscusT595595.

*Translations of the Quran.

Spaghetti

Have you seen someone eating spaghetti with a spoon?

You want to go to Heaven, but you don't want to read the Quran?

You are funny!

I am not saying that you will not finish eating that spaghetti but is it not better to use a fork?

My friend! Don't gamble with your going to Heaven. Go now and start reading the Quran. Don't give up until you have read it from the beginning to the end...

It will take time but at least you will finish eating that spaghetti with a fork!

You are Funny!

You are very funny!

You want to go to Heaven but you don't want to read the Quran from the beginning to the end...

You are very funny!

You want to pass the exam but you don't want to read the textbook?