ASSALAMU ALAIKUM brothers and sisters in islam.

please i have a question and it is
"what do we mean when we say someone is a messiah"
and apart from that is it okay to call a muslim brother, e.g general muhammadu buhari a messaih?

EmmGee:
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM brothers and sisters in islam.

please i have a question and it is
"what do we mean when we say someone is a messiah"
and apart from that is it okay to call a muslim brother, e.g general muhammadu buhari a messaih?

Wa alaikum Salam

http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-about-islam/society-and-family/interfaith-issues/166328-the-meaning-of-aquotmessiahaquot.html

But I dont think it covers the second part of your question.

EmmGee:
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM brothers and sisters in islam.

please i have a question and it is
"what do we mean when we say someone is a messiah"
?

In the Qur'an, the word use is "masih" meaning "wipe". Apart from using it for Nabi Isa (sallAllahu alaihi salam), another ref for it is the verse of ablution "...WIPE your head and feet..."

Ibn Athir give another meaning to be "to anoint". And indeed when you anoint, its like "wipe".

'Isa (as) is being refer as "al-Masih" because he's an anointed man of God; and if we say someone is anointed, it simply means he's an "appointed" man. By default, all prophets of God, certain non-prophets sent to their people et al are "appointed" vis-a-vis "anointed". However, this word is one of the exclusive word reserve for Nabi 'Isa just like other prophets also have their respective exclusive title e.g Nabi Ibrahim is "friend of God". Are other prophets not friend of God? Etc.

EmmGee:

and apart from that is it okay to call a muslim brother, e.g general muhammadu buhari a messaih?

Religiously, we can only used the title for al-Mahdi who the holy prophet (peace be upon him and his household) said will come at the END time to fill the world with justice and equity as its being filled with injustice and corruption.

Socially or politically, any person who liberate or expected to liberate its people from one form of problem or the other could be refer to as "Messiah - saviour, liberator etc.

The question is will Buhari be the Liberator? Nigerian used the same word for president Jonatan before he became the president. Where are we?
Only Allah can appoint a "savior" and He is the only one that can refer to them before they are even born e.g 'Isa.

Man can only hope.

Allah knows best.