The Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr. Jamiu Ridwan, has reacted to a recent comment by the U.S. President Donald Trump during his trip to Israel for the signing of the historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
In a moment of unscripted reflection, President Trump remarked, “I think I’m not heaven bound; I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven. I may be in heaven right now. But I have made life better for a lot of people.”
Dr. Ridwan, in this article, described the statement as either a careless outburst from someone unsure of the hereafter, or possibly a reflection of disbelief. He said, “Such a statement borders on skepticism or, worse, irreverence. But no one is beyond redemption.”
The Imam emphasised that belief in life after death, heaven, and hell is not only scriptural — found in both the Bible and the Qur’an — but also deeply logical.
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PRESIDENT TRUMP! YOU CAN STILL MAKE HEAVEN IF…
In an interview during his trip to Israel for the conclusion of the historic peace deal between Israel and HAMAS, President Trump of the United States of America interjected ‘I think I’m not heaven bound; I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven. I may be in heaven right now. But I have made life better for a lot of people! This weird statement portrays a careless and nonchalant outburst of a skeptic or profanity of an infidel.
There are two approaches to eschatology: believing in the scriptural teachings (the Bible and the Qur’an) or following whims and wishful thinking. Belief in life after death and ultimate destination in Hell or Heaven is both logical and scriptural. Dear President, Life after death is certain.
The systematic order of the celestial bodies, the methodical occurrence of life affairs and the complex arrangement and functionality of human organs and faculties are a proof of the existence of a Supreme Being and great Creator whose grandeur is beyond description. That is God, the Almighty.
The conclusion of every right-thinking people among whom is President Trump is that there is God, and the world is a creation of God – not a coincidence.
The signs of God (or Allah in Arabic) are palpably seen in the world and in every creature while His essence is hidden to creatures. The scriptures (the Qur’an and Bible) support this belief. It is through the revelation and the creation God introduces Himself to us. As belief in His existence is both logical and scriptural so is belief in meeting Him after death. We shall all meet God. But for what?
The good should not make moral sacrifices and suffer in vain, while the villain must not get away with their atrocities and unjustifiable pomp. It only makes sense that the All-powerful and All-mighty God resurrect us after death to judge mankind – to reward the faithful and the righteous with the eternal Paradise in the Heaven and subject the wicked and faithless to a commensurate punishment in Hellfire.
The wanton killing of innocent children and indiscriminate massacre of defenseless women and men in Gaza with brazen impunity born out of unmitigated apartheid mentality is an example of cases about which only the Almighty God can redress the victims and hold the culprits and accomplices to responsibility.
Yet, the scripture says, the Lord, our God-Allah is forgiving to those who sincerely repent, return to God with righteousness and rectify what and whom they have wronged. President Trump, please repent and reform; Allah is ready to forgive you. You still have the chance to make heaven.
Life and death are like sleep and awakening. We sleep and awake as we shall die and be resurrected. That is a natural and divine parable for the discerning; the heedless will continue to wallow in the mud of profligacy and grope in the darkness of agnosticism and ignorance until their hearts beat the last and the inevitable reality dawns on them in anguish. Regret there will not avail as one is consigned to abide in Hell for eternity. Imagine putting a finger to burn in a worldly fire! What if the entire body is burnt in an inferno without cease nor death!
If God brings man into existence after when he was nothing to mention, nurtures him and sustains him from semen to fetus, from a clot of blood to a tiny human with limbs and faculties, from a baby to and adult, from weakness to strength, and reverses him from strength to weakness of old age and senility, how then can any reasonable human doubt the power of Allah to raise the dead for accountability and recompense?! (Qur’an 19:66-68)
God has made events of life in pairs: man and woman, sleep and awakening, land and sea, sky and earth, happiness and sadness, success and failure, negative and positive, the rich and the poor, then this world and the next, and Heaven (Paradise) and Hell-fire.
There is nothing in this world that is worth losing the beautiful and royal life in Paradise for. We should believe in God’s promise. We should not be reckless; life is too short a place and fleeting an enjoyment to trade for eternal bliss hereafter. Let’s all make amends. Death is no respecter of age or status.
Yet, making life better for people is one of the ways of making heaven if the doer believes in God and the afterlife.
Use your power to consolidate the peace deal brokered between Israel and HAMAS. American founders were freedom fighters (like the HAMAS) and peace-makers. Follow in their footsteps- not the steps of the nihilists, the parochial-minded terrorists and war profiteers who have no concern in making peace in the world and who will never make the list of heroes.
Join the world leaders to declare Palestine a sovereign state and support the two-state solution voted for by the majority in the United Nations and advocated for by all people in the world. Imagine how HAMAS treated their prisoners! I think they seized those prisoners as pawns to bargain the release of their people when peaceful means were not successful. They had long been oppressed.
Use your influence to quench the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodbath. Making peace is a way to heaven, according to the scriptures. You can still make heaven; but believe in God and the Hereafter.
The confusion of some people and their doubts about Allah and afterlife probably stem from the proliferation of religions and contradiction of some of their teachings. But why do we have the intellect? Why did we go to school? It is to be equipped with the facility to study, evaluate, reason and listen so as to choose the right path that leads to God and eternal salvation hereafter. Life must have a higher purpose.
Today, some people regret their low or lack of education, which has relegated them to the lowest rungs of the societal ladder. That is how many will be relegated and humiliated hereafter for they did not learn about God and His way.
As for Christianity and Islam, Prophet Muhammad (who the Muslims follow) came after Jesus (who the Christians follow). Both were Prophets and Messengers of God. According to the Qur’an, Prophet Muhammad was the last Prophet and Messenger of God. The words ‘Christianity’ and ‘Bible’ are not found in the Bible though. Both Islam and the Qur’an are repeatedly mentioned in the Qur’an.
Jesus did not condemn Prophets who came before him; he rather affirmed them and only set right what the Jews and his people had distorted of the truth and guided the people- demonstrating to them that he was also bound by God’s laws and that he was an exemplary teacher who must be followed. (Mathew 5:17) God gave him the Gospel (which no longer exists in its original). In Islam, belief in Jesus and all prophets is a condition of being a Muslim.
Likewise, Prophet Muhammad never condemned Jesus and all previous prophets. He rather affirmed them and only set right the distortions and deviations people had brought into the religion of God. He demonstrated to the people that he was also bound by God’s law as an exemplary teacher. God gave him the Qur’an as His last revelation to mankind. Everyone must follow the Qur’an. But neither Jesus nor Muhammad is to be worshipped besides God. (Qur’an 21:25; Acts 3:13, Luke 4:8)
As we make sacrifices to read and get educated, which has elevated our status in this world, so should we study the Qur’an and get educated in it so as to be rightly guided and elevate our status with God here and hereafter. Life after death is certain. Believe, President Trump, and follow Islam. I reiterate that we are all brought to this world so as to choose where to spend our eternity; your fate lies in your choice.
God bless your Excellency.
Email: Ridwan Jamiu (ridone1424@gmail.com)
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